By: Ariana González
Georgia Chambers
Major(s): Journalism and Communications
Graduation Year: 2025
Internship: Amherst Cinema
What drew you to your internship before applying for it? Which interests are aligned with the type of work you would be doing?
I went to the Fine Arts internship fair last semester in the Fall of 2024, and I just talked to the Amherst Cinema recruiters. I applied, since it was a communications and public relations internship, they wanted to reach out to more audiences using social media, and I'm a journalism student in the PR track, so that attracted me. I liked that it was based on entertainment since I like movies and TV, and anything with the entertainment industry. The people I talked to were also very nice.
How was the application process?
It was super easy! I just got the e-mail from the executive director, which was on a piece of paper that I took from the fair, and I just emailed her my resume and cover letter.
What previous experience prepared you for the interview?
I had almost no experience at all before this internship and nothing had prepared me for it, otther than maybe classes. I hadn't had any sort of internship experience or a job that would have helped me beforehand, so this was kind of my first experience.
What did your first days look like in the internship in comparison to your last? What were some of the things you learned?
The first day was the orientation, so it was just me and two other interns who were also working here. We sat down with our supervisor, who's the marketing director, and then the executive director, Yasmine, and we just got a little packet with information on the job. We talked about some of the plans for the position, we chatted about movies, and got a tour of the cinema. It was super chill. That was just the orientation, but the first day was a little different. We did some tabling down at the front lobby and talked to people. We asked if they were members and told them about what we do here.
Was there anything about your internship that surprised you? Things you didn’t expect?
I think it surprised me how how flexible Amherst Cinema is. They're very flexible on your schedule, and the work that you're doing. If you can't come in one day, or if you have to leave early, they are usually ok with that.
What are some of the things you learned from your internship? How did it inform your long-term career goals?
It has taught me more about nonprofits. I knew almost nothing about them, so I learned more about the kind of work that they have to do in order to keep it running. I also learned why fundraising and member subscriptions are so important. Even though they are a nonprofit, at the end of the day, they still have to be very money-driven because they need the money to keep coming in. I didn't know that before this job.
What advice would you give to someone applying for this internship in the future?
I'd say just have enthusiasm for what Amherst cinema does and, the movies they show or films you've seen in the past, to show genuine excitement for what they do. I think they'd like to see that in their applicants.