In a truly symbiotic relationship, Wakefield, Mass., professional services firm Virtual, Inc. and the Endicott College Internship & Career Center work together to provide extensive experiences and opportunities to Endicott students, while also helping the busy company grow their workforce and engage in the professional community. To-date, Virtual has taken on over 30 interns from Endicott and currently employs several Endicott alumni.
The partnership with Virtual helps students prepare for real-world careers and offers insight into the company’s culture and the variety of opportunities one can have as a student and an alumni. "Virtual has been a close employer partner to Endicott and has provided our students with incredible work experience and professional development,” says Brenda Campbell, Director of Employer Relations at the Internship & Career Center. “Our students are immediately integrated into a team, have been able to produce real content, and make a difference in the organization. Virtual has continually hosted our interns and has hired many of our alumni in a variety of roles.”
Casey Joyce ’19 M’20, heard about Virtual Inc’s welcoming environment and positive company culture before she applied and got her semester-long internship as a Marketing Communication Intern in September of 2018, the fall of her senior year. “When starting at Virtual, it was very welcoming and exciting,” says Joyce. “The People & Culture team (HR) ensured that interns had the opportunity to grow and gain the best experience possible. Interns had check-in meetings to ensure we were receiving the best support and experience, and even set us up with ‘buddies’ within the company to have lunch and chat or do activities to get to know other employees around the office in different departments. Almost two years after my first day at Virtual, I continue to feel valued and supported, which is exactly the professional environment I want to continue to work in.”
When Joyce’s semester-long internship was about to end, Virtual asked her to stay on as a part-time intern through the rest of her senior year. She says, “I was able to work part time at Virtual with my class schedule while a full-time student and captain of the Endicott women’s rugby team.” After graduation, when Joyce was accepted into the nine-month intensive MBA program at Endicott, she continued her internship at Virtual through the summer and fall, transitioning to a part-time position as Marketing Coordinator through her MBA, and increasing her hours after graduating from the program.
“We love that Endicott’s program emphasizes career planning through exploration and allows students the time and resources to really dedicate themselves throughout the school year to focus on their internships. Having been given the right structure and real-world learning experiences, Endicott candidates really thrive in our culture.” — Miriam Macedo, Virtual, Inc.
Miriam Macedo, Human Resources Business Partner at Virtual, says that Endicott students like Casey have a strong commitment to learn and grow—qualities obvious not only through the partnership with the Internship & Career Center, but in how the students interact with the company and even their professors. “We love that Endicott’s program emphasizes career planning through exploration and allows students the time and resources to really dedicate themselves throughout the school year to focus on their internships,” says Macedo. “Having been given the right structure and real-world learning experiences, Endicott candidates really thrive in our culture. We are a fast-paced organization, and we look for candidates who are able to jump in and be willing and able to see the big picture, understand how their role impacts the organization, and aren’t shy to speak up about new ideas that can help improve the way we work together to serve our clients.”
She adds, “I never hesitate to reach out to Brenda when we are struggling to find a good candidate match for an open position. Endicott jumps right in and provides great resources and referrals which are always so welcome. The career fairs are also a highlight of our recruitment journey every year and I always come back to the office with many qualified candidates in the pipeline.”
The partnership that Endicott and Virtual have extends further than just hiring interns and alumni. Virtual works with the College to create networking opportunities, speaking engagements, and other creative activities geared toward helping grow their team and providing a source for students to learn more about what it’s like to work within Virtual and similar industries. “We’ve had a number of our managers visit classes to talk about specific career paths and aspirations. In 2017, I was invited to participate on the panel for the Career Counselors' Consortium organized by Endicott. We also make it a point to participate in the Changemakers Conference every year. Endicott has done a wonderful job of building this great community that has served as a resource for so many and we are so grateful for the relationships we’ve built through the years. We look forward to continuing to partner with Endicott for years and years to come,” says Macedo.
Internship Insight: take a peek at interning at Virtual, Inc. with student Sinead Carthy '19