Top internships help Olivet students build for future

2014 Jun 30

Adapting to big city life. Being plucked out of large talent pools. Meeting and working with leaders in their chosen fields. Olivet students continue to make their mark with exciting and impressive internship placements.

Each year, home services company Defender Direct attracts more than 100 applicants to its internship program. Defender is a leading dealer of ADT Home Security Systems and operates branches of heating, cooling and plumbing services in Central Indiana, Louisville and Cincinnati.

In summer 2014, Defender's internship class is being bolstered with the skills and expertise of Olivet student Hannah Reister (junior, Mason, Michigan). She landed a paid, full-time internship with Defender after weathering an extensive and competitive hiring process.

She heard about the openings through her business classes. Dr. Jeff Williamson, Olivet's director of corporate and community engagement, helped her make the connections and led her through the process.

After sending in her resume, Hannah went through a phone interview. This was followed by a personal interview on campus during Defender's campus interview day at Olivet in November 2013.

"It was a little nerve-wracking," Hannah says. "I was competing with other students from schools like Indiana University, Butler and Purdue for the few positions offered in each area."

Finally, in late November, she was invited to Defender's main office in Indianapolis for a day of interviews. The pool for the final interview day included more than 30 students.

"I think this internship will not only be great for personal growth, but also for connections for future jobs," Hannah adds. "I'm excited to be on my own for the summer to start pursuing a career in marketing."

"It has been really exciting to see our corporate engagement efforts bearing fruit and opening doors for excellent ONU students," Dr. Williamson says. "My belief is that this kind of opportunity will become the norm for our students as companies learn more and more that our students can compete with anyone."