You may know where they are now, but where were some of today’s most powerful and influential people before the power and fame? Many held an internship position that created a foundation for their future success!

By Synthia Salas

Before becoming the commissioner of the National Football League, the most successful sports and entertainment entity in America, Roger Goodell began his 30 year NFL career as an intern.

“He wrote about 40 letters: one to every single team in the league at the time, and one to the National Football League.”

Football became a passion for Goodell at a very young age. By the time he graduated from Washington & Jefferson College in 1981 he already knew what he wanted to do – he was going to work for the NFL. He wrote about 40 letters: one to every single team in the league at the time, and one to the National Football League headquarters.  All he needed was one positive response in the pile of rejection letters. He got that response from the league office, a casual reply telling him to “stop by if you’re ever in the area.”

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, began his career as an intern

Roger’s reply? Yes, he was in the area and could come by the next day. He got in his car, and drove seven hours from the Pittsburgh area to NFL headquarters in New York City. It was worth the drive – a few months later he was working as an administrative intern for the league. This lead to a full-time public relations internship with the Jets in 1983. At the end of his internship, Goodell was offered an entry-level position with the Jets coaching staff. His internships had exposed him to different aspects of  the professional sports industry and he realized exactly what he wanted to do and it was not coaching in the NFL. He was more interested in the  administrative roles of the NFL and returned to the league office full-time.

He continued working his way up and through various positions, culminating in his appointment in 2006 as the Commissioner of the National Football League (and only the 3rd commissioner since 1960).

Amazing story! All it takes is one response from one employer to get your career started. Check out our sports internships.

You may know where they are now, but where were some of today’s most powerful and influential people before the power and fame? Many held an internship position that created a foundation for their future success!

Tom Hanks - 2009

By Dan Drullinger

You have heard him as the voice of Woody, the lead character in the hit film series Toy Story. You have seen him trudge through Normandy as Captain John Miller in the heroic classic, Saving Private Ryan. His relationship with a volleyball in the movie Cast Away will go down in history as will his comparison of life to a box of chocolates in Forrest Gump.

He is a legend, and his name is Tom Hanks. And he got his start in entertainment by way of an internship with the Great Lakes Theater Festival in Cleveland, Ohio.

Hanks studied theater at Chabot College for two years before transferring to Cal State University – Sacramento. He felt studying theater was perfect fit for a guy that wanted to be loud and flamboyant, according to him. While in school, Hanks was introduced to the head of the Great Lakes Theater Festival, Vincent Dowling. Dowling was impressed with Hanks and convinced him to join the festival staff as an intern.

The [Great Lakes Theater Festival] internship exposed Hanks to all facets of theater production including set design, stage management and lighting.

What he did not know at the time was that he would eventually drop out of school while turning his internship into a three-year experience with the festival. This experience was unique in the fact that it was a crash course in the industry. The internship exposed Hanks to all facets of theater production including set design, stage management and lighting. He no longer felt the need for a formal education in theater, as he gained invaluable knowledge and expertise during his three year tenure with Dowling and the festival.

While preparing the spotlight for many productions during his internship, Hanks found the courage to step into that same spotlight himself while playing the role of Proteus in Shakespeare’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Not only did he juggle both experiences handily, he succeeded with flying colors. His villainous role won him the Cleveland Critics Circle Award for Best Actor, the first of many awards to come for his talent as an actor.

Tom Hanks will go down in history as one of the best actors to ever hit the silver screen. He has been nominated for five Oscars and won two of them as Best Actor for his lead roles in Philadelphia and Forrest Gump. Alongside his 64 acting roles, Hanks has also produced over 34 titles including My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Where The Wild Things Are and most recently Larry Crowne, which he also wrote, directed and starred in.

His achievements on a whole are second to none, and he has an internship with the Great Lakes Theater Festival to thank for that.

You may know where they are now, but where were some of today’s most powerful and influential people before the power and fame? Many held an internship position that created a foundation for their future success!

Oprah's 50th Birthday Party at Hotel Bel-Air

BY DAN DRULLINGER

There is a good chance that anyone who has been exposed to any type of media is familiar with the name Oprah Winfrey. She is hands down the most influential woman on television today. One cannot simply peg Winfrey as this or that. She is not only a television host but also an actress, producer and philanthropist. Oprah is host to the highest rated talk show in history that has been nationally syndicated since 1986. She has helped break barriers for African-Americans, women and the LGBT community. Her fame and success did not come easy; Oprah persevered through a troubling upbringing before earning her big break. What was the catalyst for this break? It was an internship with WLAC-TV, a CBS affiliate in Nashville, Tennessee.

