Cass Clark, a senior criminal justice major, was able to fulfill a dream of his when he received an internship with the U.S. Marshals this fall.

According to the EWU Career Services’ website, “Many employers make hiring decisions with recent graduates based on the professional experience that a student gains during an internship or other experiential learning.”

When the opportunity to intern with the U.S. Marshals presented itself, Clark took advantage: “This is the perfect opportunity to build my resume and get my foot in the door.”

Clark worked with the Oregon State Police as a tobacco-enforcement decoy when he was 16 years old, and that was when he knew he wanted to go into law enforcement.

“A civil service job just seems to fit me,” said Clark.

Landing an internship with the U.S. Marshals was the first of many steps in his journey to achieving this goal. “It’s a great networking opportunity,” said Clark. “When I go out in public with the Marshals I always make sure to introduce myself.”

Career Services highly encourages students to complete at least two internships during college. According to Clark, juggling school, work, and internships isn’t always an easy task.

Clark is a full-time student, interns 20 hours a week in Spokane, Washington, with the U.S. Marshals and works 20 hours a week as a URC employee.

Students can meet with Romeal Watson, an internship coordinator at Career Services, to talk about and set up an internship. “[Internships are] an excellent way to gain an even deeper understanding of your field as well as provide necessary experience that will improve your transition into your industry,” said Watson.

Clark said, “[Watson] told me about the internship and gave my resume a makeover before I submitted it to the Marshals.”

After graduating in spring 2015 with a degree in criminal justice, Clark will continue to take steps toward attending the Washington State Patrol Training Academy. In regards to his internship, Clark said, “I’m glad I got a hands-on approach, learning things I wouldn’t learn in the classroom.”

Students can visit the Career Services website to view the steps to setting up an internship and how to make a career advising appointment.