“Real World” Opportunities for Students

Oelwein, IA – CITY Clean and Simple provides local students with real-world work experience through three internship positions in its marketing department. The internship opportunities at CITY are the first of many to come as the industrial laundry provider plans to continue this investment in student and community development, according to Nicole O’Brien, CITY’s human resources manager.

“These internships are avenues for us to partner with school systems to develop skills and extend opportunities to students who have goals to get secondary education and work in a similar professional environment,” O’Brien said.

This summer, CITY has three marketing internships with students from three different schools. The positions were filled respectively by Abby Paul, a 2018 Oelwein High School graduate, Quinn O’Brien, a 2018 Starmont High School graduate, and Lauren Hass, a current student at Upper Iowa University. Each intern collaborates with CITY’s marketing department to create articles, videos and graphic designs.

First row: Lauren Hass (intern), Abby Paul (intern) and Marketing Manager Emily Novotny. Back row: Human Resources Manager Nicole O’Brien, President Colin Wetlaufer and Videographer Nick Swenston.

Paul started her marketing internship at CITY through her Senior Seminar class at Oelwein High School. The class provided students with work-based learning concepts and skills through in-classroom and on-site work experience, according to the course’s website.

“The internship program is a valuable opportunity for the school, businesses and the community to partner together to build a great relationship,” Josh Vanderloop, Senior Seminar teacher at Oelwein High School, said.

After graduating, Paul was offered to continue her internship through the summer, giving her a head start for college.

“When I went for a college tour, they asked me what video experience I had, and I was fortunate enough to show them my portfolio that I created during my internship at CITY,” Paul said. “Living in a small town like Oelwein, there is not a big film production company, but then I saw CITY’s marketing internship opportunity, and it was a great way for me to get my foot in the door.”

O’Brien believes CITY internships not only provide students with the professional experience necessary for college and future careers, but they also help to enlighten students of the job opportunities that are available right in their very own communities.

“It benefits the community by communicating to the younger work force that there are great jobs here in rural Iowa. Internships are especially vital in a rural community that must compete with metro areas in attaining talented young people to live and work,” O’Brien said. “Having students return after college makes a huge impact on economic development. Internships create a win-win situation.”

To learn about CITY’s internship opportunities, visit www.citycleanandsimple.com/2018/06/04/ internships-community/.