Ninety-eight percent of William Peace University graduates find jobs or attend graduate school after graduation.
One of the ways Peace sets those students up for success is to guarantee an internship experience for all undergraduates.
How Internships at William Peace University Launch Careers
During their sophomore or junior year, students enroll in a 300-level professional development course that covers career readiness and preparation. The class includes writing cover letters, creating resumes, conducting mock interviews, and covering basic principles of career readiness.
Jessica Pryor, Assistant Director of Career Development and Internships in the Center for Student Success (CSS) office, assists with placing students based on Peace’s employer partnerships.
“We’ll walk students through the different steps,” Pryor said. “Once they have the internship, they are in the class.”
PDS 490 consists of 10 in-class sessions and 120 internship hours. In the class, students cover career reflections, understanding benefits and negotiations, and information interviews. Students also engage in reflective activities to help them become better acquainted with their strengths, values, and transferable skills.
“They do their internship once they start PDS 490, so we follow them through the whole semester,” Pryor explained. “We help students know their worth and value to employers, which makes them more prepared to navigate a changing workforce.”
This summer, the class will also cover using AI in the job search process, as well as AI for long-term career planning.
Internships in Action
Internship placement has led to immediate employment for some Peace students.
Carmen Tran, a recent Peace graduate, interned with the Dabba Company, a pet rehabilitation facility in Cary, over the summer and was able to work there part-time after her internship was over.
Tran and other Peace students gain real-world experience, allowing them to actively apply their skills outside the classroom. According to statistics from the CSS, 94% of student interns would recommend their internship to other Peace students and 93% percent of interns feel better prepared to enter the workforce as a result of their internships.
“I like that William Peace University integrates internships so people get that opportunity to learn,” Jacob Trump said.
Trump interned with the North Carolina Division of Workforce Solutions last summer, working alongside the communications manager.
Ashley Wyrick knew she wanted to enter law after graduation, but was unsure which area. Her internship at Peter Lamm’s Law Firm gave her a firsthand look at the business and a clearer picture of her future.
“I want to fight for justice,” Wyrick said about her internship. “I feel like this is a field where I can help people in a way that matters.”
Speaking from her own experiences, Pryor said she didn’t think about an internship until she was done with college. The program at Peace is the perfect bridge from student to professional.
“I think it prepares them,” Pryor explained. “When you can get on top of it and get ahead, you have your degree and practical experience to pair with it. I think that’s what employers are looking for. I just think it’s a great opportunity for students to get that experience under their belt and get started, especially if they don’t have prior work experience.”
