By Ella Cobb

“I need an internship.”

“I need an internship.” 

It’s a phrase I hear all the time from other students as I walk across campus. Almost every friend I have has said to me, “I need an internship,” at least once. I know I have even said it a handful of times. 

Completing an internship is a requirement that students in nearly every major face at some point in their college career. And in today’s workforce, they are required for many entry-level jobs.

Digital media student lands internship with Tennessee Small Business Development Center

Savanah Gill, a senior digital marketing student, felt the pressure to find a meaningful opportunity in fall 2024 as she began her search for her first internship.

Gill landed an internship with the Tennessee Small Business Development Center located here in Murfreesboro. She found the internship from an email advertisement sent to students in MTSU’s Jones College of Business. 

As an intern, Gill was responsible for taking detailed notes during client meetings, using DataAxel for research, annotating client business plans, attending local ribbon-cutting ceremonies, helping set up and facilitate trainings and events, and creating social media content. 

When asked what advice she would give to other students seeking internships, she said, network.

“Definitely network and ask around; don’t be hesitant to follow up with people on LinkedIn after you meet them out in the world, on campus, at a career fair. Go interview at places, even if you think you don’t want to work there or don’t need a job, growing that skill will help you gain confidence, and that is what makes you stand out to hiring managers,” Gill said.

While Gill’s experience highlights the unique path in securing an internship, she is not the only student navigating through the internship process. Many students across campus work diligently to find something that aligns with their program of study, goals, and interests. 

Music business student calls internship ‘stepping stone’ into industry

For Jack Burrows, the pressure to find an internship was high, as he knew he needed one to complete his program and serve as a stepping stone into the music industry. 

Burrows graduated in Fall 2025 as a music business major with four completed internships under his belt. He most recently completed an internship in digital marketing at the Country Music Association. 

Burrows is now working full-time in copyright at Kobalt Music Group and as a social media contractor for Big Loud Records. 

While some students secure internships through professors or platforms like Handshake or LinkedIn, Burrows found his opportunity at the Country Music Association through a combination of his professional connections and prior experience. 

“What surprised me most about my time at the CMA was the amount of preparation and labor that goes into the CMA Awards. It was fascinating to see the amount of work required to plan a single night, as everything needed to be timed to the exact second.”

Burrows felt that the internship put him in many new rooms, where he made strong connections with professionals. It was also an opportunity to take what he learned in the classroom and combine it with his internship experience to enhance his soft and hard skills. 

“The most challenging (but fun) part was three hours on CMA Awards night. I was working backstage at Bridgestone Arena creating thumbnails for artist performances, so they were ready to go live on YouTube the moment the set ended. It wasn’t the task itself that made it tough, but the tight time constraints,” Burrows said.  

Burrows said the experience with CMA was beyond rewarding.

Social work student focuses internship in mental health, substance abuse

Regan Gomez is in the Master of Social Work program and will graduate this summer. She is currently interning at the Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute (MTMHI) in Nashville. This hospital is part of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

Gomez knew she wanted her internship in a clinical or mental health setting. She decided to reach out to a professor for recommendations. Her professor suggested this hospital since it serves patients without insurance and thought the opportunity would be invaluable for Gomez.  

Gomez said she reached out to the hospital’s social services director and asked for an interview. 

A typical day for Gomez involves shadowing social workers who focus on discharge planning and coordinating care for patients preparing to transition back into the community. She also participates in interdisciplinary meetings and group sessions. 

Gomez says this is a job where no two days are the same, and that she was most surprised by the people rather than the work structure.

“Many of the patients are experiencing a mental health crisis rather than being what society might label as ‘crazy.’ Spending over seven hours a day in the hospital helped me see them as individuals with complex, often heartbreaking life experiences who deserve compassion, dignity and appropriate treatment,” Gomez said.  

Audio production major learns ins and outs of tour management

Phil Spates is an audio production major who graduated in 2025. Through personal connections, he secured an internship at RichMGMT as a tour management intern. 

In the role, Spates shadowed tour managers and production managers. He also took Tour Management 101 classes at the Rich MGMT office in Nashville. 

He said, “What surprised me the most about the experience was being able to be on a tour bus while still in college.” 

From his internship experience, Spates decided to pursue a career as a tour manager, saying the skills he learned were invaluable.

 “Some skills I learned were how to manage a tour, how to interact with promoters and venue staff, and how to work on an artist’s team.” 

Internship programs and experiences vary widely across majors and industries. While every student’s internship experience is different, it is clear that internships are necessary in most industries. 

Whether you are in a corporate office, the CMAs, a tour bus, or in a hospital, these experiences are bridging the gap between the classroom and workplace for students. 

Writer Ella Cobb is part of MTSU’s Student Voice team. She is completing her MBA in Strategic Marketing Analytics and earned her undergrad in Marketing at MTSU.