Oprah was born to a single teenage mother who lived in poverty-stricken rural Mississippi. Her mother had a hard time caring for her, so Oprah bounced back and forth between different homes. She finally found security after moving to Tennessee with the man she called father, Vernon Winfrey. He provided a stable environment for her and placed a high value behind her education. It drove her to succeed and overcome the troubles that lay in her past. Winfrey earned the “Most Popular Girl” superlative in high school and also was crowned the winner of the “Ms. Black Tennessee Pageant”. As a part of her high school speech team, Oprah placed second in the nation for dramatic interpretation and first in another oratory contest that garnered a full-ride scholarship to Tennessee State University, where she went on to study communications.

After a successful intern period [with Nashville CBS affiliate WLAC-TV], Oprah was brought on full-time with the program as an anchor/reporter.

Her talent was quickly noticed by the local radio station WVOL. She was hired to deliver the news on-air part-time. This led her to an internship with CBS affiliate WLAC-TV located there in Nashville. After a successful intern period, Oprah was brought on full-time with the program as an anchor/reporter. Not only was she the youngest, she was also the first ever African-American female news anchor. This was a groundbreaking accomplishment, one that was made possible by an internship with the CBS affiliate.

Shortly after her time with WLAC, Winfrey relocated to Baltimore in the mid 1970’s for a 6 o’clock news program with WJZ-TV then joined Richard Sher on the talk show, People Are Talking, which premiered in 1978. Oprah proved all the skeptics wrong in 1983 with her biggest accomplishment yet. She relocated to the Midwest to host AM Chicago, a morning talk show on WLS-TV. Oprah boosted the show from last in ratings to first while surpassing Donahue as Chicago’s number one rated talk show. By September 1986, the program was renamed The Oprah Winfrey Show and was broadcasted nationally.

Oprah is quite the success story, but a lot of people wouldn’t realize the hardships she endured before making it. She went from potato sack dresses as a child to now being worth over $2.7 billion, according to a 2010 Forbes report. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Color Purple, a feature film done by another former intern, Steven Spielberg. Winfrey has notched some incredible achievements to her belt and there is no doubt that she will continue to do so. She is an inspiration to many and has become a household name in America. Her passion and drive would have led her to fame at some point, but the internship early in her career really kicked down the door and paved her fast-track to success!

You may know where they are now, but where were some of today’s most powerful and influential people before the power and fame? Many held an internship position that created a foundation for their future success!

BY DAN DRULLINGER

John Krasinski is most notably recognized for his role as Jim Halpert on NBC’s hit series The Office. He has appeared in every episode to date since 2005 and won two Screen Actor Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance. Besides his lead role as tormentor of fellow office-mate Dwight Schrute, Krasinski has appeared in a number of featured films including Away We Go, The Holiday and Leatherheads. He has since dabbled in production, direction and writing but he didn’t just wind up in the spotlight, he worked hard to get to where he is today. Before the fame, Krasinski held a script internship on Late Night with Conan O’Brien.

This Massachusetts native relocated to New York City after completing school in the hopes of making it on the big screen. While waiting tables and trying hard to burst onto the scene through commercial and guest spots, John Krasinski soon found himself involved with Conan’s late night show as an intern in 2000. He was brought on with a number of other interns but quickly stood out above the rest. He was granted the role of Script Intern which carried a bit more responsibility than the rest. His duties, like many other internships, included a lot of office work such as stapling, filing and copying yet Krasinski frequently got the chance to work closely with the writers. He had the opportunity to see the inner workings of the studio which inspired him to make a name for himself.

Krasinski is a perfect example of the utilization of an internship. He got his foot in the door with Late Night with Conan O’Brien and never looked back. Since his internship, he has appeared in 30 titles as an actor along with two director credits, one writer and one producer credit as well. His intern experience in the studio gained him invaluable knowledge and contacts that has evidently paid off tenfold. Krasinski is one of the most recognized faces in television today and his success  can be traced back to his internship roots with NBC.

Entrusted with some confidential information and not sure what to do, Krasinski nearly passed out cold just weeks into the position with Conan’s staff. Krasinski found himself in quite an arduous position for an intern. Check out the video below to hear all about his internship and debacle with an unnamed musical celebrity. Be careful, hilarity ensues.

Click here to view the embedded video.

You may know where they are now, but where were some of today’s most powerful and influential people before the power and fame? Many held an internship position that created a foundation for their future success!

Steven Spielberg

BY DAN DRULLINGER

Three-time Oscar winner Steven Spielberg has made quite a name for himself in the entertainment industry. He has director and producer credits in over 180 titles including E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial, Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan, the last two of which garnered him Oscars for Best Director in 1993 and 1999 respectively. Spielberg might possibly be one of the most recognized names in Hollywood; his last name doesn’t even receive a red correction line in word processors! In such a sought-after industry, how did this college drop-out separate himself from the rest? He utilized quite an unorthodox internship with Universal Studios at a very young age.

