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3) Look around your community. Are there any obvious problems which need solving? Can you think of a way to help? If so, in addition to talking about your proposal with your advisor or professor, you might also present your Service Learning ideas to community leaders like the local mayor or city council people. These leaders could marshall a lot of community support for your program. This is also a great way to meet people and network!

The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need The above is an excerpt from The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need, which is available for sale for $17 in our bookstore or for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. Students know that good experiences helps to build a good resume and that good resumes help you land interviews, yet how many of us have been shown how to interview well so that we can get hired? Written by Keith F. Luscher specifically for the job hunting students who use CollegeRecruiter.com. To get hired, you must know how to interview well. Read this book and you will. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 24, 2007 at 2:20 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

• Students studying engineering may find some interesting needs for their talents in helping those who are disabled, as well as in working to improve the environment.

• Just as much as they need business majors, organizations of every kind require the skills of those studying journalism and English . The newsletter I edit uses writers from all over our town, and all are volunteers. Every group and organization must communicate to their clients and constituents. Your help in producing marketing communications can be an invaluable service.

• Fine arts students may wish to consider art therapy for those with mental disabilities. For example, my wife—an Illustration major—assisted at art therapy sessions with criminal offenders while she was in college.

• Those majoring in health and recreation , may find needs for their talents at a local hospital or community recreation center. You can also assist with or coordinate projects that teach healthy lifestyles, wholesome eating habits and safe recreation.

• History students may find use for their abilities at a local historical society, museum or library.

• I have a friend who recently finished his law degree, and while in school he would give general legal advice to people at a local homeless shelter. Educating the public on basic legal issues and concepts is a tremendous way to serve, as well as learn.

• Psychology students can also begin working professionally in many ways. Activities include research, counseling and organizational work.

What Service Learning comes down to is students and teachers recognizing a community need and responding to it. Perhaps you might see such a need that you, or even your whole class, can take on. Mention those opportunities to your teachers. Take the initiative, provide leadership and make it happen.

A Few Steps You Can Take Today

1) Talk to your advisor, your professors or other people on staff at your school. Find out what kind of Service Learning opportunities are available. Ask about getting involved.

2) If you have friends who go to other colleges or universities, find out what kinds of Service Learning programs are offered at your friends' schools. This could give you some good ideas about how to start and design a similar program for your own school.

The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need The above is an excerpt from The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need, which is available for sale for $17 in our bookstore or for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. Students know that good experiences helps to build a good resume and that good resumes help you land interviews, yet how many of us have been shown how to interview well so that we can get hired? Written by Keith F. Luscher specifically for the job hunting students who use CollegeRecruiter.com. To get hired, you must know how to interview well. Read this book and you will. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 24, 2007 at 2:18 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

If you are interested in taking part in Service Learning, but your school hasn't set up a Service Learning program yet, don't despair. Maybe you can pioneer the program at your college or university! Since a lot of educators and administrators are becoming more interested in Service Learning, it should not be hard to find people at your school who would support your endeavor and help you design a program.

How do you start? The secret is in recognizing opportunity and acting upon it. For instance:

• An accounting student may see an opportunity to investigate loan-credit discrimination on behalf of the poor, or to help a local organization obtain financing for local improvement projects.

• An agriculture student can help establish a community gardening project or aid in dietary planning for local agencies.

• A person studying to be an architect can help coordinate a local fix-up project. I was once involved in a project where a young, student architect directed us in repairing the roof for a church that was the home of an extensive Head Start project. Without the new roof, the kids would have had nowhere to go.

• Students majoring in marketing or business can do much to increase the bottom line of local groups, organizations and small businesses.

• Chemistry students can learn some of the effects that substance abuse has on individuals by serving in counseling and drug-treatment centers.

• Those students majoring in computer information technology have the chance to teach computer basics at just about any community center in any town in the country. People are desperate to learn these skills, which are crucial to job marketability. These students can also show people the right and wrong way to use computer technology.

• People majoring in economics have a tremendous doorway to opportunity in front of them. They can professionally serve consumer groups, small business organizations and local Goodwill agencies. Their knowledge of economics can help troubled people see new solutions to their money problems.

• The Education major can open up another gold mine of opportunities. Head Start programs, for example, will welcome education majors with open arms. Tutoring for older adults or prison inmates is another project an education student can take on.

