Showing posts with label finding an internship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label finding an internship. Show all posts

24 April 2014

10 Sure-Fire Ways You Can Secure a Charming Summer Internship!


Summer internships are the best resource for students to make the most of their vacations and use their time polishing their skills. Moreover, they get an opportunity to gain real life experiences of a professional working environment and enrich themselves as a student of their particular field. In other words, summer internships also offer students a chance to gain practical knowledge of their field. In this way, students are able to gain professional skills and experience.

Following are some effective ways you can find a perfect summer internship without any hassle.

1.     Set your Goals

Prior to applying for an internship, you need to identify your preferences. Set your priorities and then establish the goals that you want to accomplish from an internship program. Determine your interests, objectives, needs and wants that could help you identify the type of internship that you should consider.

2.     Network With the Right People

Networking is an important aspect when you are searching an internship opportunity. It exposes you to the right people who may come handy in your search for an internship program. Make contacts with everyone you know in your social sphere. Inform them about the type of internship that you are looking for. Make sure that they have your contact details so that they can easily get in touch with you when an opportunity is available.
Networking for an interhsnip can land you a job!
Networking for internships can land you a job!  Flickr COD Newsroom

3.     Keep In Touch With Your College

It is important to stay updated about the current internship programs that your college is offering. Visit your professor or the concerned faculty of your college to get the necessary information. Check out their online resources and find the requisites for an internship.

4.     Always Start Early

Graduates often find themselves entangled in their assignments, such as dissertation writing or editing. Consequently, they tend to delay their application for internship. Remember, starting early will get you ahead in front of others and you will be able to secure a stronger position than others. Plus, you need time to organize all your papers and do the necessary preparations. Also, never forget to research the company and get crucial details before sending your application. Making the preparations early will make you mentally prepared for an interview. As you will be among the first ones in the row, you will have higher chances of getting an internship.

5.     Develop An Impressive Resume

A resume is an influential factor in your internship. Just like a job, a resume is your tool to showcase your skills or abilities for an internship. Describe your educational background and highlight the skills that make you a perfect candidate. Showcase the marks in your core subjects or mention any certificates that emphasize your distinct expertise in your respective field.

6.     Prepare For the Interview

An internship interview is very much like a job interview. The hiring manager will gauge the authenticity of information in your resume based on your performance in the interview. Therefore, it is important that you prepare your best and dress up according to the code of conduct of the company. Do a mock interview a night before the ‘D’ day. If necessary, get a friend to help you with the practice sessions.

7.     Stand Out Among The Crowd

Organizations are more interested in students who are unique and different. Bring to light the important aspects of your personality that define you. Mention the things, such as GPA, special characteristics and experiences, which can show you as a deserving candidate for the internship. With a distinct application, you will be able to capture the attention of the interviewer and so he will prefer you over other candidates.

8.     Follow Up With The Interviewer

Always follow up with the interviewer once the interview is over. Send a thank-you note to express your gratitude for the chance. This will show your interest in the internship and consequently the interviewer will feel a strong sense of connection with you.

9.     Broaden Your Research

Make your search for internship wider to various industries. Rather than focusing on a single organization, you should consider different other organizations that can utilize your skills and talent in the best possible manner. Use all your channels within your trade and grab every opportunity that matches your academic profile.

10.  Check The Viability Of Your Internship

After all the things have finalized, you must evaluate the success chances of your internship. You can do it by answering the following important questions:

·      Will this be financially reasonable for me?

·      Will I be able to manage my studies with this additional work?

·      How much time will I be consuming while doing this work?

About the Author:
A keen photography and a fervent writer, Martin Berk prefers to spend his time pumping up his knowledge through reading whatever he gets his hands on. He works as a specialist/advisor for a renowned company. He mostly spends his leisure hours polishing his photography skills or surfing Google+ |Facebook.

05 March 2013

Ultimate Guide to Summer Oppertunities for Teens


There are endless activities that a teenager can indulge in during the summer holidays but some offer an opportunity to learn and understand about new things. Summer programs for high school students present a chance to get practical exposure to the various fields that exist in the real world. It helps to shape a realistic assessment of their capabilities, interests as well as analyze their strengths and weaknesses in terms of the real world.