Spielberg Has Left His Prints in Hollywood Forever!

At the age of 17, a family friend who was an editorial executive at Universal found some work for the eager young Spielberg around the set. The only issue was that this internship was slightly less than “official” and he could not be granted access to the studio lot. Not willing to give up this great opportunity, he showed up every day and snuck onto the premises. While hoping for a continued education in film, he soon found that the schooling was less than challenging, so he took his own route to success. Much like his previous internship, Spielberg kept sneaking onto Universal’s lot, networked with everyone and ducked his head into any department he could find his way into.

This drive and dedication from the hopeful intern soon paid off. No matter how many times he got thrown off set, he was determined to make it. He filmed a short called Amblin in three different production platforms; 8 mm, 16 mm and 35 mm as instructed to do so by the same family friend that helped get his foot in the door. It was finally reviewed by Universal executives. They were so impressed by his short that they offered a seven year contract that he gladly accepted with no hesitation. He quickly became the youngest director ever to be hired on by the studio.

After a little while directing television and low-budget films, his big break came through the production of Jaws. From there on out, it was all Spielberg. He has since gone on to become one of the most touted filmmakers of his time, with 80 nominations to go alongside his three Oscars. Films directed by Spielberg have grossed over $8.5 billion to date. Steven Spielberg is truly an inspirational story proving that the experiences and connections made through an internship was vital to his future success.

You may know where they are now, but where were some of today’s most powerful and influential people before the power and fame? Many held an internship position that created a foundation for their future success!

Bill Gates: World Economic Forum

BY DAN DRULLINGER

When you hear the name Bill Gates, your mind conjures up a lot of thoughts; Microsoft, computer genius, intern. Wait, what? Intern? Believe it or not, one of the world’s wealthiest human beings held an internship position in his youth.

In 1972 Bill Gates was a congressional page for the U.S. House of Representatives. While it may sound cool, a congressional page is simply another term for an intern around Capitol Hill. Duties include everything from clerical work to manual labor. Just two years after his internship, Gates went on to co-found Microsoft, one of the world’s leading computer services corporation. Gates held many different positions within the company, including chief executive officer and chief software architect. In 1986, just 12 short years after the founding of Microsoft, Gates became the youngest self-made billionaire in the world (age 31). For nearly 14 consecutive years, Gates was the wealthiest man in the world. He held this position from 1995 to 2009 (except in 2008, when he ranked third – oh no, rough year!).

In January 2000, Gates stepped down as CEO, but remained close with Microsoft as a non-executive chairman. Since making a name for himself with Microsoft, Gates has gone on to author and co-author many books while also proactively running a foundation aimed at combating poverty and advancing healthcare known as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Gates is a pioneer in the interwoven lands of business, computing and technology. He has been touted one of the most respected CEOs by Industry Week. This is the same guy who once hustled campaign buttons on Capitol Hill as an intern. Sure, some of his duties may have been a bit different than yours, but hey — he was once where you are right now!

By Alex Braun

Don’t get me wrong – my summer internships were great learning experiences – but they rarely contained the kind of action and adventure that these movie bosses brought to work.

With the Fourth of July weekend almost upon us, we had to ask, “Which blockbuster movie character would you want to learn under?” (We asked ourselves, by the way. But you can leave your own opinion in the comments.)

#10: President Whitmore, Independence Day

Who knows what Bill Pullman is doing these days, but in 1996, he was the ultimate badass president – the kind who could destroy a microphone and a number of alien fighters in a single evening.

The only drawback to working in the Whitmore Administration is that having a 15-mile wide spacecraft hovering over your city can really mess with a summer tan.

#9: Harvey Dent, The Dark Knight

When Gotham’s rock-star attorney punched out a witness and stole his gun — remaining calm enough to conclude his cross-examination with a witty zinger — 40,000 young people signed up for the LSAT.

#8: John Hammond, Jurassic Park

Sure, there are some occupational hazards at InGen, but how many of your friends have seen a baby velociraptor hatch this summer? We’ll just keep the story about Samuel L. Jackson’s severed arm to ourselves.

#7: Henry “Indiana” Jones Jr., Raiders of the Lost Ark

You’d have to think that Indy’s T.A. gets paid pretty well, considering how often Jones is cracking the bullwhip in Peru or India or Venice or (let’s try to forget this) Area 51. We’re dead sure Jones has got tenure, and whoever learns under him is going to be well on their way, too.

