考特尼·柯林斯’ plans all changed on Friday the 13th.
After studying in Malaga, Spain for the Spring 2020 semester, she would head to New York City to do her marketing internship with the Estée Lauder Companies, working with the Jo Malone London perfume brand.
It’s a dream she said was inspired by her aunt who was a long-time executive for the cosmetics company and also a desire to live and work in the Big Apple. But on Friday, March 13, the semester in Spain was cancelled and Collins headed back to Kansas City. Her internship was pushed back a year.
She’s one of many Bloch students who because of the pandemic had their internship plans change. According of Tess Surprenant, director of the Bloch Career Center, about 25% of internships were delayed after an offer was made. 进一步, many companies shut down recruiting activities just as students were in the process of interviewing.
For those that held internships, about 80-90% were held remotely. 在COVID-19之前, 远程实习s were a rarity and that meant a substantial pivot for students and companies.
在她等待2021年的时候, Collins re-evaluated what she wants to do with her profession, and with the help of the Bloch Career Center, taking stock of her future.
“I talked with Maggie (Reyland) and Tess (Surprenant) a lot in how it looks for job placement in (the cosmetics) industry. 这是结束吗?柯林斯说. “A lot of things have shifted.”
What also has shifted was how the internship was going to work, logistically. She will be one of 140 interns, out of an applicant pool of 7,000. Instead of an abbreviated six-week, 远程实习, Collins decided to wait until this summer and do the full 10-week internship. Because Estée Lauder is keeping their offices closed until October 2021, it means another mostly 远程实习.
“What I wanted with the in-person internship was the in-person networking and building relationships,柯林斯说. “How can I do that over Zoom? How can I stand out over a video? I‘ve listened to career panelist with the Bloch marketing advisory board and they all say it’s the same, 只是在线. You can still make those connections.”
Surprenant said she’s been impressed with the student’s resiliency.
“Since all the employers were interviewing virtually, it means that students had to learn new tips and techniques for this format,Surprenant说. That included learning to navigate virtual career fairs and networking meetings.
“现在比以往任何时候都更重要, 在紧张的就业市场, it is often these types of connections that help a student distinguish themselves,”她说。.
Collins’ goal with the internship is still the same: get a full-time role at Estée Lauder and move to New York. She’s confident that she can immerse herself into the re-invention of the workforce and city, 流行后.
“我认为这很令人兴奋. We’re starting from scratch with more resources, technology-wise,”她说。. “For business and entrepreneurship students here at Bloch, the sky is the limit with what we can do and where we can do it.”