Tips for a Successful Internship

Photo of walking uphill through snow courtesy of Shutterstock

I graduated from college way, way back in 1988. Yup, I’m 42 years old. That makes me ancient to virtually every student on a college campus. Back in my day, we walked 12 miles to school, through eight feet of snow, with no shoes, it was uphill in both directions, and we loved it. Oops. That was in the days of my grandparents. But I digress.

Very few Gen X’ers like me had internships. Those of us who graduated with any work experience tended to have jobs that had little to nothing to do with our career aspirations. Those going into accounting waited tables or stocked shelves, for example. Gen Y’ers are completely different. They understand that in order to have a reasonable chance of finding a good job upon graduation that they must complete at least one and preferably multiple internships. And employers are catching on too. Some 50 percent of employers expect a college graduate to have completed at least one internship. Indeed, 20 percent of employers expect a college graduate to have completed two internships. How times change.

So what should a college student to ensure a successful internship? Continue Reading

Easily Source Veterans and Disabled From Two- and Four-Year Colleges

Many of our largest employer clients are federal government and Fortune 500 organizations because our two most popular recruitment advertising tools are well suited to organizations with large hiring needs. News out of Washington, D.C. last week got me to thinking about whether we could help our clients hire veterans and disabled college students and recent graduates. In short, the answer is definitely.

I learned just before Veterans’ Day that the federal government’s primary method of hiring interns may be illegal because federal agencies are supposed to give hiring preferences to veterans. The Federal Career Internship Program (FCIP) was designed to provide two-year structured training and development internships but a number of agencies have abused it. An arbitration board just ruled that FCIP illegally circumvents traditional civil service merit hiring principles regarding veterans.

If FCIP is dead, the agencies could shift to targeting college students who are veterans or disabled as those groups are to receive hiring preferences. But are there enough veteran and disabled college students and how can we help the agencies and our corporate clients reach those valuable candidates?

I had our targeted email campaign and cell phone text messaging campaign data guys do a bit of research and found that we can email or text on behalf of our employer clients over one million veteran or disabled students and recent graduates:

So clearly we’re able to help a federal agency, Fortune 500, or any other client that wants to hire veteran or disabled students or recent graduates. And we can drill down by targeting, for example, those who are (1) disabled, (2) juniors and seniors of four-year colleges, (3) accounting or finance majors, (4) with GPA’s of 3.0 to 4.0 and (4) are African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic, or Native-American.

If this intrigues you like it intrigues me, let’s have a look at how for as little as $2,250, CollegeRecruiter.com can help your organization reach veteran and disabled college students and recent graduates or just about any other demographic you wish. Just email your targeting wish list and we’ll figure out how best we can help you reach your recruiting goals.

Lawsuit May Have Killed the Federal Career Internship Program

Colleen Kelley of the National Treasury Employees Union

President Colleen M. Kelley of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) has been leading the fight to curb widespread agency misuse of the FCIP and eliminate the program, which circumvents traditional civil service merit hiring principles. “I welcome this highly significant decision by the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), which ratifies NTEU’s longstanding position regarding the illegality of the FCIP,” said Kelley. NTEU filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the MSPB. NTEU also has a pending suit, which is a more broadly based challenge to the FCIP. That suit challenges the program as applied to all employees, not just veterans, and is awaiting a ruling in federal district court. NTEU is seeking the prospective elimination of the FCIP along with the conversion of all FCIP hires to the competitive service without loss of pay or benefits.

The cases at issue in the MSPB decision involve two disabled veterans, one of whom was seeking a job with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Board said it identified two specific legal flaws in the FCIP. The first flaw is that the program improperly permits agencies to classify a position as being in the excepted service—rather than in the competitive service—after a vacancy announcement is issued, and even after applications are received. The second, the MSPB said, is that the positions can be placed in the excepted service without a showing, as required by statute, that such a decision is “necessary” for conditions of “good administration.”

In one case, a veteran alleged he was unable to apply for a position because he was not aware of vacancies; openings to be filled under the FCIP are not subject to the same public notice requirements as are competitive service jobs. In the other, a veteran applied for one of nine VA vacancies under an announcement limited to eligible veterans—but the agency filled all nine positions using the FCIP.

The FCIP was designed to provide two-year structured training and development internships; instead, a number of agencies have come to use it for all new hires. Often, agencies use it to undercut the competitive hiring process in ways that limit promotion opportunities for current employees.

The MSPB decision comes at a time when the Office of Personnel Management, acting in response to a presidential directive earlier this year, is reviewing the FCIP and making recommendations to the administration about the future of the program.

Key Areas to Explore in Your Job Search

Whether you’re an entry level job seeker or someone who is unemployed, the competition for jobs is stiff. One magazine article talks about five key areas that job seekers should focus on to improve their chances of getting hired. The people I read about were out of work, unfilled in their previous jobs, or passed over for a position, but each person persevered by emphasizing one of these areas in their job searches, which led them to new opportunities.

