work experience

Jan 31
0

Internship Myths Explained

By | Classroom to Career | No Comments

Internships, especially with Dardis Academy, can serve as a springboard for a successful career. Many celebrities trace their success to their internship experiences, including:

  • Steven Spielberg
    He began an unofficial internship with Universal Studios at age 17, quietly networking with directors. Universal later offered him a seven-year contract.
  • Jodie Foster
    Before she was an Academy Award-winning actress, she took on a summer internship at Esquire in 1982.
  • Tom Hanks
    As a college student in Cleveland, Ohio, he interned for the Great Lakes Theater Festival. The internship led to a three-year tenure that gave him the confidence and theater production experience to launch his acting career.
  • Oprah Winfrey
    Most people know that the popular TV host had humble beginnings at a CBS affiliate in Nashville. Her hard work and passion paid off when she became the first African-American female news anchor.
  • Steve Jobs
    The late computer genius started as an intern at Hewlett-Packard where he met Steve Wozniak and later built the Apple empire.

Each of these famous professionals started with the job title of “intern” and embraced the opportunity to work and learn, a key component of the Dardis mission. Despite these highly-visible internship success stories, many people still struggle to see the value of internships and fall for unproven myths, such as:

Myth: You don’t get paid.
While many internships require students to work unpaid, Dardis interns can achieve financial success through the Classroom to Career program and even win a trip to Mexico!

Myth: You’re just wasting your time.
If you’re making copies from 9 to 5, then yes, you’re wasting your time, but if you’re gaining real-world experience and honing important skills that you’ll use throughout your career, then you’re investing in a meaningful experience that will set you apart after graduation. Dardis’ program is specifically structured to make the most out of your time and give you the skills and experience to succeed.

Myth: I’ll learn what I need to know in college.
The book work, group projects and other skills that you gain during your four years of undergraduate education will always be important, but to jumpstart your career, you need more than a college diploma. Dardis interns learn valuable work and life lessons because they have hands-on experience in the business world, and that’s something no college class can teach you.

Still not convinced of the importance of internships? Read through powerful testimonials from former interns, parents and business professionals and then apply for the 2014 Classroom to Career internship program to disprove the myths yourself. You won’t regret it.

Photo credit:  M.Ryan Photography via Flickr

Dec 06
0

Recruitment Manager Spotlight: Courtney Conklin

By | Someone you should know | No Comments

Courtney Conklin, a member of our passionate recruiting team, truly believes that the Dardis Classroom to Career internship program is a valuable experience for any college student:

“The internship is for anyone and any major.  If you are a student who is willing to work hard and work smart, you are going to be successful, just like our previous graduates!” she  said.

Courtney travels across the state of Illinois with this very message as she searches for the best and brightest students for our Classroom to Career internship program. While the May 1 application deadline is months away, all of our recruitment managers encourage students and their parents to spend time over the holiday season discussing summer internship opportunities – including Dardis’ competitive program, which will serve as the gateway to future career success.

Learn more from Courtney in our latest recruitment manager spotlight:

What is the greatest benefit of the Dardis Classroom to Career internship program?
There are so many benefits of our Classroom to Career program!  If I had to choose the greatest benefit, I would choose personal growth.  From start to finish, students are working with a variety of professionals from different backgrounds while gaining real-life experience.  This growth and experience allows the Dardis intern to mature and develop on both a personal and professional level.

What sets the Dardis internship apart from other internship opportunities?
Dardis Academy provides the two main things employers are looking for in an applicant: communication skills and real-world experience.  Students are not only learning valuable skills in the classroom, but they are able to then apply those skills in the field. After completing our program, our graduates are a fully-trained, proven asset to any organization!

Why do you think it’s important for students to gain real life career experience while in college?
Real-world experience is the #1 thing employers look for on a resume.  Our internship provides students with that experience, giving our students the competitive edge they need to set themselves apart from other applicants.

In one word, what’s Dardis all about?
Opportunity.

How can students contact you for more information?
Students can contact me at courtney@dardisinc.com or 563-940-7547, as well as Facebook and LinkedIn.

Nov 15
0

Experience Is Essential

By | Someone you should know | No Comments

A recent poll showed that in 2012, 63 percent of the students in the Class of 2012 completed at least one internship, and 28 percent of students completed two. Internships are no longer an optional piece of the college experience. They represent a crucial component of any student’s resume, and the college students of today are recognizing that experience is essential in today’s job market.