The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need The above is an excerpt from The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need, which is available for sale for $17 in our bookstore or for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. Students know that good experiences helps to build a good resume and that good resumes help you land interviews, yet how many of us have been shown how to interview well so that we can get hired? Written by Keith F. Luscher specifically for the job hunting students who use CollegeRecruiter.com. To get hired, you must know how to interview well. Read this book and you will. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 24, 2007 at 2:17 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

• Calvin College . Those studying mathematics and computer science analyze demographic data from several food pantries to find patterns of difference in the pantries' patrons. Seasonal and other variations were also considered to help predict when periods of high demand would arise.

Does Your School Have a Service Learning Program?

As of now, fewer than a thousand colleges and universities across the country have officially adopted Service Learning programs but the number is growing. Organizations such as Campus Compact ( www.compact.org ) and the National Society for Experiential Education ( www.nsee.org ) exist to support educators in their efforts to develop Service Learning programs.

However, each institution's program is usually much different from those found at other schools. For instance, college credit is usually granted to students participating in Service Learning projects. But not all schools offer credit.

There are many reasons why Service Learning programs differ from school to school and even department to department. Often, the differences occur because the program itself is in its infancy . Service Learning is still a relatively new philosophy in higher education. Different schools have different levels of funding available, as well as various numbers of people behind it. Most often, a college will become involved in Service Learning when an individual or small group of faculty members decides to try it out.

After receiving approval and funding for Service Learning programs, schools typically start them only for the disciplines where community service opportunities are most apparent, such as for education and psychology. Then, as the participation and interest grows throughout the college and the community, dialogue between community-based organizations and college staff may increase. Additional Service Learning opportunities then develop from there for other career disciplines, such as engineering, business, and the arts.

You Can Develop Your OWN Service Learning Program

As I mentioned before, many of those in higher education still regard Service Learning as being in its infancy. But these educators are also beginning to recognize the value of turning the world into their students

classroom.

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 24, 2007 at 2:16 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

PRAXIS: From Theory to Practice, Back to Theory

Praxis is an academic term which describes the relationship between action and theory in the learning experience. Because it is important not just to take action, but to contemplate that action and the results, many Service Learning programs include a periodic time of reflection in which you can both share your experiences with fellow teachers and students, and hear about their experiences in return.

Thus, a student, upon learning a theory, has the chance to apply that knowledge through action. Afterward, the student returns back to the classroom where he or she may reflect on and dissect that experience, and then use it to develop even more refined theories. Those theories are then shared with the rest of the class.

For the students who participate in praxis, their time of reflection will not necessarily require them to revise theory taught only in the classroom. Rather, by reviewing and sharing their service experiences for themselves and for their colleagues, the students gain a deeper insight into how their service affects them as well as the community.

Custom-Designed to Suit All Those Involved

Most of all, Service Learning programs are specifically designed to benefit the student and the community. Instructors will often go out to the community and determine what needs exist that their students can fulfill in a mutually beneficial way, and then develop a specific program from there.

Among the universities and colleges now using the Service Learning approach to solve a variety of community problems are:

• Providence College . Here, students studying American Public Policy learn firsthand the consequences of public policy, both good and bad (although that is something they must often decide for themselves). Students can serve meals at a homeless shelter, tutor in an urban school, interview welfare recipients and prepare case profiles for welfare reform.

• Rhode Island School of Design . Students conduct weekly art classes at the bedsides of hospitalized children, and also for senior citizens.

• Wilmington College . Business students are able to help develop business and marketing plans for local businesses and non-profit organizations.

• Shawnee State University . Science students participate in ecological projects to learn the applications for the study of science and nature.

The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need The above is an excerpt from The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need, which is available for sale for $17 in our bookstore or for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. Students know that good experiences helps to build a good resume and that good resumes help you land interviews, yet how many of us have been shown how to interview well so that we can get hired? Written by Keith F. Luscher specifically for the job hunting students who use CollegeRecruiter.com. To get hired, you must know how to interview well. Read this book and you will. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 24, 2007 at 2:15 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Service Learning: Education through Experience

Service Learning is a growing philosophy and practice which recognizes the important role that public and community service can play in education. In simple terms, Service Learning, through firsthand experience, shows students how their talents and efforts can be applied to improve other people's lives and better their communities. This experience also helps students develop values that stress social responsibility. Service Learning can be implemented in a variety of ways. Sometimes it is through a supplementary activity within a classroom-based course. Sometimes it is a course, itself. Often a student will earn some academic credit for a specified number of hours served every week.

How Does Service Learning Differ from Ordinary Internships or Volunteer Service?

