My Summer at Sharp – Here's What It Takes to Produce a Successful Internship Journey
In early June, I, along with fifteen other interns arrived at Sharp Headquarters in Montvale, New Jersey ready to embark on our internship journey. A mix of emotions raced through me as I stepped into Sharp on my first day as an intern for Sharp’s office technology division. I was eager to learn about the corporate world and gain hands-on experience but anxious to meet new colleagues and prove myself in a professional setting.
Two months later, I can look back at my anxious self and see that my worries were unnecessary. With supportive and welcoming colleagues, along with an HR team that went above and beyond to ensure our success and inclusion, I was able to gain invaluable experiences and feel truly integrated into the Sharp community.
Insights from HR Leaders
I had the opportunity to interview Larry Goldstein and Stacy Direnzo from HR to learn more about the history of Sharp’s internship program and how they have ensured its success this year.
Sharp’s internship program has come a long way in a relatively short period. Last year, there were only 10 interns, and in the years prior, the numbers ranged from 2 to 6. Initially, if a department wanted an intern, they would individually reach out to HR. Today, Sharp has a comprehensive and structured internship program, reflecting its commitment to developing young talent.
Real-World Experience
Sharp’s internship program is dedicated to offering each intern a legitimate role that provides real, on-the-job work experience. No intern is running around getting coffees or filing papers all day. As a Marketing Communications intern, I’ve had the opportunity to create branded flyers for various industries, assist in redesigning the Sharp Business USA YouTube Channel and work on numerous other necessary marketing projects. These experiences have taught me so much and significantly enhanced my skills.
To give an idea of what some of our other interns have been working on this summer, I reached out to a few interns from other departments. Our HR intern has been helping to rewrite job descriptions to make them appeal to a larger variety of individuals as well as assisting in coordinating candidate interviews. While our IT Intern has been investigating different threats that occur within the Sharp network via CrowdStrike, helping to implement USB policy to reduce risk of malware and tackling many other significant tasks. These diverse experiences highlight the meaningful and impactful work our interns are engaged in.
Transitioning to Full-Time Roles
Many of our interns find their time at Sharp so rewarding that they choose to stay on as full-time employees. Across both the office technology and home entertainment and appliances departments, about 30% of interns go on to become full time employees. This number would likely be higher if more interns were able to start full-time jobs after their internships, but many need to return to school.
Creating a Welcoming Community
It is important for Sharp to make sure that the interns feel welcomed and part of the Sharp community. To achieve this, HR hosted an intern event each week of the program where it allowed interns to learn and connect with each other as well as other Sharp employees.
Intern-Exclusive Events
Some events were designed just for the interns, including a Scavenger Hunt aimed at helping us learn more about Sharp. During this event, interns explored various parts of the building, met certain individuals and took pictures in places they likely hadn’t visited before. Additionally, HR put together a Candy Ice Breaker, where interns shared their favorite candies and used them as conversation starters, allowing everyone to get to know each other in a fun and relaxed setting. I enjoyed these intern-based events as they allowed me to meet all the other interns in different departments and learn about the projects they were working on.
Learning from the Top
Other events allowed the interns to learn from senior leaders including executives and managers. Specifically, the Executive Roundtable event allowed groups of two to three interns to have one-on-one sessions with Sharp’s top executives. Interns were encouraged to ask questions, gaining valuable insights into the industry and discuss their career aspirations. I gained so much from each of my conversations and am truly grateful for the opportunity, as it’s an experience that many other interns from corporate companies might not have.
Building Connections with Mid-Level Managers
To build relationships with some of Sharp’s mid-level managers, the HR team put together a Fireside Chat event. This informal gathering gave interns the opportunity to have open conversations with managers and build connections. It also provided a relaxed environment for sharing experiences and stories. This event allowed me to feel more connected to mid-level managers and learn valuable lessons that I can apply to my career.
Insights from Early-Career Employees
Interns also had the opportunity to hear from Sharp employees that had started their journey with us early in their careers through our Gold Panel Event. Interns gained valuable insights and tips on navigating summer internships and careers. Hearing from individuals that have experienced similar journeys provided me with guidance and inspiration for my own career. For instance, Elyse Biel, now a Product Management Specialist, began her journey at Sharp as an intern before being offered a full-time position. She shared that her eagerness to stay was driven by the company culture, her supportive coworkers and the potential to grow.
A Look Towards the Future
All these events, along with others, helped Sharp foster a sense of community among their interns and employees. As an intern, these events made me feel comfortable communicating with colleagues of all levels and provided me with valuable insights. The supportive community at Sharp has made this internship experience both memorable and successful. Looking ahead, Sharp is hoping to expand the program to additional Sharp USA locations beyond the current headquarters in Montvale, New Jersey, promising a bright future for its continued growth and success. My time at Sharp has taught me that Sharp really believes that its interns are its future, and the hope is for them to one day work as Sharp Electronics employees. Having a successful internship program lays the foundation for a strong and dynamic workforce in the years to come.
To explore internship and career opportunities with Sharp visit https://business.sharpusa.com/Careers