PNW students turn summer internships into a competitive edge

As the job market grows increasingly competitive, employers are looking for more than classroom knowledge for a candidate to stand out.

Internships provide students an opportunity to apply academic learning in real-world settings, bridging the gap between theory and practice. An internship not only builds confidence but also enhances a resume, making a graduate more attractive to future employers.

“Internships are integral to the college experience at PNW,” says Joelynn Stephen, director of Career Services at Purdue University Northwest (PNW). “Regardless of major, internships help students develop essential professional skills that can’t be fully replicated in a classroom setting, including communication, problem-solving and time management. Employers increasingly expect candidates to have hands-on experience and an internship demonstrates initiative, work readiness and industry knowledge. It also gives PNW students a competitive edge in the job market.”

In addition to developing practical skills and gaining industry insight, internships allow students to explore potential career paths. Through firsthand experience, many discover what they like, or don’t like, which can help guide their career decisions before graduation. Connections made during an internship can lead to job recommendations and even part- or full-time employment. Internships also give students a way to build a professional network.

Regardless of major, internships help students develop essential professional skills that can’t be fully replicated in a classroom setting, including communication, problem-solving and time management.

Joelynn Stephen, director of Career Services

The Career Center at PNW supports students seeking internship opportunities through a variety of resources, including career expos; Handshake, a job posting platform; career counseling; resume assistance and interview preparations.

“The Career Center provides specialized expertise and resources that significantly improve a student’s chances of securing quality internships,” says Stephen. “Career advisors understand the internship landscape, know what employers are looking for and can help students position themselves as strong candidates. This professional guidance is far more effective than navigating the internship search alone.”

The Career Center also offers access to exclusive opportunities not found on general job boards. Through Handshake and the Career Center’s employer network, students can find internships specifically targeted to PNW students, often with companies that have established relationships with the university. These connections increase the likelihood of not just finding an internship, but finding one that’s the right fit.

To learn more about internship opportunities and how the Career Center at PNW can help in your career journey, visit pnw.edu/career-center.

PNW students took advantage of internship opportunities during summer 2025 to enhance their learning and career outcomes.

Ishva Zalavadia

Fourth-Year double major in business management and human resources
St. John, IND.
Internship – Amcor

Ishva Zalavadia spent her summer as a human resources intern at Amcor (formerly Berry Global) in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. During her internship, the company underwent a major corporate merger, giving her a rare, first-hand look at how companies navigate change, including the role of human resources during that transition. “I saw it as an opportunity to experience how HR practices adapt during a major transition,” she said.

Working directly with the human resources team, Zalavadia spent her internship organizing sensitive employee files, assisting with payroll and bonus processing, rewriting job descriptions and supporting onboarding and orientation processes. She also played an important role in preparing for an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) audit by creating a detailed training tracker to ensure employee compliance with role-specific certifications.

More than just paperwork, the internship allowed her to bridge the gap between learning and application. “All of my core classes in HR really came in handy,” she said. “I was able to use the basic rules and general knowledge I learned in my classes in a real-world setting. It also gave me the chance to explore whether I was on the right career path.”

Through this experience, Zalavadia confirmed that HR was indeed the right career fit. “I realized I enjoy working with people and that I’m very detail-oriented. HR lets me do both,” she said.

In addition, she was able to build a professional network and develop meaningful workplace relationships. “By the fifth or sixth week, employees were stopping me throughout the building and asking HR questions,” she said. “That was a huge moment for me and one of my favorite parts of the internship. It showed that I had earned their trust.”

Zalavadia credits her career advisor in the College of Business, Krystie Reed, for guiding her through the application and interview process. With her advisor’s help, she tailored her resume, practiced mock interviews and learned how to align her application with employer expectations. That support led to multiple interview offers and ultimately, the perfect internship fit.

“Everyone should do an internship, even if it’s not required,” said Zalavadia. “It’s the best way to see what your day-to-day work experience will be like and to find out if you truly enjoy it. You’re making decisions about what you’ll be doing for the next 30 years, so it’s important to get that real-life experience to be sure.”

Juliette Miranda

Third-year mechanical engineering major
Munster, Ind.
Internship – nisource/nipsco

Juliette Miranda’s summer internship was spent as a gas field engineering intern at Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) in Merrillville, Indiana, one of the six energy delivery companies of NiSource, Inc. Her opportunity turned out to be a stepping stone to a part-time position with the company.

As part of a team of engineers, Miranda began her internship by shadowing an experienced engineer before gradually progressing to hands-on design work. “They didn’t just give me busy work,” she said. “I was able to contribute to actual engineering projects.”

Those projects weren’t just simulations but were directly related to field applications. From office-based design work to visits in the field, Miranda saw firsthand how engineering concepts translate into actual infrastructure.

“Site visits gave me an opportunity to see how our designs are applied out in the field,” she said. “They weren’t just designs on a screen anymore. I actually got to see our work come to life in the real world. It was an invaluable experience.”

One thing that surprised Miranda was how much of her coursework at PNW helped with her internship. “I was worried I’d be starting from zero,” she said. “Some of the software programs we learned in class were the same ones we used at NiSource. In reality, my classes at PNW gave me a solid foundation and helped me dive right into the projects.”

Miranda turned to the Career Center at PNW for help with the interview process by scheduling several mock interview sessions. “They really helped lower my stress level for the interviews,” she said. “They gave me pointers on how to prepare, what questions to expect and how to respond. I went into the interviews feeling confident, like I’d done it before. It was a great resource!”

When her internship ended, Miranda was offered, and accepted, a part-time position with NiSource. “This internship showed me what a job in this field looks like, gave me hands-on experience to put on my resume and led to a part-time position during the semester,” she said. “But what I liked most was that they treated me like another member of the team.”

Miguel Rosa

Fourth-year business management major
Hammond, Ind.
Internship – Toast Hotel Group

During summer 2025, Miguel Rosa took advantage of an internship opportunity with the Toast Hotel Group in New Buffalo, Michigan. Although the opportunity was in the hospitality field, he chose it over a sales position because it aligned more closely with his long-term career goal of opening and operating a youth soccer academy in the United States.

As a lobby and living room attendant, he handled food and beverage service, answered guest questions and provided concierge-style support. His responsibilities also included financial tasks like cash drawer reconciliation, handling tips and tracking sales, all of which helped sharpen his business and math skills.

Rosa discovered the internship through a career expo at PNW.

“This internship helped me gain experience in providing service, managing people and building relationships – all skills that will help me in coaching and running my own business,” he said.

Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, Rosa was looking for an internship that would strengthen his professional communication skills in English while giving him practical experience in the U.S.

“Interacting with people was the biggest part of my job,” said Rosa. “I really wanted to work on improving my communication skills because in business you communicate differently with colleagues, customers and management. I was able to gain experience speaking and interacting with all different types of people during my internship.”

Looking back, Rosa feels his internship experience was crucial to his future success.

“I learned a lot this summer,” he said. “It opened my mind to the hospitality industry as an area I would consider in the future. It also helped me build a professional network and gain confidence in myself.”