In the many academic volumes and articles that have been written on Service Learning over the years, you may see dozens of different answers to this question. But actually, Service Learning does not “differ” from regular internships or volunteerism. It is more of an extension of both, taking the best points of each, combining them and filling in the gaps. Thus, through Service Learning, you can have the best of both worlds.

Like an internship, Service Learning allows a student to perform work that relates specifically to his or her intended vocation, thereby enhancing that student's professional skills. Service Learning programs, like some internships, often give course credit, and they usually provide students with the advice of a professional in the field.

Like a volunteer program, the Service Learning experience turns the whole world into a classroom. Service learners often see the value and difference their efforts play in other people's lives and in the community. As with volunteering, students in Service Learning programs will also develop skills that employers seek out universally.

The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need The above is an excerpt from The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need, which is available for sale for $17 in our bookstore or for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. Students know that good experiences helps to build a good resume and that good resumes help you land interviews, yet how many of us have been shown how to interview well so that we can get hired? Written by Keith F. Luscher specifically for the job hunting students who use CollegeRecruiter.com. To get hired, you must know how to interview well. Read this book and you will. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 24, 2007 at 2:14 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Although Craig was disappointed that he was not allowed much time at the computer, he eventually realized that he did learn something important at his internship. Instead of gaining experience in computer programming, Craig instead gained valuable insights on dealing with difficult people in the office.


If you do not feel in your heart that your internship or your summer job is giving you as much as you had hoped, you have some options:


• If it is a short-term assignment (say three months), do your best and stick it through. At least you have gained resume experience. Meanwhile, start looking for your next opportunity.


• If it is a longer assignment and you are not being paid, then walk. But be sure to give plenty of notice and be respectful of the employer's needs. If you have the opportunity, clearly let him or her know why the experience is not meeting your expectations.


• Talk to your boss and try to work things out. The problem may be one of miscommunication, and your employer may not realize that you are unhappy. See if you can schedule a meeting with your supervisor to find a solution to the problem. It never hurts to try, and what have you got to lose?


What Next?


1) Much of this publication emphasizes the value of working in more meaningful employment than flipping burgers, serving up fries and waiting tables. But let's face it: some of you are doing just that. You know that you need to get into something more beneficial, but either you are too comfortable staying where you are, you procrastinate, or perhaps you just can't work these steps into your busy schedule.


If this is the case, here's my advice: quit your menial job.


Now you have some time! Now procrastination is not so easy! Once you quit that dead-end job, re-read this chapter and the rest of this book, and get your career rolling.


2) Take an inventory of your abilities. What skill do you lack that could have a strong impact on your success in your future career? Focus on opportunities that allow you to develop that skill.


3) Talk to fellow students who have done internships or summer jobs in your field. How was the experience for them? What would they recommend? What would they avoid ? Who do they know?


4) Review the directories mentioned in this chapter and in appendix 3. Get a directory from your local Chamber of Commerce. After reading these, have you found any companies at which you would like to intern or

work for the summer? See if the companies list their programs at your college career office.


Read what's available, and make a resolution to continue reading. You'll be astounded at all the opportunities waiting for you.



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Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 24, 2007 at 2:12 AM | Leave a Comment (0)






and find out when would be the best time to send in your application. You can also use this call as an opportunity to confirm your contact's name and address, and to find out a little more about the position for which you are applying.


3) Don't worry if you cannot list any relevant experience on your resume.


For your purpose, a resume should be one page, detailing any relevant background and/or experience. If you don't have a lot of experience, don't worry. Most summer employers don't expect it unless they specifically state otherwise.


Be sure to include all outside activities—volunteer and educational—in addition to any past employment. List your primary areas of study in school, and note any classes which may be relevant to the position for which you are applying. Identify any computer or other technical skills you may have. For instance, can you fix your own car? If so, let them know!


While it is not customary, listing three or four references is recommended by many counselors. These references can be people who may have employed you or counseled you—anyone who is older with whom you have established a relationship.


It is helpful for employers to know that others will readily vouch for your good character. And including references will make your application stand out from the rest—especially if the employer is receiving applications from students all over the country. Just be sure that the people you list as references have given you their permission to be contacted.


What If an Internship or Summer Job Is Not Meeting Your Expectations?


In most situations, what you gain from an experience is really up to you. You decide how an experience will affect you. Yes, you may feel in some internships or summer positions that an employer is not meeting his obligations to you, but you will always learn something —it just may not be what you had in mind.


