Montana State University students from the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship have participated in a range of internships this summer, both in the United States and abroad. The Bracken Center, located within the business college, plays a key role in supporting these students by offering help with finding internships, preparing resumes and cover letters, and interview preparation. According to Toby Blake, director of the Bracken Center, more than 800 students use its services each year.
Blake noted that nearly 70% of Jabs students complete at least one internship before graduation. This figure is almost twice the national average for business students. “Nationwide, completing an internship experience is one of the most powerful predictors of career confidence and long-term success,” Blake said. “Students who complete internships are more likely to graduate on time, earn higher starting salaries and report greater career satisfaction.”
One example is Zoe Hansen, a senior marketing major who wanted an internship far from her hometown of Seattle. With help from the Bracken Center, she was connected to Roots, an organization that matches students with nonprofits abroad. Hansen interned at Ithica in Athens, Greece, where she coordinated a crowdfunding campaign called “Pieces of Me” to help refugees obtain important documents like birth certificates.
Hansen also participated in pop-up events providing laundry service and other essentials to refugees. She said her coursework at MSU gave her practical skills for these tasks. “I really want to go into event coordination. That’s something I’m passionate about because it’s so people-focused, you’re collaborating with others and it’s very mobile,” she said. “And I think doing the crowdfunding campaign and then seeing what goes into planning and promoting the pop-up events was super beneficial to my understanding of my future career.”
Ian Redfield, a sophomore finance major from Lake Forest near Chicago, interned at Richard Norton Gallery in downtown Chicago. His responsibilities included inventory management, bookkeeping, assisting clients with art selection, and helping display artwork. Redfield applied concepts learned in his business classes during his internship experience.
“I took a lot of interest in the small business part of it,” Redfield said. “It also was fun and interesting to do something creative. It’s kind of like working in music or something where you just have that artistic element.” He added: “I’m grateful for this experience and that I get to spend my summer close to home and in Chicago.”
Alaina Hatcher, a junior marketing major who has worked as a photographer for Bobcat Athletics since her freshman year at MSU, interned as a marketing assistant for the Asheboro Zookeepers minor league baseball team in North Carolina over the summer. Her duties included photographing games and creating graphics for advertising.
“With my photography, I learned a lot and had the opportunity to be more creative. I could explore taking pictures from different angles or very zoomed out shots of the field,” Hatcher said.
She also managed social media accounts for the team; under her management Instagram profile views increased by approximately 380%. Hatcher credited her MSU courses with giving her communication skills needed for professional settings.
“I really learned how to be professional, how to be independent and solve my own problems,” Hatcher said. “And it was nice that Toby would check in on me to see if I needed more support.”