Jobs for teenagers are easily available in the summers when various industries like hospitality, summer camps, beaches, outdoor jobs, sport activities, retail and many others have an increased demand for staff. One can opt for positions as camp counselors, instructors, coordinators, food service, front desk and so on. Teenagers get to earn some money or even save up for college. Good summer jobs also add to your resume giving you an edge over others. However, the right choice of summer job is important. The summer job that you finally select should have at least some relation to your career plans. This vital work experience in your teens can be a good start. 

Camp Counselor

A job as a camp counselor can be a great option for teenagers who like to be with kids and are very active themselves. Summer camps revolve around planned activities and it is the camp counselor’s job to ensure that there are no disruptions. One learns leadership qualities and better interpersonal skills. One may often be called upon to resolve conflicts and all these qualities learnt here can be of much use later in life.

Golf Caddy

If you love the outdoors, then working as a golf caddy during the summer would be a good opportunity. If you have some working knowledge of the game as well as the stamina to carry a bag full of clubs for a stretch of time, then you can get enough money to spend and to save up for future expenses.

Retail Work

Retail encompasses different kinds of jobs for teenagers’ right from inventory, demonstrating products, managing cash counters, giving out samples, putting up stock on shelves, customer service and so on. One should be sociable and comfortable in working with the public for jobs in the retail sector.

Food Service

Here again you need to have an affable nature along with the ability to work hard. Working in food service requires a spirit of cooperation and to follow instructions diligently. One can work as waiters, cooks, hosts, busboys, handle cash counter and so on.

Nanny

This particular job is meant only for those people who have a lot of patience and love handling children. Taking care of young children is a big responsibility and may be done by those who wish to make a career in teaching, social work and so on. Often working parents need a nanny to stay with the children during summer holidays.

Housekeeping

If you intend to work in the hospitality sector, housekeeping jobs can give you good exposure to the work involved. Normally, there are lots of opportunities in the tourism sector for teenagers during summer due to the increase in business.

Internship

Working as an intern in a field that you intend to take up later as a career can be a good way to learn the ropes. This practical experience helps you to understand the demands of that field better and looks better in your resume too.

Tutor

If you have an interest in teaching, then working as a tutor can help you earn during the summers. There are endless opportunities in this field especially if you have in depth knowledge of your subject.

Landscaping

If you love the outdoors and don’t mind getting dirty then landscaping offers lots of opportunities for enthusiastic nature lovers. Lawn care is great way to earn some cash during summers.

Summer Tech Camps

Techsummer camps for teens teach the basics of the current technological advances that have become an essential part of our daily lives. It provides the ideal atmosphere for learning basic life skills like working in teams, cooperation, problem solving, practical application of knowledge and others. Overnight summer camps foster greater independence in a supervised atmosphere.

Tech summer camps, offer a unique opportunity for teenagers to learn the STEM subjects, that is, science, technology, engineering, math in the digital sense. Teenagers deal with things like iPhone applications, robotics, web designing, create new games rather than simply playing video games. Programming academy offers an insight into programming basics. Visual arts deal with things like animation, filmmaking and so on.

In short, teenagers can gain a lot by occupying themselves productively through the summer, both, in terms of money as well as experience.



Author Bio

Jimmy Sorensen presents an array of summer job options for teens that can help them earn money, learn something new and add to their CV. The writer advises students to take advantage of summer camps for teens if they are interest in being camp counselors. For more information on jobs for teenagers, visit iDTech.


05 February 2013

Tips for Landing an Internship

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For college students looking to get a head start with their career, a summer internship is invaluable. It gives you a chance to get a bird’s-eye view of the industry in which you aspire to work. It also gives you the chance to work with the industry’s top professionals and win an offer for a full-time job.

According to the experts, it is often harder to get a summer internship than a full-time job. This is because the top firms hire fewer interns than full-time employees. With opportunities being fewer and competition being stiffer, it is necessary that you show dedication and passion in your search. To help you win an impressive internship, we present some useful tips.

1.     Start the hunt early

Winning an internship involves a lot of hard work, so it is recommended that you start your hunt early. Here are step-by-step instructions to help you start your hunt:
a.     Identify the industry that interests you most – The first thing you must do is identify the industry in which you want to work
b.     Short-list a few companies – Conduct research on different companies to learn which ones suit your aspirations better
c.     Narrow down your list to one or two names – Read news articles about the companies that you have shortlisted, go through their annual reports, learn more about their top managers, and/or talk to your seniors to know how these companies compare with each other. If possible, try to meet the potential employers personally.