For instance, a friend of mine named Craig once took an internship to get some experience with certain computer skills. That was the goal in his mind, and it may very well have been the intention of the executive who hired him to help Craig achieve this goal. However, Craig's wishes were not a concern of the territorial and controlling supervisor under whom my friend was placed.









The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need The above is an excerpt from The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need, which is available for sale for $17 in our bookstore or for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. Students know that good experiences helps to build a good resume and that good resumes help you land interviews, yet how many of us have been shown how to interview well so that we can get hired? Written by Keith F. Luscher specifically for the job hunting students who use CollegeRecruiter.com. To get hired, you must know how to interview well. Read this book and you will. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 24, 2007 at 2:11 AM | Leave a Comment (0)






Theme Parks. A roommate of mine in college who enjoyed photography spent three summers in a row working at Kings Island, photographing visitors as they entered the park. That's all he did, and he loved it. While theme parks have plenty of food-service, janitorial and housekeeping positions to fill, they also offer opportunities in administration, marketing, and coordinating events. Some parks may have educational and arts positions open, depending upon their actual “themes.”


Volunteer Opportunities. Student-based organizations such as Campus Outreach Opportunity League are offering more and more summer and spring break volunteer activities. As service learning continues to grow along with campus-based service learning organizations, be on the lookout for new and exciting volunteer opportunities popping up. These include working in rural areas to rebuild homes for poor people, or serving inner-city youths in educational or community-based restoration projects.


A Few Tips on Landing That Right Summer Job


Overall, the process of landing summer positions in areas that may yield future employment benefits is really no different from applying for a longer, more permanent job. Here are some points to follow if this is something you are considering:


1) Hit the books (or the internet).


Review a summer job directory, such as Peterson's Summer Jobs for Students, or the many excellent internet sources out there (including CollegeRecruiter.com!). Get want ads from newspapers in areas you live in or want to live in this summer. Also, scrutinize your campus newspaper and bulletin boards around the college. Late winter/early spring is when the requests for summer help start to come in.


2) If you want to be working by June, don't wait until May to send in your application!


By that time, the most interesting and beneficial positions are usually filled. It is probably advisable to start sending in your resumes and application letters by the end of January.


Of course, this can be tricky. We could say, “the sooner the better.” However, if you send in your packet too soon and the organization is not yet preparing its summer employment roster, then your application can get thrown to the bottom of the pile!


My advice: when you find some organizations or positions to which you would like to apply, but it is still pretty early in the year, call the company

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Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 24, 2007 at 2:09 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

but I would avoid work experiences that are no different from what you may get at a restaurant or shop up the street. You want to come away from this experience with something more than pay stubs.

Among the organizations which employ summer workers are:

Summer Camps. There are summer camps in every state of the union. Many are geared to specific audiences, such as problem youths or kids with physical disabilities. Some are run by non-profits, such as YMCAs or the Boy Scouts. Others are run by churches and religious organizations. Still others are privately owned and operated.

Regardless of their affiliations or missions, collectively they offer perhaps the widest range of opportunities to students. If you want to take on a leadership role as a camp counselor, improve your abilities at a sport or a craft, or better develop your skills in human interaction and relationships, all of these opportunities, and more exist at summer camps.

Conference Centers. These are often located in remote areas, and many are open and running all year round. The types of people you would work with here are mainly from business and community groups. Conference centers provide these groups with places to hold meetings, conferences, parties and other events. If you are interested in event management as a possible career, a conference center might be the perfect place for you to learn more about this.

Environmental Programs and Organizations. Owned and operated by either government, educational or non-profit organizations, these provide many jobs for students interested in science, nature and preservation of the environment and wildlife. Opportunities may include on-site research and public education activities as well as general business and office functions.

State and National Parks offer opportunities similar to those available through environmental programs and organizations.

Tourist Attractions and Expeditions. These are organizations which arrange tours in different parts of the country for foreign visitors. Tour guides are in big demand during the summer and over holidays. If you are bilingual, or have strong background knowledge of your region or country, then this could be a great job for you. It could also help you better develop your skills in communication and in leadership.

Ranches. While many seek people to do cooking and cleaning work, tourist ranches are also on the lookout for experienced wranglers. If this was something you wanted to eventually learn—without majoring in equestrian studies—then looking after the horses may be a first step toward getting to ride them. Be on the lookout for administrative and events opportunities at ranches, as well.

