|
There are many questions that a student should consider before accepting an internship.
While determining whether an internship is right for you, please consider the following:
why you should get an internship, preparing for your internship, and how to manage
your internship. The IMSDC HR Portal staff wants to assist you in getting the most
out of the services offered.
Click on the links bellow to learn more on a specific topic area:
Why should you get an internship?
Preparing for your interview and internship
How to manage your internship
Additional resources and links
Why should you get an internship?
When searching for a first job many students and recent graduates find themselves
frustrated. Most of the jobs that are open usually require two things: a college
degree and experience. While students will graduate with their degree, some will
not graduate with experience. But, today more and more students are graduating with
an internship. What does this mean for you? How are you supposed to get this much
needed experience so you can land a job? How are you supposed to stand out of a
crowd? AN INTERSHIP! It sounds too easy to be true. Many employers seek individuals
who have pursued internships because they have additional experience beyond the
classroom. Because of the large number of students that do take on internships,
competition can be high. What are you doing to set yourself apart?
Preparing for your interview and internship
Interview
All Universities and Colleges have Career Centers or Services of some kind. These
centers usually offer the students opportunities to have their resumes reviewed.
They will go over your resume and tell you what you should include, what should
be changed, andwhat should be deleted completely before you go into your interview
or post it on-line. On top of that most will conduct mock interviews with you. This
will help you feel more confident and be more prepared for your real interview.
Also, check your schools website for tips about finding internships and preparing
for interviews.
Internship
Having a full course load and participating in an internship program can be overwhelming.
Your internship is important, very important, but do not forget about your classes.
It will not look good if a potential employer looks at your transcripts and sees
that your grades suffered because of an internship. When you are preparing for your
internship you should talk to your academic advisor. Your advisor will be able to
help you figure out what kind ofinternship you should look for, and how many hours
you should work at your internship. They can also give you advice on which internship
will give you the best experience and exposure. It is important to go into your
internship knowing you are an INTERN. Every job that you are given should be done
professionally and with a smile on your face. Do not get the attitude that you are
too good to do a project that has been given to you, such as filing.
How to manage your internship
Set your class load related to your work schedule. Be flexible with your internship
employer to allow for changes in your class loads between semesters (if interning
longer than 1 semester). See if you can schedule your classes on certain days and
your internship on your days off from class. Seek a feedback method that allows
your employer to provide additional feedback not just what is required for the internship
program. This allows you to better evaluate your performance. Keep a journal of
your activities so you can reflect and also remember any important things you achieved
during your internship. This will help you identify key points for your resume.
Ask your employer if there are any projects that will allow you to work with multiple
departments within the organization. This will increase your exposure to different
functions of the organization and provide a better understanding of how the company's
operations work. Not to mention it will increase your exposure.
|