Carolyn Alvey, President, Aardvark Communications
When we are reviewing resumes, we don’t just look for the most polished—we look for people with passion and a hunger to learn. That’s especially true for interns. We believe everyone’s path is different, and non-traditional students—those who’ve taken time off, changed careers, or returned to school later in life—often bring something incredibly valuable to the table.
While many students take a straight line from high school to college to career, others may take a more winding route—pausing for work, family, or personal growth before returning to school. Those experiences shouldn’t be seen as detours, but as potential assets. Non-traditional students often bring fresh perspectives, real-world experience, and a level of confidence that only comes from navigating life outside the classroom.
They’ve held jobs, solved real problems, and learned how to adapt. That can translate into interns who jump in quickly, speak up when they see an opportunity, and aren’t afraid to pitch in—no matter the task.
Aardvark Communications hired a non-traditional student this summer as an intern because we viewed her through a different lens. She has been a great hire, and we would do it again.
The resume of a non-traditional student may not follow the typical timeline, but their stories often reveal grit, maturity, and leadership. In many cases, mentoring them feels more like collaborating with a colleague.
In our business, we’re storytellers—and non-traditional interns can bring stories worth a listen. When we welcome those voices into the room, our teams grow stronger, more inclusive, and more creative.
Emily A. Smith, University of Oklahoma Student, Summer Intern
Let’s talk about the word “intern.”
People often associate it with coffee runs and copy machines. But that hasn’t been my experience. Most interns I know are doing real work in their field. Sure, sometimes you print things or run an errand, but these kinds of tasks come with any job, internship or not.
I’ve had a non-traditional path. I dropped out of school, worked full-time, supported my partner through his own non-traditional journey, and eventually came back to school on my timeline. I’m older than most of my classmates, yet that never stopped me from landing a summer internship.
When you’re a non-traditional student, interviewing comes with a choice: tell my whole story, or present myself like a traditional student. I could leave my full-time jobs out of the conversation and talk about everything I am involved in on campus. But I’d rather tell my whole story.
I start off every interview with “I am a non-traditional student.” Might this disqualify me right away? Sure. But I have grown to be passionate about my story and want to present my authentic self to hiring managers. There is always something to learn. You are never too experienced to pitch in, ask questions, or say “yes.”
I’ve always loved stories, listening to them, telling them, and being part of them. That’s what led me toward PR. And once I got here, I wasn’t going to sit back and wait to be told what to do. I was going to show up, be useful, and continue to learn.
From day one, my coworkers at Aardvark trusted me with the same tasks they handle: media pitching, traveling and putting on events across Texas, live media appearances, and writing.
All it takes is for one person to listen, care, and understand your story.