The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need The above is an excerpt from The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need, which is available for sale for $17 in our bookstore or for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. Students know that good experiences helps to build a good resume and that good resumes help you land interviews, yet how many of us have been shown how to interview well so that we can get hired? Written by Keith F. Luscher specifically for the job hunting students who use CollegeRecruiter.com. To get hired, you must know how to interview well. Read this book and you will. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 24, 2007 at 2:07 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Think of it as an Adventure

Have you ever thought about taking a job in which you:

• work as a park ranger preserving our nation's wilderness?

• snap photos of amusement park visitors?

• assist scientists as they collect nature samples?

• work on board a cruise ship?

• counsel and guide kids at a summer camp?

This is just a sampling of the more exotic-sounding opportunities available to young people every summer. For organizations which operate camps, parks, and cruise ships, summer is the busiest season. These industries will need a lot of temporary workers to handle the extra business, and you can help fill these needs.

There are an endless array of positions available for summer employment, and not all of them are immediately obvious. For instance, the idea of leading thirty screaming kids in camp outings might not thrill you. But what if the camp had an opening in the head office? This would be a great opportunity to get some business management experience. Remember, the same organizations who need hands-on people to help with kids also have other needs which you can fill and problems that you can solve.

For another example, are you a computer guru? Do you like working with kids, but aren't very good at sports? Then how about teaching the kids computer skills for three months? You will be surprised at how much you learn, and also at how refined your own skills become by sharing them with others.

Where the Opportunities Are

When one thinks of summer employment, what often comes to mind are camps and amusement parks—organizations which cater to tourism and youth. From my own research, these organizations do seem to provide most of the summer opportunities aimed specifically at young people.

However, there are other organizations which offer summer employment, and thus very enriching and often different types of opportunities. Many of these positions provide on the job training, and require little or no previous experience.

Bear in mind: if you begin to research summer opportunities for yourself, you will likely find as many opportunities to wait tables and scrub toilets as you will the more exotic positions. What you decide to go with is up to you,

Receive the rest of this book free by registering for our free career newsletter.


Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 24, 2007 at 2:05 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

• Close your letter with a specific request. You will want to meet with the person to whom you are writing to discuss this proposition further. A meeting is important. Even if the company does not take you as an intern, it is still an opportunity to make a contact. Perhaps the person you meet can point you in a helpful direction. In your letter, let the person know you will give him or her a call in a few days. And of course, provide the right information for your person to call you.

4) Follow up.

If your letter said you would call at a certain time, then do it. If this whole concept sounds intimidating, you will be surprised at how receptive people usually will be to your proposal. Designing your own internship shows initiative and drive which may not be as visible were you applying from a mere directory listing or going through an established campus program. Initiative and drive are definitely qualities which a prospective employer wants in an employee!

More Short-Term Opportunities: Summer Employment

First of all, there is no law which states you can't go to school in the summer. Most summers I took at least a few classes, just to keep up the pace. However, if you are planning to get away from the campus entirely, there is a whole world of opportunity that awaits you.

Many students take a variety of odd jobs during their college years. I know I did. In my time, as I mentioned earlier, I worked as a law clerk, a pizza delivery guy, and a photo-lab technician.

I had friends who worked the same jobs full-time during the summers and part-time during the school year. That may have been a better strategy than what I chose, because after four years working at one place with the same group of people, my friends built some very solid relationships.

Your time in the summer or during any breaks is valuable and short-lived, and it is wise that you invest it more carefully, and with a greater goal in mind than just making a few bucks. Although money can be in many cases a serious consideration, it's not the prime one. Advancing your future career is.

The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need The above is an excerpt from The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need, which is available for sale for $17 in our bookstore or for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. Students know that good experiences helps to build a good resume and that good resumes help you land interviews, yet how many of us have been shown how to interview well so that we can get hired? Written by Keith F. Luscher specifically for the job hunting students who use CollegeRecruiter.com. To get hired, you must know how to interview well. Read this book and you will. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 24, 2007 at 2:04 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

• Area small business incubators

• Local yellow pages or industrial directory (found at your library)

• Various online business directories, found through library websites.

3) Write a targeted proposal letter about what you would like to do.

Once you know who to contact at the company, then write that person a letter—preferably not more than one or two pages. Do not enclose a resume—that would be premature. Also, that person may glance at the resume and not the letter and then routinely file it (either in the cabinet or the trash) with no further thought.

Some key issues to address in your letter:

• Briefly introduce yourself, your background and what you hope to learn from an internship. You want to make a good first impression on your prospective employer. So, in a positive and direct manner, you want to tell a little about yourself and what you hope to achieve.

