Amy Rauch ‘19, communication design and strategic communications double major from Gainesville, Virginia, gained valuable advice from the SPDC staff and utilized the Elon Job Network (EJN) to land a summer internship and full-time career with Stream Realty Partners.
Rauch is the fifth student to be featured in a series of E-net profiles on the recent experiences of students who work alongside professionals in the Student Professional Development Center to explore career interests, find job and internship opportunities, prepare for interviews, develop graduate school application materials, and more.
Rauch recently answered questions from the SPDC about her experience.
Who did you work within the Student Professional Development Center to prepare, and what help did you receive?
Before applying to any internships, I worked with Amber Moser in the Communications School. She helped tailor my resume, LinkedIn and eportfolio to better display my skills and experiences in the field. I also completed several mock interviews, practiced answering common interview questions, and become more confident pitching myself.
How did your interest in the organization, company, or career develop?
I came to Elon as a strategic communications major who wanted to land a job in the public relations industry. After a few internships, I realized I preferred the creative side of the industry, and added communication design as a second major. Since then, I focused on design-based experiences and internships. I fell in love with the work I was doing in my classes, and as a graphic design Intern at Stream Realty Partners, last summer.
Although I decided not to go into the public relations industry, the skills I developed in my strategic planning courses will translate easily into my creative work.
Tell me about your experience in landing a career.
I quickly fell in love with Stream Realty Partners and the people I worked with. The entire team made me feel so welcomed and really made me feel like I was part of the company even as an intern!
As a graphic design Intern, I worked on projects that actually made a difference in the company. I designed email campaigns, brochures, and postcards. I also designed wall art for the office, which, although it was out of my comfort zone, was a great experience. One of my favorite projects was creating a custom map of Washington, D.C. to be printed on the back wall of the office.
When I was asked to return as a full-time employee after graduation, I couldn’t say no and look forward to showcasing the new skills I’ve learned this year.
What have you learned from the experience?
I learned a lot about myself during the internship/job application process. Having a clean and professional resume and cover letter can really make you stand out from other applicants.
At the end of the day, being the right fit for a company is the most important thing. A company can seem great on paper, but if you don’t fit in, you may not be happy there.
Which faculty members did you work with to prepare and what help did you receive?
I feel so lucky to have had so many faculty and staff members support me along my career journey. Specifically, faculty members Ben Hannam and Randy Piland in the Communications School who have been invaluable to me. They were always willing to critique my work, proofread emails, and help guide me. Having that 1-to-1 relationship with professors and staff is what makes Elon so special.
There are a lot of valuable resources that the Student Professional Development Center offers. I found the internship opportunity for Stream Realty Partners last summer through the Elon Job Network. The SPDC also offers a lot of helpful seminars and info sessions on topics such as e-portfolios and etiquette presentations.