Zachary Hamilton
Senior
Major: Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Belleville, Illinois

Where are you interning and what are your day-to-day responsibilities?
I am a marketing intern at Securitas, a custom security and guarding solutions provider. In addition to doing ongoing competitor analysis research, my responsibilities include assisting with marketing materials such as blog posts or social media posts on LinkedIn and Facebook. I also create materials for our internal sales team.

How does this internship relate to your major?
My internship relates to my major because it has helped me see the importance of marketing for running a business. It has also opened my eyes to how sales and marketing are very closely connected and how important it is that the two areas collaborate.

What do you like most about your internship?
What I like most about my internship is that I have learned something from every project I’ve worked on. I also like that this internship is through the Xtern program, where we have professional development days followed by community service days.

What are your career goals and how is this internship preparing you?
My career goal is to have my own business and a network that will allow me to help others achieve their career goals. While this internship has taught me a lot about marketing, the community service aspect has instilled in me the importance of giving back. 

What advice would you give another student who may be looking for an internship? 
The best advice is to apply to as many internship opportunities as possible to secure a position. Applying to internships is also a great chance to practice completing applications and interviewing. Applying for more than one internship gives you more stability and practice to help you succeed in the future.