• Try to give specific reasons why you are contacting this particular employer. Acknowledge that you have been researching opportunities, yet did not find the employer listed as offering any intern programs. Nevertheless, explain that you have researched the company and feel that it could provide the right environment and opportunity for your professional growth.

• Convey any relevant previous experience, especially anything which might serve the company's specific needs. Ultimately, a busy person reading the letter is going to weigh the cost/benefit ratio of even considering your proposal. He will wonder, What's in it for me? Why should I spend my time talking to this stranger? Think of how you might answer these questions, and incorporate that information into the body of your letter. Be specific about what you want to do, which department you wish to work in, and how your internship will benefit both you and the company. This will indicate that you have done your homework and are serious about your intentions.

• Think about offering your services for free. Especially when working in a small business, a start-up or a non-profit organization, you can practically count on not receiving a wage. Fortunately, the experience you get may more than make up for any financial considerations. Larger firms may also wish to take you on for free. But you will encounter many large companies that have a standard policy against allowing people to work without pay. In this case, you may simply be punching a clock for five to seven dollars an hour.









The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need The above is an excerpt from The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need, which is available for sale for $17 in our bookstore or for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. Students know that good experiences helps to build a good resume and that good resumes help you land interviews, yet how many of us have been shown how to interview well so that we can get hired? Written by Keith F. Luscher specifically for the job hunting students who use CollegeRecruiter.com. To get hired, you must know how to interview well. Read this book and you will. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 24, 2007 at 2:03 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

of applications are looking first to weed out the definite rejects. Don't make their job any easier.


Before applying, try to gain an understanding of what the employer's needs are. Learn what you can about the employer. Identify your own past activities and experience which the organization may find appealing. Most important, though, is that you act with the same professionalism which would be expected of a job applicant, and that you project a positive, eager-to-learn attitude.


Also, visit your college department office and find out if the internship would qualify for course credit. If it does, there may be forms which your prospective employer will need to fill out.


You Can Design Your Own Internship!


Suppose you want to gain a certain type of experience, and you even know of a local company which you think could provide the perfect opportunity for you to do so. The problem is, that company does not offer any kind of internship program. What do you do next?


The answer is simple. You must design and propose your own internship.


Here are some steps you can take to accomplish this:


1) Research similar internships—ones which suit you but are not available through companies in your community.


Take a look at the listings in any of the previously suggested internship directories. Note how the intern programs are structured, whether they are paid or unpaid, and how long they last. Pay close attention to internship titles and specific job duties.


2) Identify an employer or group of employers whom you feel may be a good match for doing this internship.


The companies or organizations may be large, medium-sized or small. Once you have an employer in mind, you may first wish to try networking your way into the offices to talk with the people who make the decisions. Speak to your friends, teachers and family, and see if they know anyone working for the company. If this doesn't help, you can also use a variety of sources to research and put you in touch with a list of prospective employers, including:


• The nearest chapter of a professional organization


• Your local Chamber of Commerce

The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need The above is an excerpt from The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need, which is available for sale for $17 in our bookstore or for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. Students know that good experiences helps to build a good resume and that good resumes help you land interviews, yet how many of us have been shown how to interview well so that we can get hired? Written by Keith F. Luscher specifically for the job hunting students who use CollegeRecruiter.com. To get hired, you must know how to interview well. Read this book and you will. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

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skills. But such occupations are not going to do much in the way of honing professional work skills or building relationships with people who can introduce you to new opportunities.

If you need an internship that offers a salary or a stipend, so be it. There are salaried internships available, which will probably pay on about the same scale as flipping burgers. Just remember, the non-financial compensation internships offer in terms of building relationships, contacts and skills will be far greater than any dollar amount.

5) You really want a big-name employer on your resume.

Despite the fun often poked at it, name-dropping is and always will be a big game. Depending on your field, there may be some impressive companies, institutions or organizations which would bring star luster to your resume.

If this is the case, then think about which ones those would be. Are these companies located in the town in which you go to college or live? If not, do they sponsor interns from out-of-town? Many do.

Later in this book, I've listed some internship guides and directories. Many of these will index companies, institutions and organizations by field. Use these resources to write to the companies and to learn what it takes to get into the programs to which you aspire.

6) Your career or job goal requires a combination of experiences.

In addition to whatever you are majoring in, whether it be science, medicine, education, law, accounting, communications, psychology, or anything else, there is one other field to which you should have exposure—business.

