By Connor Adams Sheets
Flushing college students with an interest in baseball have a new opportunity this summer to get their foot in the door with the New York Mets organization.
The Mets, in partnership with the Flushing Business Improvement District, the Korean American Association of Queens and the Flushing Chinese Business Association, have announced a new internship program targeted at Flushing-area marketing, communications and advertising students who would be interested in working for their local Major League Baseball team.
The program will provide four to five students with wide-ranging experience in the business operations of the Mets, including its marketing, production, corporate sponsorship, sales and community outreach departments and initiatives.
“It provides two types of opportunities for young people. One is that it provides a professional experience or a foot in the door into that arena, into that industry,” said Mabel Law, executive director of the Flushing BID. “On the other hand, also they get to be involved in the community, get to know the Mets themselves, get to tour the new ballpark. A lot of youths don’t get the opportunity to even go to a baseball game.”
Candidates for the unpaid internship, which must be taken for college credit, should attend colleges in the Flushing area or live in Flushing. They should have some knowledge of baseball — particularly about the Mets — excellent communication and computer skills and transportation to and from Citi Field, where the internships will take place.
Applicants must have flexible work schedules with the ability to work nights, weekends and holidays when the Mets are playing at home and must be entering either their junior or senior years of college.
“The BID, Flushing Chinese Business Association and Korean American Association of Queens have been meeting regularly with the Mets to bring these opportunities to the community and we hope that qualified college students will apply and ultimately obtain permanent employment in the sports and the related industries,” City Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing) said in a statement.
“It will provide a lot of experience and a segue not only into this industry but also into this ballpark and the people who work here,” Law said. “It’s a stepping stone to working with the Mets. It’s opening the door to internships and hopefully will lead to careers.”
Students interested in applying for the internships should send an e-mail with their résumé and cover letter to hr@nymets.com with “Flushing BID” in the subject line.
Reach reporter Connor Adams Sheets by e-mail at csheets@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 138.