#6: Harry Stamper, Armageddon

Yep, I had to look up the name of Bruce Willis’ character. That’s not the point.

Stamper was a grizzled, no-nonsense oil man who was deceptively intelligent, and always got the best out of the people around him. Plus, he’d do anything to protect his crew – up to and including hitching himself to a nuclear weapon.

Just be careful around his daughter. Real careful.

#5: Clarice Starling, The Silence of the Lambs

She might be a bit young to have her own intern, but Clarice’s perseverance and and restraint in the face of Hannibal Lecter’s insidious mind games are a great model for anyone coming up in law enforcement. And you’ll get on her good side if you always carry around a spare flashlight.

#4: Admiral Ackbar, Return of the Jedi

If you have naval (or space-naval) aspirations, there should be nothing more appealing than serving under the command of a big, lovable squid.

Don’t expect to get any slack under Ackbar’s watch – he’s got eyes on the side of his head. It’s a traaaaap!

#3: Dr. Emmett Brown, Back to the Future

Trouble has a way of following the Doc, but you can’t say he isn’t passionate about his craft. Commuting by skateboard would save you tons of gas money, and work hours are pretty flexible when you can you can just punch a few buttons in the DeLorean to make them up.

#2: M, The James Bond franchise

It’s always fun watching Sean Connery as the original international man of mystery, but the one thing the old Bond movies lack is a commanding personality to challenge 007’s reckless behavior. Dame Judi Dench is one of those bosses you fear and love at the same time, and we think she’d be a killer reference.

#1: Ron Burgundy, Anchorman

Mr. Burgundy represents the most useful kind of professional mentor – one who’s likely to implode, leaving you a golden opportunity for advancement. Depending on how much jazz flute you can tolerate, you should stick to his side when you’re not in the newsroom. He probably can get you into some pretty sweet pool parties.

Each Wednesday, we’ll be featuring an article posted by our friends at college blog The Campus Socialite. This week, they imagine what it would be like to intern for the likes of Snooki, Mike Tyson and Rebecca Black, among others.

Would you pick up the duck phone to intern for Snooki?

By Matt Schoenman

I know the title is deceiving, but I’m not talking about fictional celebrities; I’m talking about fictional internships for real celebrities. Ever since a certain celebrity internship went viral a few weeks ago, college students have been scrambling to find ways to work for (in)famous people. Not all of the stars need to manage their social media presence, but I’m sure they could all use some free labor, and as a college student, I’d much rather fetch coffee for an eccentric celebrity than some greedy corporate shark. So here are five celebrity internships that should exist, and what those positions would entail. Read on at The Campus Socialite >>>

Looking for something fun to do this summer? The Cleveland Cavaliers (formerly of Lebron James fame) are auctioning off a three-week summer internship on CharityBuzz.com, and the auction closes in just more than 24 hours.

At the time of this posting, the top bid was $1,100 — still well below the page’s self-assessed estimated value of $3,500. Bids must be placed in increments of $250, though, so there’s a strong chance it could move up quick.

Who should apply? Well, the good news is that the internship seems pretty general. The description states that “the winner will learn the ins and outs of a professional basketball organization and see if they have what it takes for a career in sports.” (I assume they don’t mean you could become the starting point guard.) It’s open to high school and college students who can receive college credit for their work. And hey — you also get a nifty basketball autographed by the whole team.

All money received from the winning bidder will go to benefit Telluride Academy, a nonprofit organization that organizes experiential wilderness trips for youth and teens.

One million Twitter followers in just over 25 hours launched Charlie Sheen into the record books. Now, you can keep #tigerblood on top by applying for the Charlie Sheen Internship.

This afternoon, Sheen tweeted to the world that he’s seeking a social media intern to help him monitor trends in the Twitterverse and manage logistics for a number of upcoming online projects this summer, with the ultimate goal of expanding his already astronomical presence on the Web. Candidates must apply at this contest link between now and Friday, March 11 at midnight, and describe in just 75 characters why they’re the best candidate for the job.

The gig itself will last for eight weeks this summer, and we’re glad to see Sheen’s sharing the wealth by making it a paid internship. What can you accomplish in eight weeks? Stop for a moment and consider that at the time of this posting, the actor has only been on Twitter for six days.

In that time, Sheen has proven to be a social media genius. His Twitter feed has produced an incredible number of trending topics that have seeped into the pop culture lexicon  — #winning, #planbetter and #tigerblood, to name a few.

Social media management is one of the most rapidly expanding job fields for college graduates, and the responsibility of helping manage communication for the Internet’s most talked-about man would be massive career launcher. If you love being part of the conversation, head to the application page – and buckle up for what is very obviously the internship of the year.