Kevin Cottington ’13

Major(s): Economics
Internship Site: Pittsburgh Penguins - Pittsburgh, PA

The Internship:   
I knew that I was interested in working in sports and in the Pittsburgh area, so I targeted the Penguins as a potential employer. While browsing the team’s posted internship positions, the communications internship caught my eye due to my interest and background in sports writing and statistics. I applied online for the internship and had one in-person interview with the team before being offered an internship position.

I worked and collaborated on a variety of projects. We created statistical reports, designed media guides and programs for both the NHL Draft and upcoming season and wrote and researched for press releases as team news broke. My favorite project was working on the program for the draft as it is a marquee event in the NHL and was seen on a national stage.

The Challenges:   
Not knowing what to expect each day was both exciting and challenging. A lot of the job required a “wait and see” approach, as team decisions regarding personnel, etc. dictated what projects we would be focusing on. I overcame this challenge by just embracing the fact that it was part of the job. I learned the importance of patience and preparation from this challenge.

The Preparation:   
A number of classes prepared me for the internship experience, namely my first year seminar, “Writing About Sports”. Fundamentals of Accounting helped me gain experience using Microsoft Excel, and my Statistics classes helped prepare me for the data analysis projects. Although it is not a class, working with the Dickinsonian the past three years helped me develop sports writing skills that were crucial to the internship.

The Future:  
The internship helped me with my future goals by providing valuable experience, helping me add new connections and convincing me that working in sports communications is an area I want to pursue full-time. After completing the internship, my career goals are now better defined and more attainable.

Tips from Kevin: 
Have a few places in mind of internship sites you would be interested in as you could quickly become overwhelmed if you don’t know what you are looking for. While at your internship, keep an open mind and a positive attitude. Not every project is going to be exciting or something you find interesting. Finally, connect with your fellow interns and employees while you are there, don’t just show up to work every day, complete what is asked of you, and then go home. Your internship experience will be a lot more rewarding if you ask questions, seek advice and become friendly with your other interns. 

*To find out more about how to get an internship, make an appointment with a career counselor. Just call the Career Center at 717-245-1740 or stop by Biddle House.