Not all internships are created equal. Employment at a well-known company can jump off the page, but it’s the real world experience that will help you land the job and propel your career. Dardis’ Classroom to Career internship program combines the respect of the Dardis, Inc. umbrella of companies with the tangible pieces that students need in their working lives post-college.

Networking, communications skills and sales training all contribute to a successful career, but the hands-on experience in this unique internship program ensures students stand out among the rest. During the interview process, past Dardis interns can speak about specific customer experiences, selling techniques and high-profile presentations that will convey the sense of passion and motivation that recruiters look for in recent grads. While some interns focus on secretarial work, Dardis interns do the work and gain valuable experience along the way.

In our latest Recruitment Manager spotlight, Josh Martens shares more about this challenging and worthwhile internship experience:

What is the greatest benefit of the Dardis Classroom to Career internship program?
The opportunity to gain professional work experience.

What sets the Dardis internship apart from other internship opportunities?
Not only is there opportunity to gain experience, but it also takes students through executive level training, which will help them excel in their career after graduation, and also in the classroom until they graduate.

Why do you think it’s important for students to gain real life career experience while in college?
It is one of the major things that employers look for, and if a student expects to get a career after graduation, it is essential that they gain this before graduation.

In one word, what’s Dardis all about?
Professionalism.

How can students contact you for more information?
Students can call me at 402-650-0087 or email me at josh@dardisinc.com.

Sep 06
0

Interns: The Most Ambitious Entrepreneurs

By | The Dardis difference | No Comments

Our 2013 Classroom to Career internship program has come to a close, leaving us at Dardis more impressed than ever by these talented individuals.  Looking back on this past summer, we witnessed our interns progress from our Dardis Academy training program right to potential buyers’ homes and office buildings, making sales and learning valuable lessons along the way.  They persevered through our rigorous program, even though many of them didn’t even have any prior sales experience!

Congratulations to all of our interns, who we know will enter the working world post-college with unmatched work experience.  We would especially like to honor our top three selling interns, Patrick Gibbs, Elliot Salter and Justin Blackburn.  In last week’s blog post, Patrick described the many benefits of his Dardis internship, and Justin Blackburn echoed his responses.

“You learn a lot of very useful things that you will be able to use down the road in your career,” Justin said.  “It will also look very good on a resume and is a great experience for anyone going into the business world.”

He cited his sale of 42 polos to the athletic director at his high school as his most successful moment, which we previously highlighted on this blog.

Another top seller, Elliot Salter, recalled a sale that he never expected.  He drove two hours to meet with a client and ask for tips solely on his sales pitch, but the meeting led to a large sale late in the summer.

“This summer internship was a terrific opportunity to not only make money and show my employers what I can achieve, but I was able to prove to myself that with hard work and organization, I can really be successful in what I put my effort into,” Elliot said.

A 2013 LinkedIn intern contributed an insightful post to the company’s blog in early August calling interns promising entrepreneurs, diligently working to get people to invest in their careers.  We agree that interns have the unique opportunity to not only receive important professional experiences but also make connections that can make a difference in their future careers.

So how can interns be successful entrepreneurs?  Take this advice from LinkedIn intern Courtney Sanford:

  1. Be innovative:  Take advantage of what makes you unique and don’t try to fill the same roles as your full-time co-workers.
  2. Build a brand:  Social networks provide a great opportunity to build your personal brand, and great entrepreneurs know the importance of managing their online identity.
  3. Impact your company:  Regardless of the size of your company, make sure you add value and are able to make an impact with your projects.
  4. Adapt:  Use your internship as an opportunity to learn new skills and test out your knowledge.
  5. Be a serial entrepreneur:  I can’t emphasize enough how valuable it is to have multiple
    internships that give you varied experiences, perspectives, and skills.

At Dardis Academy, we recognize the importance of real work experience and meaningful internships.  There are numerous student benefits for our Classroom to Career internship program, so as we ramp up for our 2014 program, please consider recommending Dardis Academy to a young entrepreneur in your life.

Photo credit: http://www.zazoomvideo.com/

Jul 05
0

A Successful Start For Intern Elliot Salter

By | Someone you should know | No Comments

It’s difficult to believe that 20-year-old Elliot Salter, a finance major at the University of Iowa, entered the Dardis Classroom to Career internship program with no retail or sales experience. After only one week of selling last month, this Dyersville, Iowa native was at the top of the Dardis intern leader board, selling nearly $6,000 worth of merchandise.

