HBCU Career Story: Hampton University Junior Shares Highlights from Her Facebook Internship
Kimberlee-Mykel Thompson
At some point or another in our college experience, we hear that internships are important. But how do you get them? Why are they so crucial? And what are some challenges you might encounter in landing one?
Meet Kimberlee-Mykel Thompson, a Strategic Communications major at Hampton University who shared what her experience was like interning at Facebook as well as tips for all her fellow HBCU interns out there. With the help of her school’s career center, Thompson was able to put her best foot forward during her internship and gained new mentors while also learning more about her interests.
This feature is a part of our HBCU Career Story series which aims to highlight interesting, inspirational and informative stories of HBCU students and alumni who are making big career moves. Do you have a story to share? Email makeba@thehbcucareercenter.com if you’re interested.
The HBCU Career Center: What was your internship job title?
KMT: Last Summer, I was a Sales and Advertising Intern at Facebook. This upcoming summer, I will be a Global Brand Marketing Intern at Converse (NIKE inc.) .
THBCUCC: What is your college major?
KMT: Strategic Communications with an area of emphasis in Business
THBCUCC: How did you find your internship?
KMT: I first heard about the Facebook internship on an Instagram page called @young.gifted.nondominant. I heard about the Converse opportunity through my university Career Center.
THBCUCC: Where are these internships located?
KMT: My Facebook Internship was supposed to be in Austin, TX., but was made remote due to COVID-19. The Converse internship is in Boston, MA.
THBCUCC: How long was your Facebook internship?
KMT: My Facebook internship was 8-weeks long!
THBCUCC: What were your duties as an intern?
KMT:
To learn core sales skills
To Prepare and pitch to clients
To tell stories with data
To learn client services and media planning skills
THBCUCC: What was your favorite part of the internship?
KMT: My favorite part was the incredible Black women I met throughout the summer. The networking opportunities at a company like Facebook are invaluable! I was able to chat with dozens of women from all different departments, some of whom are now mentors of mine.
THBCUCC: How do you think your internship helped prepare you professionally?
KMT: Internships certainly give you perspective into what a real 9-5 job looks and feels like. Oftentimes, students have difficulties adjusting to a full-time job or dealing with managers due to a lack of experience. Internships help to buffer that transition from college to the workforce.
Also, internships can help you select the right career path. As college students, we frequently aspire to professions that we are not too familiar with. For me, internships have helped me discover what I like and don’t like to do at work, leading me in the right direction for a full-time job.
THBCUCC: Why do you think more students don't do internships?
KMT: I think there are several reasons. First, many students aren’t aware of the opportunities out there. Social media and online tools have helped, but some internships remain exclusive to those who know someone on the inside.
Secondly, a lot of programs are still unpaid and don’t provide housing or travel accommodations. HBCUs have a history of serving low-income students who can’t afford to live in a major city, making no money. For more students to have internships, companies need to provide pay and housing to make the opportunities accessible to everyone.
THBCUCC: How did you get help on your campus with internship preparation?
KMT: The Hampton University career fair has helped me tremendously! No matter what companies are there, I always go and put my best foot forward. I’ve gotten internship offers, feedback, and professional connections just by stopping to chat at people’s booths!
THBCUCC: Do you have any advice for students about seeking or doing internships?
KMT:
Network with everyone! A s the saying goes, people who know people, know people, and
having the right connections can get you referrals for internships.
Perfect your resume! On average, recruiters look at your resume for 6 seconds, so make
sure the critical information stands out and be sure to use keywords! More and more companies are using AI to screen for specific words in resumes, so read the descriptions and add the vocabulary to your resume!
Show some personality! No one wants to work with someone who is dull, show interviewers that you bring more to the table than just your skills!
Ask for help! If you know someone who’s interned at your dream company, reach out to them! People are much nicer than you think and love helping college students, so never be afraid to introduce yourself and ask questions!