ETSU University Career Services opened its doors to SHIP (Southern Hospitality Internship Program) to host a hiring event on campus. The event intended to recruit students for summer and fall internships and provide guidance that goes above and beyond the standards of southern hospitality.
Much like its title, SHIP works with Sevier County-based hospitality and tourism businesses to place full-time, paid interns into 14-week positions where they learn the ins and outs of the hospitality industry.
For University Career Services, providing students with an outlet to become connected with positions related to their majors is the primary goal for ETSU students. The Southern Hospitality Internship Fair, hosted on Feb. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the D.P Culp Center, was open to all students and majors on campus and encouraged experimental learning opportunities to further undergraduate students in their fields of experience.
“This event allowed students to unlock their potential and gain valuable hands-on experience,” said Outreach & Employer Services Coordinator Ashly Garris. “ETSU wants students to graduate with at least one, if not more, experiential learning opportunity so they’re career-ready when they launch from ETSU.”
By engaging in these high-quality internship experiences, students become more skilled, knowledgeable and prepared for their careers after graduation. It also provides help with narrowing down fields of interest in their particular major.
Internships and experimental learning opportunities allow students to eliminate possible career tracts that may not suit their areas of passion, meanwhile providing valuable in-field experience that makes them more attractive to potential employers.
SHIP provides its interns with the opportunity to expand their horizons in hospitality, and the fair featured large companies in the Smoky Mountain region such as Dollywood, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Westgate Resorts and even Rocky Top Wine Trail.
Students in attendance were directed to register for their interview online to allow for a more contact-free, seamless interviewing process that placed emphasis on professionalism.
Interns that are selected for the desired position live on property and rotate among various roles to heighten their exposure to different aspects of tourism, an experience that University Career Services pushes to provide to all attendees at ETSU.
“Internships are a large component of leading students down the path to a fulfilling career where they’ll succeed professionally,” said Garris. “If we can get our sophomores, juniors and seniors to engage in internships, they’ll be more successful when they’re pursuing their actual career.”
To pursue an interest in internship opportunities or to broaden your horizon of experience, contact ETSU Career Services at careers@etsu.edu for more information.
