Also...it was a blast!
I had only visited Chicago a handful of times before the summer, but knew it was where I planned to move after graduation. It is such an inviting city, and everyone told me the summer was the city's greatest time of the year, so I thought, why not try and spend my last summer break here. Having the priority of finding an internship in a specific place over a specific job left me in a sea of resumes and applications with no clear sense of direction. It wasn't until I stumbled upon the HI Chicago internship page that I knew I had a good fit.
You may be thinking "I'm not so sure if the hospitality industry is the field I'm looking for" or "Nonprofit, huh?". The truth is, while I may have shared some of those same reservations, I found that interning at a hostel can be one of the most beneficial, fun ways to spend a summer in a city you want to get to know, or already love!
Portable skills. So you're not looking to work at a hostel for the rest of your life. That's ok! It doesn't mean that an internship won't be beneficial. I learned new skills and honed existing ones during the summer that I'll be able to take with me whichever career path I choose. I've realized that while the specifics of any one job may vary, its the experience of going through the general process that is invaluable. I feel that my time spent as a part of the staff at HI Chicago has taught me how to be a successful addition to any organization.
Nonprofit organizations. Nonprofits are still businesses too. The hostel provides a service that customers pay for, so you'll still get the real-world office experience. HI Chicago, for example, has a variety of internships, including, Communication Strategies (your's truly!), Youth Outreach and Education, Sales and Marketing, Volunteer Management, Nonprofit Management, and Sustainability. You will be able to witness and be a part of the daily ins and outs of a self-run organization; everything from customer service at the front desk, housekeeping, national sales comparisons, to communicating on a local, national and international level. Staff meetings are a great way to see a summarized version of all the separate parts of management coming together to represent and support the hostel as a single entity.
More than meets the eye. If you're someone, like I was, who hasn't had previous experience with hostels, you may have the misconception that they're just cheap hotels. The truth is, they are much more than that. Hostels engage the community they are in and provide a community to their travelers for whatever amount of time they may be in one place. Hostels create a way for travelers to not just see the city they're in, but really experience it, as well as meet others looking for the same thing along the way. Just a heads up, this is the point in the article where I'm starting to transition a little out of the "business" side of the internship and elaborate on the whole package that comes with interning at a hostel.
Meeting People. I have met so many people during my summer with HI Chicago. I have networked with the staff during work and spent extended periods of time with other interns both during work and at "home", here in the hostel. Being able to live in the hostel with other interns was an amazing experience and allowed me to connect with travelers as well. Living among the travelers adds an extra layer to the internship experience. I sleep in the same beds, carry the same key cards, and even eat the same free breakfast as our guests - the croissants are amazing! This allows me to get into the traveler mindset as well as have an in-depth knowledge of the product we sell. Getting to know our travelers through interviewing at work and going on excursions with them outside of work is one of the highlights of the job. It's fascinating to hear peoples histories, travel tips and experiences and just share our different cultures. It has made me understand the true allure of hosteling and how important having that sense of community among travelers is.
Exploration. The hostel is in a great location, making it easy for me to go to lunch in, say, Greek town or Chinatown, or jump on the train on my off day and explore a new neighborhood. One of my biggest goals this summer was to become familiar with the city both because it would benefit my work at the hostel and also just because I love the city and wanted to see as much as possible! I was able to visit a good amount of Chicago's most well-known neighborhoods, trying new restaurants and sight seeing along the way. It is great to know that I have seen most of the cities biggest "attractions" while also being familiar with the "underground" spots. It makes me eager to recommend things to guests and friends alike. What's also great are the multiple tours and excursions put together by volunteers at the hostel. I have been able to join travelers on walking tours and pub crawls, and have even lead a few excursions of my own, getting to know people from all over the world. Just last week I shared a few stories and laughs with travelers from Japan, Germany and the U.S. over some good beer and live Jazz in Millennium Park. Now tell me, how is that for a summer internship?
If I've convinced you to have the summer of your life interning for a hostel, check HI Chicago's website here for updates on their many internship opportunities. Or, if you're not in Chicago, search for a hostel near you!
Written by Intern Jess Scherer
