When I look back to my childhood, one of my most distinct memories is being in my grandmother’s house as The TODAY Show played in the background. In fact, the show’s news coverage became synonymous with mornings for me, always expected to be playing in the background as I got ready for the day, and the first program to be turned on if there was an impending storm or big political moment. In college, it can be difficult to continue watching the news regularly, but I can confidently say that since September, I have seen TODAY every Wednesday – from the window as I walk into my internship at NBC News.
For the entirety of my senior year, I am interning at NBC as a Digital Platforms Editorial Intern. I am responsible for website curation on NBCNews.com, which includes selecting which articles are promoted on subpages, writing headlines, pitching articles to various media outlets and more. I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of the coverage for major events such as the 2024 Election, the presidential inauguration, the Golden Globes and the Grammys.
Interning is a major commitment. I log 24 hours a week for NBC, with one day a week being in person. Between the train ride to Grand Central Station and the walk to 30 Rock, my commute ends up being just under two hours each way. To add to the intensity, my shifts started at 7 am for the first semester of school, meaning my work days began with an alarm at 4:00 am. When I think of my senior year, I don’t think of the classes or projects that I have completed but rather of the work. That being said, I do not regret my decision for a second.
I have found that I have learned more about the industry from working a short time than I had with any of my prior classroom or extracurricular experiences. Going into my future career, I feel more knowledgeable and prepared. Additionally, I have been able to learn more about myself and what I want in a career going forward. NBC is my third internship, and I can easily say that with each experience I have gained clarity on what it is that I enjoy doing.
Anyone who has applied for internships knows the process can be a full-time job. For NBC, I needed to fill out original applications with resumes and cover letters. If those were accepted to the next round, the interviewee needs to complete “HireVue” one-sided videos. Basically, you’re given a prompt and then have thirty seconds to prep your answer, followed by 90 seconds to fill the video. Personally, I’m not the biggest fan of these interviews. I struggle to convey an answer without the feedback on the other end, both verbal and nonverbal. After that, I had a second-round interview with my team, and was offered the position in late June.
As I go into the search for a full-time job, I am thankful that I have so much experience under my belt with interviewing. This process exposed me to different formats of interviews, as well as the types of questions that are frequently asked. Even though it felt overwhelming or stressful at times, I know that the process has only prepared me for what’s to come.
Perhaps what I have taken the most from this internship, though, is confidence. When I entered college, I could never imagine myself taking a train to commute, walking through the city, and entering 30 Rock all alone. In fact, I was painfully shy growing up. I wish I could go back and show my younger self that I am contributing to a website seen by millions and working on a team in the same building as major news reporters, late-night hosts and the cast of SNL. The experience doesn’t feel real at times, and now, in moments where I doubt myself, I can take a step back and think about what I’ve been able to do so far.
Not every internship is perfect. There will likely be times you feel like you’re putting in a lot of extra hours or are unsure of the direction it’s taking you. That being said, I believe that they are 100% worth it. College is a special time in the way that we have so many opportunities to find ourselves. There is nothing lost in doing an internship for a few months and realizing it isn’t what you wanted. But the experience, discovery and confidence you gain is worth every hour you put into it.
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