How important are internships??

Start Early! Know the reality.

Having worked in a Career Services office a few years ago, time and time again I would see students who would come in AFTER graduation looking for a job to start their career. Unfortunately, this was way too late to start the process. Students had thought that once they graduate, their degree is all they needed. This was the wrong idea. Students had thought they would come out of college, with no work experience and expect to make $50,000+. That would be great if our economy was booming and students could make that, but the reality is not that way. It was sad to see how disappointed they were when finding out they would be starting at the bottom of the totem pole, making $30,000 if they were lucky.

Have you had exposure?
Work experience, internships, volunteering or any exposure in the field is so important. Having knowledge and experience in the field you are looking to go into sets you able the rest. I always encourage students to look at internships as soon as they start their major. An internship could last two months up to two years. Paid or unpaid, the experience is the large payoff for the future! Often times if you work out, they may even keep you on board until you graduate and will offer you a fulltime position after graduation.
 

 

You need more than a degree!
The sooner you start looking, the earlier you will be able to move up. Salary and promotions are based on knowledge and experience. If you started to gain experience when starting college, that will set the bar high for you and welcome more opportunities in the future.

Some great companies who offer internships are Amazon, Deloitte, Ernest & Young, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Nordstrom, Microsoft, Google, etc.

View this article for The 20 Best Internships In America: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-internships-in-america-2013-6#20-ubs-financial-services-1

Should I become involved in student clubs??

Becoming involved in student clubs is a great way to meet people, discover what you are interested in and can lead to success. .. You might think that you are already very busy and you may not be able to dedicate additional time to a club. Just because you join a club doesn’t mean you have become the President. The great thing with joining a club is you will begin to learn how to juggle your time.

I don't have any more time - I'm already too busy!
When I was in college, I found that the busier I was the better I did. Maybe it was because when I was in a time crunch I knew I had to meet my deadlines and didn’t have time to waste. This is a great way to learn time management skills. When you graduate from college, you will quickly learn this lesson if you didn’t in college. You will move into the real world, working full time and having to maintain your personal life as well. Time management is important personally and professionally. When you are involved in student clubs, you are able to meet many people. Some of those peers may have the same interests or major as you. You might even come across someone who has been in your shoes and could be a mentor from you. Learning from others is a great tool you should take advantage of in college. Friends, classmates and teachers can all provide insight to you. Don’t be shy, start talking and meeting people!

Start Early - Find Resume Builders
Lastly, involvement in student clubs is a great way for you to start building your resume. Many college students are focused on school and don’t have the time to work in a part-time job or internship. It’s important while you are in college to start preparing your resume for opportunities when you graduate. Involvement in clubs or volunteering is a great to place on your resume.  This shows leadership and initiative. In an interview, you can talk about your experiences and exposure you had while involved in clubs.

Albert Nolan, Professional Writer discusses the opportunities students have when joining clubs: http://www.ehow.com/facts_5656487_reasons-students-should-join-club.html

Networking: Building Relationships and Opportunities

What is networking? Basically, it’s relationship building. It’s never too early to start networking, meeting people and build a large network. People often say it’s who you know! That is correct in many cases, especially in looking for job opportunities. The job search can be discouraging, redundant and very time consuming. This is when you need to reach out to your “network”. Many people receive jobs by referrals.

Everyone loves referrals
As a hiring manager, you are more likely to hire a person that you receive a referral for or knowing someone who can attest to their work ethic. This is when a large network is important. Reaching out and letting people know you’re in search of a job can lead to opportunities. A person in your network may know of another person who might be looking for someone that you fit the skill set for. This is why it’s important to be involved and build relationships with people.

It helps who you know!
Through networking and building relationships I was able to secure my last job. Someone I worked with had referred me to a position, in which she knew the hiring manager. Through the referral, I was able to land an interview and was presented with a job offer. Without the referral I may not have been able to have been brought in for an interview or could my application and resume could have been looked over.

How to get involved and network?
 I suggest in joining student clubs, organizations aligned with your career goals and attend events that attract people in the industry you are looking to enter.

Learn more on how networking can help you grow your career!
http://careerplanning.about.com/od/networking/a/networking.htm