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Dunn also placed an intern at the company’s headquarters in St. Louis; this student is working on analytics and data mining.

Intern candidates with Save-A-Lot are first interviewed by Dunn; then they meet with management on site at least once, possibly twice. “The number-one thing I look for is leadership potential,” Dunn told LifeZette, “whether through sports or some other involvement outside of the classroom. Initiative and drive are great traits, too, as well as a positive attitude and an eagerness to learn.”

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Dunn shared this biggest piece of advice for those selected as interns: “Remember to be humble! Don’t brag about your degree. You are working with long-term employees. Let them teach you.”

Echoing Gary Vaynerchuk’s words, Dunn said interns should “not be wallflowers.” The internship can be viewed as a two-way interview. The company and intern are both looking at each other for a potential long-term relationship; both parties must get to know each other.

Related: 21 Great Pieces of Advice for Today’s College Grads

In terms of a potential job offer at the end of the internship, Alyssa Dunn cautioned interns to be honest with themselves. They should be “a good fit at the company, and the company should be a good fit for them. No two interns are alike. Some will fit in with the culture. Some may not. They should not accept an offer just because it’s made.”

For today’s college kids, it comes down to experience and interaction. They should never pass up an internship opportunity. Though they may not get a full-time job after an internship, the personal connections they make may lead to other opportunities. These could come through referrals, letters of recommendation — or just running into someone who remembers them.

Related: 10 Best Summer Jobs for Teens

Some intern situations are extremely professional. Others are not. No matter the case — people always remember someone with a positive attitude who interacts with others in a personal manner.

John Cylc is an eight-year U.S. Army veteran and lives with his family in eastern Tennessee. His primary advocacy is promoting and protecting Second Amendment rights. [lz_pagination]