Interning at The Timken Co.

by Connor Griffith

I was hired as a 2013 summer intern at The Timken Co. in Canton, Ohio. My official title was IT Communications Intern. I started in mid-May and worked through mid-August.

Getting hired, I didn’t really know what I would be doing or if I would actually use the skills I have learned in all my JMC classes. However, from week one, I knew I was in the right role and knew my internship would give me very valuable experience.

I worked on many projects including drafting company newsletters, event planning, writing stories for the company intranet, script writing, video production, creating recruitment PowerPoints and creating a communications plan for a clothing merchandise re-launch. There wasn’t a day all summer where I wasn’t utilizing the skills I learned in my JMC classes.

I never knew just how much writing PR and communications professionals do on a daily basis. With all the writing practice we get in our JMC classes, I can say it definitely pays off and is extremely valuable in the workforce.

Some advice for students who are looking to get an internship: It’s never too early to start looking. I was really feeling the pressure when I started applying before Christmas break and didn’t hear from any company. I was lucky enough to come across Timken at the internship fair. Anyone who says that fair doesn’t really help is wrong. I got to network with so many companies and handed my resume out like crazy, and it paid off.

Good luck to all incoming students looking for an internship! Just remember, when all those writing classes seem too much at times, they do pay off in the real world.

---