Nick Probert needed an internship. It was the summer before his senior year at the University of Denver, and the international business major wanted some much-needed job experience.

As the job market tightens up, many employers are raising the bar on work experience. The more professors, advisors and employers urge students to intern, the more students need to learn what to expect when accepting an internship.

Probert sent approximately 30 resumes online and received one invitation for an interview.

He accepted an internship with CIBC World Markets, a national investment banking firm that follows the stock prices of oil companies.

Probert worked out of a 10-person office in Houston, Tex. for three months.

“I learned a lot of financial information, which was kind of strange since I didn’t take a financial course until this year.

It would’ve been a great deal of help had I taken the financial class before the internship,” Probert said.

Investment banking covers a wide-range of industries. In Probert’s case, his firm watches stock prices of oil companies and gives customers positive tips as to what the stock price might do.

Probert’s duties included compiling spread sheets, analyzing historical stock data and constructing stock portfolios.

According to the DU Career Center Website, internships are beneficial because students can clarify their career goals, test drive careers and gain job search skills.

Senior Kim Barry accepted an internship with KEZW, an Entercom Broadcasting radio station.

“I enjoyed the internship because it gave me insight into an exciting field that I’ve always been interested in,” Barry said.

The marketing major worked with the radio station for two months. Her main duties involved radio station promotions.

“The worst thing about the internship was not getting paid,” Barry said. Senior journalism major Shaymia Ware is already on her second internship.

“I worked for Channel 9 News and now I work for Zenith magazine,” said Ware.

Ware knows how complex the world of internships can be.

“Both internships are very different,” Ware said. “At Channel 9 I did scriptwriting, news editing and reporter packages. At Zenith I am a freelance writer and I work out of my home.”

Both of Ware’s internships were unpaid.

Probert had a different monetary experience than Ware and Barry. He was paid $18 an hour.

“They gave me 15 stocks and an imaginary 10 million dollars to play with. If I made money in the market they would take me out to lunch, but if I lost money I had to take them out to lunch,” Probert said.

Probert said internships help to make professional friends and mentors.

“This world is all about connections. Through my internship I met the right people and I am keeping positive relationships,” Probert said.

DU graduate Michelle Kugeler made the transition from intern to employee last year.

She interned her senior year with the Winter Group, an advertising and marketing firm that specializes in education.

“I am an account coordinator, which basically means I help out with the account executives. We speak with the client and figure out what they need, for example, marketing research, focus groups and print advertising,” Kugeler said.

According to Kugeler, DU has high quality and knowledgeable professors.

“I loved that all my professors had lots of experience in the field,” she said.

Kugeler said that DU students need to be realistic about the economy and average starting salaries.

“They (advertising firms) respect you more with the more experience you have. Although I love that I’m getting experience by doing everything possible, it’s hard because I had to start at the bottom,” Kugeler said.