This summer, I’ve had the pleasure of interning with Corporate Marketing & Communications at Pearson. To say my experience has been impactful is an understatement. From seeing the hard work behind the launch of Pearson+, to serving as a student spokesperson for the 2021 Global Learner Survey (GLS), my experience has been filled with lessons. After speaking with my peers who interned across various departments, one lesson stood out: the presence of a skills gap and how to bridge it through internships – perhaps at Pearson.
According to TrainIndustry.com, “a 'skills gap' is a gap between the skills an employee has and the skills [they] actually need to perform a job well.” The threat of falling victim to it has been on my mind for years. Early on in college, I found myself wondering if the education I received would be enough to prepare me to reach my full potential in the workforce. As time progressed so did my comfort, not because of new & improved course experiences, but rather due to the amazing opportunities to seek invaluable insight elsewhere, such as an internship. Pondering the thought, I wondered if those around me felt the same.
After surveying my peers, my belief appeared to be shared by many. When asked if they, too, acknowledge a skills gap, the majority voiced agreement, and all participants felt that their summer internship at Pearson greatly prepared them for the workforce ahead. Some even took it a step further and shared how their experience bridged the gap:
- “The interaction and development of various business skills is something that you are taught in the classroom, but you are able to put that into action during an internship.”
-Ryan Celestine, DE&I Project Associate Intern, Prairie View A&M University
- “Throughout my courses I would learn information I knew was vital to my career, but it was so unexplainably rewarding to put that information to hands on use, to learn more about it, to feel like I knew what I was doing.”
-Jill Kelly, NA Higher Education Marketing Campaign Intern, University of South Florida
As the workforce continues to diversify and adapt, so does the skillset required of my generation as we prepare to enter it. I’m confident that internship experiences, like those offered by Pearson, will allow my Gen-Z peers -- and myself -- to continue finding innovative ways to broaden our understanding and strengthen our skills. The time for relying exclusively on a college education to meet workforce demands is long gone. However, the days of utilizing the incredible resources available to bridge the gap elsewhere are just beginning.