Zachary Olson

Major: Communication ; Certificate: Cornerstone  

Media Relations Intern, Eau Claire Express

1.) How did you learn about this internship opportunity? 

I learned about this internship through Teamwork Online. I knew I always wanted to be in sports, and Teamwork is the main platform where professional sports teams post their internships and other positions!

2.) How has your internship helped build your skills and clarify your career goals?  How do you apply your Liberal Arts skills to your internship?  

My internship with the Eau Claire Express helped clarify my career goals because of the experiences and opportunities my superiors provided me with. They allowed me to shadow and learn from the leadership of any department I wanted, which included finance, ticket sales, marketing, and broadcasting! This allowed me to truly understand all the facets and innerworkings of a professional sports organization, and helped me realize that the Media Relations department was exactly where I want my career to be.

3.) What is a piece of advice you would give someone looking for an internship?  

When looking for an internship, my best advice would be utilizing campus activities to help advance yourself amongst other candidates. I found that doing a student internship, or participating in clubs related to your field of interest can push you above, especially since many candidates in college do not have extensive work experience.

4.) What specific responsibilities have you undertaken during your internship?

During my internship, I was responsible for all Media Coordination for the Eau Claire Express. Daily tasks included setting active rosters for a new series, working with all members of the press box, coaching staffs, and umpiring crews to ensure all necessary information was relayed to each individual. Further, I was in charge of completing roster transactions for the team and ensuring that we were in league compliance regarding roster numbers and lineups. Lastly, during games I served as the teams official scorer, while simultaneously live tweeting on the Express X account, and writing a post-game press release to be published on the team website. 

5.) In what ways has the College of Liberal Arts at Purdue University supported your internship journey? How has your participating in our job-ready program specifically aided your professional development? 

The Liberal Arts program has been so helpful in supporting my internship journey. I was able to learn so much from my professors, teaching assistants, and peers when discussing the process. We each shared our experiences, and offered each other advice, such as reviews of my resume, editing cover letters, and doing mock interviews. I was also able to receive a letter of recommendation from one of my professors, which was incredibly kind and played a large role in helping me secure a couple of interviews.

6.) Could you highlight a standout aspect of your experience in this program that you find particularly noteworthy? 

One experience in the job-ready program that I find to be particularly noteworthy was the Instagram story takeovers. It was a fascinating way for not only the other members of the Liberal Arts program, but also prospective students to see what job-ready does for us, and what opportunities the school itself can lead you towards!