Contrary to what many people think, business is about much more than making money. First and foremost, business is about serving needs and making wise use of human and material resources. In legitimate business, profit is the by- product only when these two requirements are met. These principles apply not only to businesses and corporations. They also are appropriate for government agencies, churches, schools and non-profit organizations.

Whatever your course of study, learn the ABC's of business, and likewise, examine your career goals. Remember to keep this in mind when you are pursuing and researching internship opportunities.

Why Internships Are Growing

According to the National Society for Experiential Education, interning is

 

The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need The above is an excerpt from The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need, which is available for sale for $17 in our bookstore or for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. Students know that good experiences helps to build a good resume and that good resumes help you land interviews, yet how many of us have been shown how to interview well so that we can get hired? Written by Keith F. Luscher specifically for the job hunting students who use CollegeRecruiter.com. To get hired, you must know how to interview well. Read this book and you will. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

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not apply—to the real world. If you get into an internship program, make sure that specific goals are set and understood between you and your employer. You may go into it hoping to gain some specific experience or skill, but that may not be the goal in the mind of the employer. Understand that many larger firms are taking on interns to compensate for their reduced staffs. However, this doesn't mean that you are there solely to do mindless busywork. While some drudgery is to be expected, the bottom line is, you are there to learn—not to be exploited . So try to establish the goal up front.


2) You are exploring a career in a specific field.


Perhaps you want to know what it's like to work in a certain kind of profession or organization. An internship can give you a lot of on-the-job experience. In fact, it is becoming popular for many people—not just college students—who are thinking about changing careers to opt to do some internships in that particular field before making a final decision as to their futures.


3) You want to build relationships with people within a particular professional community.


Choosing an internship for this purpose can make a lot of sense. When I began to meet more people within the public relations/communications field, a startling revelation occurred to me: these people all know each other!


As you probably are aware by now, in some areas such as communications, film and media as well as certain professions and industries, these close relationships are very common. Structured internships can give you an introduction into these existing networks.


Further, these programs are an excellent way to meet a mentor who can continue to help and advise you after your internship ends. Many internships give students the opportunity for one-on-one guidance with a professional in the field. If you make use of your time to develop a connection with your mentor, this relationship can then form the basis for future support.


It is also important to stay in touch with all the people with whom you work. When your time of service is over, get names and addresses, and seek opportunities to keep the relationships alive.


4) You realize compensation is not always financial.


A key message of this chapter—and of this book—is about investing your time today for a payoff tomorrow. Waiting tables or flipping burgers may yield you a modest paycheck, and you can still develop interpersonal

 

The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need The above is an excerpt from The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need, which is available for sale for $17 in our bookstore or for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. Students know that good experiences helps to build a good resume and that good resumes help you land interviews, yet how many of us have been shown how to interview well so that we can get hired? Written by Keith F. Luscher specifically for the job hunting students who use CollegeRecruiter.com. To get hired, you must know how to interview well. Read this book and you will. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 24, 2007 at 1:56 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Overall, Kendra really believes in the value of internships and summer employment. As Kendra notes, “Having different experiences really allows you to be more sure about your decisions of what you want to do with your life.”

As we saw with Kendra, after a few months of interning and working part-time, she was able to learn about her industry, pick up valuable job skills, meet people in her intended career field, and eventually, achieve full-time employment. As we examine internships and summer employment in more detail, you will see how you can benefit from these experiences, too.

Using Internships to “Jump-Start” Your Career

According to the National Society for Experiential Education, an internship is defined as a “carefully monitored work or service experience in which an individual has intentional learning goals and reflects actively on what he or she is learning through the experience.”

Some of the key words listed here are intentional learning goals . Internships are viewed as an educational tool. Basically, your internship at a company or organization is a twofold transaction: you are there to get experience in a certain field or line of work, and the company or organization has an extra person around for a while to pitch in. The internship may or may not include a modest stipend. The internship might also earn you some college credits.

Structured internships are most often provided by mid-sized to larger companies. Many of these types of intern programs are offered by big-name companies which look good on resumes. So be prepared for competition which rivals that of full-time employment.

Should You Consider a Structured Internship Program?

This type of internship can be especially productive if:

1) You are interested in developing specific skills. Internships are often skill-specific .

For instance, as with Kendra, if you are majoring in broadcasting and you want some experience in the various facets of production, then an internship may be a great place to start. It could be with a television station, a video production facility or an advertising/public relations agency.