Here are five key areas that can offer an advantage to anyone on the hunt for a job.

Your Resume – The goal of a resume is to get an interview, so structure it to sell your skills and qualifications for a specific job.

Your Network – According to the magazine article, over 80% of job leads come from personal connections. You can establish relationships with people by learning of their interests; maintain those relationships through interaction to stay up-to-date on any news that is relevant to you and your network.

Your Skill-Set – When looking at various job opportunities, determine if the job descriptions fit your abilities. If not, but you find something of interest, think about some additional education and/or training for a particular position. For example, an entry level job seeker might consider internship opportunities to learn more about different fields.

Your Profile – Sometimes it’s not what you know, but who you know. Perhaps you’re the most qualified person for the job, but no one knows who you are. One way to gain some visibility is to create a profile on a social media website. By doing so, you can communicate your professional interests, and even share a personal side of yourself, which could lead to networking opportunities as a job seeker.

Your Flexibility – With so much competition for jobs, getting or keeping a job may come down to what you are willing to do. Factors may involve relocating or even taking a pay cut in order to work. Weigh all of the factors and then make the decision that is best for you.

Information provided by Annya M. Lott, Brittany Hutson, Renita Burns, LaToya M. Smith, and Marcia Wade Talbert.

Source
Black Enterprise Magazine – July 2010

Facebook is a Networking Tool All Candidates Should Take Advantage Of

A lot of recent college graduates are on the lookout for internships or entry level jobs in their chosen career fields. Some graduates prefer to hold on until they complete their highest level of education while others begin their careers right away and continue higher studies at the same time. One of the best ways to land an internship or entry level job is to look through some of the best job boards on the Internet.
Most recruiters these days advertise on the Internet for a wider reach in order to pick and choose the right person for a particular job. Job boards maintain databases of all jobs available and the qualifications needed. All people have to do is to go to these sites, search for the jobs that suit them, click on the links provided and submit their data online. No standing in queues for application forms, no sending forms by “snail mail” or courier. Everything is done online.
Things have become really simple these days. If you have joined a social networking site likeFacebook and have developed a large circle of friends there, it can be an excellent place to look for a job. Most jobs these days are found through networking. Recruiters are looking for credentials that can be verified and networking on Facebook can make it easier to verify candidates’ credentials through their profiles and friends, who may also be references. While credentials are important, a person who has a good disposition, is known to be sincere, hard working and easy going, would certainly be preferred by recruiters. Cultural fit is often considered more important than qualifications.
Networking through Facebook is an excellent way for candidates to find the best jobs. With the ongoing recession, a lot of people have been laid off as many companies have been downsizing. More stable companies are taking advantage of this situation and adding to their workforces. The number of jobs is not dwindling, but the number of job seekers has risen tremendously. It has always been survival of the fittest and those with the maximum exposure, through networking, are faring better than those without it. If you are seeking an internship or entry level job, it would certainly make sense to explore all options, and Facebook is one option that offers an excellent opportunity for networking that all candidates should take advantage of.
Article written by a freelance writer

Network Your Way to the Internship of Your Dreams

When in school and actively studying, it is sometimes hard to find a job that you think will give you experience in your field of study. More importantly, it is almost always hard to find a job that will work around your schedule and be flexible with your work hours. What’s the best way to go? An Internship!
Now the question is, where do you find that internship of your dreams? Most people will tell you to check job boards and newspapers. These are great ideas, but it’s important to know that this is not your only option. Sometimes a great internship is right under your nose, and all you need to do is sniff it out.
For example, if you are interested in a communications job, and you think that working in radio would be fun, call up your local radio stations. Ask to speak to their program manager and just ask if they happen to be looking for an intern. Sometimes, a company is not actively looking for an intern, but when the idea is brought to them, it turns on a light. If it does not work out at one radio or television station, call another. The most important thing to remember is that the worst thing that could happen is that the program manager will say, “No, thank you.” Either way, there is no harm done.
Another great way to find internships is to network. For example, if you’re interested in software development, network with the people in your classes. If one of your classmates has an internship somewhere, ask if that company is looking for any other help. It is also a good idea to ask if it is okay for you to list him/her as a reference. Knowing someone who is an existing intern or employee increases your chances of getting the job over someone else. Remember that finding an internship is a lot like trying to land a record deal. Not everyone is going to say yes, and it doesn’t happen overnight for most of us.
Persistence is the key and patience pays off. Internships are a great way to get your foot in the door, and to get a great learning experience. Do not give up, and remember to take the initiative to get the job done, or in this case, to get the job!
Article authored by a freelance writer

