“Intern Queen” Lauren Berger will speak to students today in the Satellite Student Union about her 15 undergraduate internships and her website, which she created to help students find internships.
Lauren Berger, “the Intern Queen” who scored 15 internships during her undergraduate years at University of Central Florida, will visit the Satellite Student Union Wednesday to give Fresno State students advice about internships and obtaining a career in today’s job market.
Berger, who is CEO and founder of InternQueen.com, began her business in 2009 at the age of 24 when she recognized a shortage of simple, reliable internship resources. The website gives students access to internships around the world at no cost.
Berger, who has traveled the world to lend students her knowledge and expertise, regularly contributes to news outlets such as USA Today, Seventeen.com, AOL Jobs and more.
The event, which is sponsored by The Limited clothing store, USU Productions and Career Services, will be held at 7 p.m. and is free.
Marine Vardanyan, an event coordinator for USU Productions who helped organize Berger’s visit, said the event should benefit all attendees by giving them a better understanding of internships and careers.
“This is a very unique opportunity for Fresno State students to gain insight into the world of internships and learn useful tips from an individual who has dealt with a variety of situations, challenges and projects,” she said.
“Students will be able to relate with Lauren and be motivated to get involved and find internships for themselves.”
Vardanyan, who has interned at two organizations during her time at Fresno State, said internships should be a priority for all students.
“Not many students are aware of the great benefits that come from internship experience,” she said. “Along with enhancing their skills, internships help with finding jobs and building professional connections. Lauren Berger’s experience in college with balancing 15 internships makes her the ideal person for communicating to students the importance of internships.”
During Berger’s speech, Vardanyan said students will have the chance to learn useful information such as how to build a resume, find internships, network and more.
“By sharing her own personal stories and lessons learned, attendees of the event will end the day with a much better idea of internships and how helpful they are to one’s future,” Vardanyan said.
Nathaly Juarez, an Intern Queen campus ambassador and Fresno State senior who is double majoring in sociology and journalism, helped promote the event.
As a campus ambassador, Juarez said she is responsible for spreading the word about the Intern Queen brand around campus and promoting Berger’s events though social media websites like Facebook.
Though her work as a campus ambassador, Juarez said she has come to realize the value of getting an internship during college and encourages all Fresno State students to attend the event.
“During my internships, I was able to ask a lot of questions, so I feel like I’m a step ahead and know what to expect once I’m done with college,” Juarez said. “It gives me real life experience, and it allows me to see what a regular day can be like once I actually am out in the work force.”
Berger also gave Fresno State senior Reyna Cazares, who is double majoring in fashion merchandising and print journalism, a personal invitation to help promote the event.
Cazares said her interaction with Berger began when she sent a message to the intern guru’s personal email address asking for advice.
“I asked her for advice on how to get an internship at a fashion publication in New York,” she said.
Although she did not reply right away, when Berger discovered she would visit Fresno State as part of her nationwide tour sponsored by The Limited, she contacted Cazares and asked her to help promote the event.
“It was pretty cool,” Cazares said with a laugh. “We have conference calls and discuss with her directly how to promote.”
Cazares, who recently scored an internship in New York with Seventeen Magazine, said she is excited to attend the event and get inspired to work even harder.
“I want to hear more directly from her about how she did 15 internships during her four years of college and how I could possibly do it,” she said. “That’s what I’m looking forward to.”
The first 50 attendees of the event will receive a free copy of Berger’s book, “All Work, No Pay: Finding an Internship, Building Your Resume, Making Connections and Gaining Job Experience.”