Regardless of your major, an internship can provide your first chance to take the theory learned in the classroom and see how it applies—or does

 

The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need The above is an excerpt from The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need, which is available for sale for $17 in our bookstore or for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. Students know that good experiences helps to build a good resume and that good resumes help you land interviews, yet how many of us have been shown how to interview well so that we can get hired? Written by Keith F. Luscher specifically for the job hunting students who use CollegeRecruiter.com. To get hired, you must know how to interview well. Read this book and you will. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 24, 2007 at 1:55 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Last Guide To Finding a Great Internship - Page 2 of 21






While in college, Kendra began using internships to explore what type of work she wanted to do. She obtained a particularly helpful internship with a local consulting firm doing video production. “That was a great experience,” Kendra says enthusiastically. “I landed it with the help of my academic advisor, who knew the person who hired me. Through the intern program, I learned the basics of video production, from reviewing and logging footage to creating video edit lists for scripts and producing finished shows. It also gave me the first real exposure to seeing projects through from beginning to end. That's something which is often tough to get in the classroom.”


Kendra worked on that internship up through and for several months following her graduation from college. Once she graduated, Kendra also took on a part-time summer job as a camera operator at the network affiliate, where she soon landed a full-time position.


“I worked in that summer position, along with my internship, for six to eight months. Today, I work at the station full time as morning news editor.”


While the thought of working two part-time jobs may not sound enticing to some people, Kendra appreciates the way in which the two different environments complemented one another. “While everyone is professional in how they go about their work, the consulting firm was a much more formal environment than the television station. That was because there was a greater direct interaction with clients. So I was able to learn my craft from the perspective of two different environments.”


“Also,” she adds, “I can't stress enough the value of advisers and the career office. It was through my advisor that I got both the internship and the summer job. It seems that if the advisors get to know you better as a person, then they have a better idea of what opportunities might suit you. Also, they have more connections and can be a tremendous help to students looking for opportunities and for ways to meet people in the business community.”

The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need The above is an excerpt from The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need, which is available for sale for $17 in our bookstore or for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. Students know that good experiences helps to build a good resume and that good resumes help you land interviews, yet how many of us have been shown how to interview well so that we can get hired? Written by Keith F. Luscher specifically for the job hunting students who use CollegeRecruiter.com. To get hired, you must know how to interview well. Read this book and you will. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 24, 2007 at 1:53 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Last Guide To Finding a Great Internship - Page 1 of 21

Embrace a Pivotal Moment!


This publication focuses on internships: the short-term experiences that can have a long-term impact on your career and your life. I will show you how internships and other forms of part-time employment can be great opportunities to gain experience, improve your education and build relationships, thus enabling you to jump-start your career.


Even though internships and summer jobs might only last a few months, in the minds of most people who will interview you, these positions equate directly with work experience. As you will soon find out when you enter the work world, experience is extremely important—all kinds of experience.


If you are familiar with some of my other writings, or my book Don't Wait Until You Graduate II (released by New Horizon Press and available through CollegeRecruiter.com), you will know that I place a great emphasis on the value of volunteering. There are many possibilities that exist for volunteers within small and large organizations, as well as with start-up operations. I emphasize this so you will learn to understand that regardless of your career stage, you can start your career, even your first paying job, just by filling the needs of another person or organization. Most important, through all these processes, what is key is that you consistently act and work with integrity and you seek to benefit others and build relationships with those around you.


Although volunteer work is often more long-term in nature, the same principles and values can be applied to short-term work relationships. Read the following story of Kendra Frank, a broadcasting student at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio:


“In the competitive field of broadcasting and production, the prospect of landing a full-time job upon graduation is not really an issue,” notes Kendra Frank, who works for a major network affiliate in Columbus, Ohio. “If you're lucky, you can get a part-time job, and if it works out well, six months to a year down the road you may land a full-time position. That's why it is imperative to have internships and summer jobs, and to start on them as soon as possible.”

The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need The above is an excerpt from The Last Guide to Finding a Great Internship You'll Ever Need, which is available for sale for $17 in our bookstore or for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. Students know that good experiences helps to build a good resume and that good resumes help you land interviews, yet how many of us have been shown how to interview well so that we can get hired? Written by Keith F. Luscher specifically for the job hunting students who use CollegeRecruiter.com. To get hired, you must know how to interview well. Read this book and you will. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 24, 2007 at 1:46 AM | Leave a Comment (0)