Summer is a popular time for students in the School of Human Environmental Sciences to complete their internships.  This series will spotlight student interns.

Jacob Hancock, Hospitality, Management & TourismStudent: Jacob Hancock, Hospitality, Management & Tourism

Internship Location:  Louisville Country Club, Louisville, KY

What is your typical day as an intern?  As an intern, I am on a rotational schedule set up by the Club House manager.  Each week they try to place me in a different division of the club.  For example I may be placed in the Food and Beverage division one week.  During that particular rotation, my day would look something like this; I'll start off by making sure the servers and bussers have clocked in, and then walk around the club to analyze the two bars we have and check what brand or type of alcohol is needed.  Usually we try to keep 3 of every brand either stocked in the cabinets or in the well.  After going down stairs and picking up anything that's needed, I stock everything and take inventory of items that are running low.  This is useful when ordering more products from suppliers. We always try to stay a step ahead and never run out of anything.  I'll then get together with the F&B manager and order the products needed.  Then the rest of the day is determined by what the club is doing.  It could be anywhere from wedding receptions to golfers coming in for dinner.  My job usually consists of making sure the servers are taking tables, delegating food runners and overseeing each dining room while members are present.

What is one of the things you learned as a student that you use often as an intern?  As a student, I learned that you should always check the invoice of every delivery that arrives.  Several times on the job a delivery man will come with packages and not have everything we ordered or a wrong product.  If I would have signed off on the invoice the club could lose money or food service would be disrupted if members ordered a product and we gave them an alternative because of lack of attention on my part.  In conclusion, always check to see if the invoice matches up with the products in front of you.

What is one piece of advice you would give to students preparing for their internship? 

  1. Start looking for internships early.  Don't wait until the last second to find one. 
  2. Apply for several.  There is no harm in getting 3 or 4 internships and choosing the one you want.  It may be that only one offers you a job, so you want to spread yourself wide.
  3. Only apply for the best companies.  Don't try to intern at a mediocre company.  It won't help you in the long run. 
  4. Find companies that have history, because more than likely the staff will be experienced and will help you network with their previous jobs or maybe current.
  5. Take initiative.  Managers want to see leadership.  Don't try to get by with the minimal amount of work.
  6. Don't waste this opportunity.  While being lackadaisical and going through the motions is an easier path, working harder than the rest will help you stand out and move you forward.

Additional Comments?

  • Learn everything you can from the company's staff.  Ask questions and learn as much as you can. 
  • Be intentional with every person you meet.  Learn their life and ask about who they are.  This will help you develop good people skills.  Every person you meet is interesting, so listen carefully.
  • Stay humble.  Look at every situation as an opportunity to serve.  You are interning to learn, even if it means cleaning toilets for a week.
  • Have a positive perspective.  Some days will seem terrible, but having the right perspective helps people around you and yourself.