COVID-19 interrupts summer work plans

By Megan Reynolds

For students everywhere, summer internships are being postponed, cut short or even canceled because of  the havoc wreaked by the novel coronavirus.

Employers are being forced to release staff, and interns are the first to go. While some have been able to adapt their internship to a work-from-home setting, others are not so lucky.

Hannah Carroll, internship coordinator for Murray State’s career services, has followed the changes many internships are going through. From her observations, many companies are still planning to prepare for the summer of COVID-19.    

“From what we have gathered, they are examining the faucets of the positions, the educational needs, and largely, the logistics of completing the internship successfully,” Carroll said. “These companies are determining if online formats are possible and if and when they may have to make changes to their offers for the summer and fall.”

This means, for many students, their summer plans are still unclear. Despite this uncertainty, students can still look to their university for help   

“We are here to help students, every step of the way,” Carroll said. “As a department, we have tried to stay in front of issues that are arising and our stance is to be as supportive as possible for our Racers who might find themselves in these circumstances.”

Carroll said Career Services is working with students who need to find alternative placements and opportunities for the summer. They are also helping students who need help negotiating with employers on arrangements that would avoid direct cancelations.

For students who were going through interviews for the prestigious Omnicom opportunities, much of their hope for a summer internship has vanished. Omnicom is a marketing company that services over 5,000 clients. Murray State’s College of Business works diligently to get its students an internship in which the company will place students with one of its thousands of clients, working in advertising, public relations, graphic design and more.

This summer, the Omnicom internships have been canceled.. 

“I was incredibly excited for the summer internship,” said Nicholas Bushnell, a senior advertising major. “We were still going through the final process of it but I was hoping to be working with Designory located in Chicago.”

Designory is an advertising agency with multiple locations across the United States, Bushnell said. Working in an Omnicom internship would have put all eyes on him when he began applying for jobs.

“Omnicom has been very diligent and careful evaluating the needs for their employees,” Bushnell said. “From my last contact I had with the company, they made sure to minimize their work force that comes in to only essential employees for that day and having everybody else stay at home to work/attend meetings via Zoom.”

With the Omnicom internships currently canceled, Bushnell has continued applying for other internships. He keeps a close eye on any changes, though. Many of these organizations are working on stricter schedules, but still function at full capacity, he said.

And despite the rapidly changing situation, Bushnell makes sure to keep his head up.

“We have been given a terrible set of cards, but this is not the end for us,” Bushnell said. “We will persevere and get back on track before we know it. Just because the internship is cancelled now, doesn’t mean it won’t be a possibility in the near future.”

Some students still have internships planned,but they are keeping an ear open in case anything changes.

Kimberly Molden, junior majoring in agriscience and political science, is one of these students.

“I have spent the last semester working in Frankfort with the Legislative Research Commission, as an intern on the Local Government and Banking and Insurance Committees,” Molden said. “Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 I have been forced to continue the internship via email.”

This internship is not Molden’s only one. She is still on track to begin her next in June.

“As my previous internship at the Kentucky State Capitol is ending, I am beyond excited for my next internship with Congressman James Comer in Washington, D.C. toward the end of summer,” Molden said.

In her time working from home, Molden is keeping her spirits up through spending time outdoors, fishing with her family and driving throughout the countryside.

Professor Gill Welsch is the adviser to the advertising club and works closely with students applying for the Omnicom internships. For students experiencing an uncertainty of summer plans, he has some advice.

“They [the students] probably should read the environment,” Welsch said. “At this point… The best answer I could say is that it depends on the situation.” 

He suggests trying to find something that allows remote work due to the current state the world is in. At the end of the day, Welsch stresses that every situation is different and unique.

When things seem like there may not be much hope, Bushnell has his own advice.

“Keep applying and keep working harder than before,” Bushnell said. “Who knows? Maybe an amazing opportunity will present itself to you that you never would’ve expected. Until then, find things to keep you working, growing, and progressing every single day.”