Tech Savvy Recruiters Use SMS to Connect With Desired Candidates

Today’s world is becoming increasingly technologically driven and fast paced. Everywhere you look you can see young people with their heads down, staring at 3×2 inch screens, their thumbs punching with fury at the little keys on their cell phones. They are engaging in an increasingly popular means of communicating: SMS or text messaging.
One of the benefits exclusive to text messaging, rather than email, is the ability to reach a person almost immediately, as most people have their cell phones on them and are ready to answer all day, any day! SMS messaging is a quick and efficient way of keeping in touch with friends and family and even handling business. In fact, employers have begun to catch on and are even using text messaging for recruitment of entry level job and internship candidates. After all, what better way is there to reach today’s generation of graduating college students?
This has proven to be an excellent way for employers to reach out to prospective employees, and start a working relationship. As many companies have begun using SMS recruitment, they have learned that this can be very effective when used in conjunction with other recruitment methods such as: on-campus job fairs, online job postings, and on-campus interviews. The important thing to remember about SMS recruitment, is that it is meant to be a means of starting the communication between employers and prospective employees or interns. It will still be necessary for job seekers to submit their resumes online and set up interviews either by telephone, or the traditional face-to-face contact. While SMS recruitment has proven to work for many companies and organizations, it is important to remember that the purpose is to simply generate awareness about your company and its opportunities for college students and recent grads, not replace other traditional means of interacting with prospective applicants.
Article authored by a freelance writer

Want to Reach More Candidates Faster? Try Text Messages.

Recruiters are always looking for effective ways of recruiting. The best recruitment method is the one that offers both effectiveness and low cost. By effectiveness I mean the recruitment information should be delivered to as many relevant people as possible. And by low cost I mean the method should cost as little as possible. Historically recruiters have used newspaper, TV and the Internet as their methods, each with its own advantages and disadvantages; however, the major underlying reasons for using these methods are their degree of pervasiveness. When people read more newspapers than other media, newspaper is the most effective way of recruitment. When people spend more time accessing the Internet than reading newspapers and watching TV, Internet becomes the most effective way.
Today, most people use mobile phones every day, and mobile communications is becoming an essential part of everyday life. Naturally, the use of mobile phones should be incorporated into the recruiter’s plan, and recruitment based on mobile phones should be considered seriously as an alternative to traditional recruitment methods. There are different ways to use mobile phones for recruitment, and the text messaging is a relatively new way and has high potential to become the new frontier where effective recruitment is conducted. Whether you are looking for internship or entry level job candidates or senior job candidates, text messaging can help you achieve the goal effectively and inexpensively.
There are several advantages with using text messaging for recruitment.

• First, the cost is less. Today’s major mobile carriers all have certain flat-rate texting plans. With a flat fee, you can send unlimited text messages.
• Second, the response rate of using text messages is generally higher than using other means such as emails.
• Third, it is typically more effective in the sense that the receivers are more likely to pay attention to the information received.

The major disadvantage associated with this new method is the concern that most mobile users treat their mobile phones as a means to communicate with close friends and family members. When receiving advertisement-like information, they tend to be annoyed. To address such concerns, appropriate filtering and classification techniques need to be applied both on the sender and receiver sides.
Article written by a freelance writer

Online Jobs Help You Earn Money and Gain Experience Conveniently

The cost of going to college increases every year. Some parents are actually working out deals where their children share part of the burden. For some students, there is no choice. If they want to go to college, they have to help their parents foot the bill. That’s why working from home is such a great opportunity. It allows them to earn money, gain valuable work experience, take on full course loads and maintain active social lives.
ProfitonInternet.com has thousands of jobs to choose from. Writing majors in need of writing internships can get the required experience and postpone the stress involved in the job-search process by working online as independent contractors. But there are other types of jobs, too.
If you’re a great typist, you can earn money online by doing data entry for various companies. ProfitonInternet.com also has opportunities that involve processing rebates or samples. The choice is yours. Work from home opportunities like the ones offered at ProfitonInternet.com make it possible for students to easily work around their class schedules and they also permit them to take unpaid internships without feeling any strain on their budgets.

Earn Money and Learn Valuable Skills From the Comfort of Your Own Home (Dorm)

Because of the tight economy, some employers are putting their internship programs on hold. Of those who aren’t, they are a lot pickier than they were before things got bad. So how does a busy college student get valuable work experience? One way is by applying for a work from home job. ProfitonInternet.com is just one of many sites that allows anyone interested in working from home to select from thousands of job listings.
College students often have busy class schedules and active social lives, so many wait until the summer to do their internships. But for those who like doing internships during the fall and spring semesters, working online might be just the ticket. There always seems to be a demand for data entry clerks and typists, so that’s one way to earn money while getting practical work experience like meeting deadlines and working with others to complete a project. For writing majors who are struggling to find writing internships, ProfitonInternet.com has plenty of writing jobs posted, too. There’s even a section on the site for people interested in earning money on ebay. Imagine that!
Earning money online is especially great for students who have unpaid internships because it allows them to set work around their class and work schedules. And they will get additional work experience to add to their resumes. There’s really no downside.