Beyond his experience with Dardis, Elliot most importantly wants to help people through his financial services career path, and he believes that the Dardis internship program is the best place to start.

What was the most valuable information you learned in the Dardis Sales Academy?
Confidence is everything. If the potential customer does not believe that you know what you’re talking about, there is no reason for them be interested. Also, people love to buy, but hate to be sold. Every potential customer is different, so a successful salesperson needs to be able to adapt and direct the conversation toward someone else’s needs.

What are you looking forward to the most with this summer experience?
It will be great to have the kind of confidence it takes to be successful in this program. I have already grown so much as a people person, and I am looking forward to learning lessons through the high and low points of my experience.

How has the transition gone from the Academy to selling the Dardis product? Any success stories yet or a goal you hope to achieve?
The transition went very well! It is a lot easier selling a product that you know people need, but what is more important is that they know they need it. The UPS delivery person has already commented on how many of the Dardis packages they have delivered, so I hope to really make their head spin!

Do you have a favorite Dardis product?
I love my black paisley tie. I can wear it with almost any shirt, and it really adds the pop necessary to stick out.

What fashion/menswear advice do you plan to share with all of your clients?
Dress pants fit much different than jeans do. It is an interesting conversation explaining to men that they may not be gaining weight, but the measurements will be different!

How do you think your role with Dardis Clothiers will benefit you in the future as you begin your post-college career?
The skills I have already obtained and will obtain are priceless when it comes to the opportunities I will work for after college. A person who can speak well and look the part of the job they are aiming for would be hard to turn down.

May 31
0

Angie Bennett: A Lifelong Teacher

By | Someone you should know | No Comments

 

Before Angie Bennett joined the Dardis team at the company’s inception, she was a high school teacher for 14 years, equipping students with the skills and knowledge they would need post-graduation. Now she nurtures her love for teaching and coaching students on real life skills through her role as Senior Instructor and Vice President of Sales for Dardis Communications, Inc., working for both Dardis Communications and Dardis Academy.

“I love arming students with skills that will give them that competitive edge, as well as strategies on communication and professional image,” Angie said.

Read on to learn more about this lifelong teacher.

What do you enjoy the most about your job?

Every day looks different, as I get the opportunity to meet, work with and coach a wide range of individuals. We get to witness high school and college students putting real life skills to use including communication skills, selling skills and managing time through our 10-week internship. Our Classroom to Career internship pushes students to put into practice things they are studying and learning to give them a competitive edge. The Dardis Sales Academy is the ultimate gateway in which students can strategically move from classroom to career. Employers want experience, and they want individuals with practical, hands-on skills. Dardis gives our student interns the competitive edge they need to be successful.

You also work as a recruiter for the Dardis Clothiers student reps. What do you usually look for in a good candidate?

Great candidates for the Dardis Academy are competitive, hardworking, high energy and positive. Individuals that are driven and understand the importance of real life experience are typically successful with Dardis.

What do you think sets Dardis Clothiers apart from other menswear stores?

Three core reasons – product, price and convenience. We have great fabrics, including non-iron dress shirts, trousers that fit great and tons of choices in neckwear. Our prices are unbelievable because we take out the middle person, design our own clothing and make it in bulk. On average our clients save 40 percent! Convenience is huge, as we have student reps that travel right to your door, and then we ship everything directly to you. You never have to go to the mall or a store again to purchase business casual or business attire.

Do you have a favorite customer story or experience?

One specific story that sticks out to me is a man that was referred to me by his wife. His wife said she wanted him to feel more confident and to feel positive about his look. We met and discussed colors, fit and gaps in his wardrobe. We put together an order, and a few days later after he received his clothing, I got an email from his wife. She said that seeing her husband confident and feeling good meant the world to her. She also mentioned that her husband has completely sworn off traditional shopping forever and was calling his friends telling them his personal shopping experience.

What would you say to someone who is interested in shopping with Dardis Clothiers for the first time?

You will be pleasantly surprised as to how much fun you will have, the quality of clothing you will receive and just how easy it is! My clients appreciate having a resource for their clothing needs and wants, and they love knowing that they can email or call me, and I will take care of it for them. We build a relationship with our clients and truly value them.

Contact Dardis today to learn more. Contact Us