Gen Z grad landed an internship by wearing her university baseball cap to her pizza joint job. Now she works at Cisco

Ayala Ossowski, a 26-year-old first-generation college student, faced a paralyzing internship paradox: every sought-after role demanded experience she hadn’t yet. After applying to more than 100 opportunities with little response, she began wearing a baseball cap bearing American University’s logo to her shifts at a suburban Washington, D.C., pizza shop, turning every customer interaction into a chance to introduce herself as a PR and marketing student seeking spring internships. The hat became a credential and conversation starter, enabling her to deliver a concise elevator pitch and connect with potential employers. Her strategy paid off when the right person noticed her ambition and offered a path forward.