Finding an internship during college can be difficult, but AST Marketing Group is offering an opportunity for students who want to get some experience in all areas of business.
AST Marketing Group is a two-year-old company founded by Carey J. Guglielmo, Jr. and Billy Haile, who spent 45-plus years combined in NIKE.
“We’re a big believer in intern programs at AST. I’m a product of an internship,” Guglielmo said. “We have had six interns in the past 26 months.”
Guglielmo went on to say that an internship at AST is unlike many in which students participate. AST gives its interns the opportunity to get a taste for all the different parts that come together to create a business.
AST internships generally range from three months to six months and can be unpaid or provide college credit. Internships with AST can lead to paid positions as well, Guglielmo said.
“Probably the most important thing for our internships is that we feel it’s a two-way street,” Guglielmo said. “It’s got to be beneficial for the individual, and of course, it’s got to be beneficial for AST.”
This internship is not just for the marketing majors. AST looks for students to work in all areas of the company, including finance and order management.
“Right now, we are looking for interns in all areas of business,” said Stacey Messina, AST business development director. “We are looking for anyone who is interested in just learning more about their specific field or exploring new fields.”
AST stresses the importance of school, and first asks those interested in applying for an internship with them to provide their class schedule. This ensures the internship will not interfere with a student’s academics.
According to an article by CNN in 2010, internships benefit students by providing a chance to network, establish relationships, gain skills, grasp the time commitment and amount of work that goes into their field, and try out careers to make sure they are in the field that is best for them.
“It’s connections with the Baton Rouge community. It’s also learning professional skills, personal communication skills, writing, telephone skills,” Messina said. “We can take the student … learn their skill set, put them where they can be utilized best and also teach them new things that they can take into the future.”
The latest statistics obtained by the National Association of Colleges and Employers in 2016 show the average rate of employers offering jobs to interns to be 72.7 percent.
According to a survey performed by NACE in 2015, 60 percent of employers look for applicants who obtained some form of experience prior to applying for the job.
The LSU Olinde Career Center encourages student internships by providing opportunities for students to earn credit for interning. The LSU OCC website states that “an internship provides you with practical work experience in your chosen field.”