Locating an Internship
Brought to you by
ResumeEdge—the
premier resume writing and editing service on the Web.
Because internships can take on so many guises from the formal
to the informal, and the paid to the unpaid, finding the one that
is right for you might seem like a Herculean task. The possibilities
seem, and nearly are, endless. Many potential interns begin the
process feeling overwhelmed as they try to prioritize their search
in terms of interest, function, location, prestige, amenities,
hours, and pay. The article below will guide you through the thought
process and steps characteristic of a successful internship search.
Your First Step - Reflection
My first recommendation is to forgo centering your search on the
eye-catching but superficial qualities of prestige, amenities,
hours, and pay. Instead, concentrate on the opportunity to perform
substantive work in a field of choice.
Undergraduates in particular, often don't give enough consideration
to what field really interests them. They prefer instead to apply
to a range of internships, usually those listed in popular internship "bibles," because
they believe that practically any internship with a large company
in a metropolitan area will provide them with "direction" and
a valuable, marketable experience.
While internship bibles and guides can play an important role
in locating an internship that fits your unique ambitions and character,
you can make the most of your internship search by first thinking
carefully about your ambitions and goals. This kind of reflection
will often narrow your search considerably.
For example, instead of applying for every paid internship with
every company you can find, you might apply only to advertising
firms. Likewise, if you are interested in the public sector, instead
of applying to every prominent foundation and organization, you
might apply only to those focusing on election reform.
Thinking about your goals BEFORE you begin your internship search
will give you the confidence not to waste time and energy seeking
internships in which you have no genuine interest.
Starting the Search - Survey the Scene
Once you have narrowed your search to a particular field (health
care policy) or function (accounting), survey the scene. Visit
a local bookstore or library and dedicate an afternoon to looking
through internship directories, or "bibles." Publications
such as the Vault
Guide to Top Internships are
valuable, because they offer you an opportunity to explore internships.
You might also pull books off the shelves that refer to careers
in your area of interest. Sometimes, internship information is
included in these books. Even if it isn't, you might, for example,
walk away with a list of companies doing advertising work for record
labels. Take notes on possibilities that pique your interest, but
use this exercise to give your search a foundation, not a conclusion.
You might also survey the scene online by visiting prominent job
banks that list internships. These sites will offer you up-to-date
information about internship opportunities and will be more comprehensive
than printed guides, which often focus on prominent and established
internship programs rather than on start-ups, non-profits, and
small businesses.
Going the Distance - Networking
Once you have an idea of what opportunities are available, your
work begins in earnest. Unless you are interested in a very narrow
field, you probably have a variety of programs and opportunities
to choose from. Networking can help you uncover hidden gems and
narrow the programs to which you will apply.
Networking, while the word sounds formal, can be nothing more
than asking professors and peers about their experiences and recommendations.
Asking for advice from a career counselor at your school or attending
a job fair is an obvious place to start, but few internship seekers
branch out to network with the people who are most familiar to
them: parents, older siblings, fellow alumni, roommates, and friends
of friends.
If you are currently enrolled at an academic institution, consult
professors, section leaders, and researchers affiliated with programs
close to your field. You might be surprised how eager people are
to talk with you and offer you advice.
You should also mention your internship search when striking up
conversations. Informal dialogues have the distinction of being
the most overlooked (and the most fertile) avenue for internship
seekers.
For example, you might find out that a friend's parent works at
a prominent think-tank and is looking for a summer research assistant.
Your friend will not only be able to put you in direct contact
with his parent, but provide the "personal touch"
that often makes all the difference.
Likewise, the gentleman in the suit seated next to you on your
flight home for Spring Break with the WSJ logo on his carry-on
might be able to hook you up with the internship of your dreams!
Share the fact you are searching with everyone you meet.
Networking offers you the opportunity not only to get the inside
scoop on prominent internships, but to discover internships that
you didn't even know existed.
Let
ResumeEdge give
your resume and cover letter an edge!
|
About