You must start preparations early and prepare well. MBA students who wait too long invariably fail to win an internship with their targeted companies.

1.     Identify influential contacts

Do you know anyone who can help you win an interview with your potential employer? If yes, befriend these people. However, it is necessary that you approach them cautiously and do not bombard them with phone calls or emails. Experts recommend that you follow the three-day rule, that is, send an email or give a call only once in 3 days. Be polite when asking for help, and keep the conversation simple and short. 

2.     Be proactive

By being proactive, you can increase your chances of winning an internship with a top company considerably. You can strengthen your resume and make valuable contacts by participating in the following activities:
·       Doing group project work
·       Working with your teachers on research projects
·       Participating in professional conferences

3.     Practice hard

You must prepare well before an interview. For this purpose, you can seek the help of your fellow classmates. Participate in mock interviews with your fellow classmates, as it will boost your confidence and help you prepare answers for likely questions.

4.     Highlight your strengths in the interview

Your success in an interview will depend on how well you promote yourself. It is imperative that you make good use of every opportunity that comes your way to tell the interviewer you are the best candidate for the job.

The interview also gives you the opportunity to know more about the internship for which you are being interviewed. It is necessary that you try to find out as much as possible about it from the interviewer. This will help you decide if the internship gives you the valuable exposure that you are seeking or not.

 Erik Larson is a master’s level career counselor and an internationally certified as a Career Management Practitioner (CMP) by the Institute for Career Certification International. He was also recognized as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) through the National Board for Certified Counselors. You can check out his site at ResumeIndex.com.

03 August 2012

Internship Search 101

Finding a Valuable Summer Internship

An internship during the summer can be an excellent way to earn money to fund your post-secondary education and present opportunities to build up your resume. On-the-job experience plus the contacts that you can make during your internship can give you in-roads to your dream job after graduation. However, finding an internship isn't always easy and prospects can be slim, so here are some tips and things to keep in mind when you are gearing up to go internship hunting.

Defining Value

You'll need to define what a valuable internship is before you can go hunting for one. Are you alright with working as an unpaid intern or are you looking to get paid for your labor? What are you planning to do with your degree and what industry are you looking to get into after you graduate? How far are you willing to travel to get to your workplace and where are you going to be living during the summer? Answering all of these questions will help you both focus your search for a valuable internship and restrict your search to the right places.

For example, if you are one of those fortunate few who can get by without earning money during the summer, you can broaden your search to include both paid and unpaid internships. Similarly, if you can't afford gas and are planning to stay home with your parents to save money, you'll know to restrict your search to internships available only within walking or public transportation distance of your parents' home.

Casting the Net and Hauling in the Catch

The real trick to getting your ideal internship is to try, try, and try again. You should definitely try to raise your chances of success with each internship application, but there is almost nothing that you can do to absolutely guarantee an internship position. Instead, you should try to cast as many fishing lines into the sea as possible, but all that you really need is one successful hook and catch.

You can raise your chances for successfully getting an internship by doing the same things that you would do to successfully secure a job. You'll want to make sure that you thoroughly understand the requirements of the position that you are applying for so that you can tailor your resume to directly appeal to the person going through the list of candidates for that position.

Actively Research Your Internship Prospects

Take an interest in the company offering the internship and be prepared to ask questions that demonstrate your interest and understanding of their activities rather than confusion or ignorance during the interview. Be sure to act fast on any leads that you generate and be ready to start at an instant because these things demonstrate that you are exactly the kind of energetic go-getter that most companies want as an intern.

As for finding internship opportunities, there are many places to search and no end to the resources that can help. Your university's career office will have the knowledge and experience to help you with your internship search, as will local career fairs and websites that specialize in helping students find internships.

If you have spent your time around people already in the industry that you want to enter, you might be able to secure an internship through one of your network contacts. Finally, if you are truly desperate and see no opportunities elsewhere, you should consider directly contacting local companies to see if they have internship opportunities available even if they are not listed on their websites.

By: Alan Lints is a writing professional who has previously benefited from having internship experience. His knowledge of the topic comes from interning with his local paper and a major sports publication during his college years. He also contributes to Degree Jungle's Best Online Schools ranking system.

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