So far, we've explored the importance of internships, how to make the most of them, how interns have contributed to employers, and why diversity matters. My final query to our internship experts was, what are the best things about interns and/or internships? and what are the worst?

Internship Coordinator for the Art Institute of California-San Francisco, Katie Layous, said "The best thing about internships is the experience students get from interacting with professionals, building their skills and networking connections, and growth of industry knowledge. Internships are one of the best ways to gain experience and to test a career choice." The worst, Layous said, is "when the student isn't doing the job or when the employer isn't pulling through on their end."

"Similar to having interns with diversity, the best thing about having interns in general is that they bring new and innovative perspectives to the company," said Elsa Morgan, HR director for JAKKS Pacific. "The worst thing about interns is that they are never here for long enough!"

Alpaytac Junior Account Executive, Brian Saunders gave two very detailed descriptions of the best and worst aspects of Alpaytac internships: "We have had interns at Alpaytac tell us they left the program feeling 'an inch taller,' that is to say, vastly more confident in their abilities and the future of their career. Alpaytac's unique internship structure allows them to develop the skills they will need in the business world, placing them atop the shoulders of job candidates who require extra training. Interns benefit the company, as well. They are excited about their industry and eager to contribute. Their enthusiasm consistently drives them to go the extra mile with their work, and this in turn challenges the full-time employees to do the same."

So what does Saunders think is the worst thing about internships? "The hiring, training, and fostering of interns utilizes Alpaytac's most valuable resource: our time. It is disappointing when an intern does not reciprocate the efforts we put into their training. However, when those efforts are met with an equal amount of commitment and enthusiasm, it typically results in a long and productive working relationship," he said.

"Internships at Scottrade allow students a great opportunity to learn more about the industry and provide impeccable hands-on experience," said Chrissy Glover, intern recruiter for Scottrade. "Not only does the student discover their true desire to pursue a career in this industry, but we have an opportunity to see hwo well the intern acclimates to Scottrade and what the job requires."

Alicia King, public relations coordinator for Clarke/Eric Mower and Associates (Clarke/EMA), sums it up this way, "Once an intern has secured a position with a company, it's a great way for the company to hold a three-month trial for the intern and vice versa, for the intern with the company. Internships ... provide students with fresh perspectives and potential new hires for the organization."

Like Saunders, Maureen Buehler, global manager for Autodesk Global University Programs, and Rebecca Hall, APR, CEO, and president of IDEA HALL gave detailed explanations of what they feel are the best and worst aspects of internships.

The best: "Building relationships with students to proactively develop a rich 'talent pipeline' for future staffing needs is a significant value-add to any company. In addition, internships can clarify career objectives and reduce attrition in degree areas such as computer science and ingineering promoting retention in these fields," said Buehler.

"The best thing about internships," Hall said, "is the exchange of relationships and building on a network beneficial to both the intern and the organization. A day will come when a former intern can be the gatekeeper or key influencer to bringing business to an organization."

The worst: "There is always risk in investing time, resources training, and exposure to product knowledge in a student who may not be converted or may take the skills they have learned to market themselves to an industry competitor. The key is providing a well structured internship program that is designed to offer project-based assignements that are both challenging and encourage personal growth," Buehler said.

And for Hall, "the worst thing about internships is not having a system or set of clearly defined roles and expectations for the intern. It is a company's responsibility to have a program laid out for interns wishing to engage in real world experience. Anything less is a disservice to both the organization and the intern."

"Internships are like an extended job interview and it allows the company and the student to put the best foot forward," said Keyla Cabret, university programs supervisor for Aflac, echoing Alicia King's sentiments. "An example," she continued, "is that Aflac student interns and co-ops present ideas and project updates to senior management where they can showcase their skills and knowledge learned in college but transferred to the job. Therefore, they are able to build relationships and expand on their business skills through working as a team member on special assignments and employers find this advantageous in potential employment possibilities."

And finally, David Kowalczyk, co-director of Career Services at Assumption College thinks the best thing about internships is that the practical experience the students gain can help them validate their professional interests; and the worst thing about internships is that "limitations do occur when interns accept offers predicated on internship experience without analyzing what else is available." Basically, intern ... know thyself.

This concludes our first exploration into internships, their importance and their benefits. Be on the lookout for further developments.

Posted by Candice Arnold on May 29, 2008 at 11:35 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Although doing at least one internship before graduation is ideal, it's true that there are skills to be gained by working part-time while in college. I asked our experts if they would consider hiring a recent college graduate who opted to work in a restaurant or clothing store instead of doing internships while in college.

Not surprisingly, they all agreed that a recent college graduate with work experience gained while working in a restaurant or clothing store could realistically be hired for one of their companies, and here are their reasons why:

"Yes, I would hire a grad who worked in a clothing store or restaurant while in college," said Katie Layous, internship coordinator for the Art Institute of California-San Francisco. "A student who has had a part-time job while attending school will still build many marketable soft skills. A restaurant worker will build good communication skills, teamwork skills, and time management skills. A sales associate at a retail store learns about customer service, how to maintain neat and tidy surroundings, or cashier and register transitions. Proof of soft skills is very important to employers. The top ten qualities employers look for in new college graduates, according to Job Outlook 2007 from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) are all soft skills.

Elsa Morgan, HR director for JAKKS Pacific, said her company "would not be opposed" to hiring a recent college graduate who worked a part-time retail or restaurant job while in college; "however, if they did not gain the appropriate skills in one of those positions, and they are applying for a position that requires a certain criteria of skills, then they really would not be a good fit for our company."

Because there are many sales jobs out in the workforce, it can't hurt to have those kinds of skills, which can be learned more in retail than in the restaurant business, but then again, think back to a time when a waiter/waitress suggested the "daily special" or a certain dessert in such a way that enticed or intrigued you enough to make you want to give it a try. Wasn't that a sales pitch? For David Kowalczyk, co-director of Career Services at Assumption College, "A good sales work experience can be very helpful. Students who can qualify and close a customer are valuable individuals."

Alpaytac, said Junior Account Executive, Brian Saunders, considers "any and all experience when reviewing candidates for employment. Diversity among life and work experience shows that a person is not only educated, but also well-rounded. If the candidate can apply what he/she has learned in other experiences to their position at Alpaytac, then that has value to us. Industry, experience, however, remains invaluable and a high priority."

"There are a collection of attributes that make up a desirable college graduate," said Maureen Buehler, global manager, for Autodesk Global University Programs. "While a past internship at a high tech company or industry equivalent is preferred, a student's extra-curricular activities, rigor of their academic coursework, participation in school projects/case studies and involvement in student clubs are also important in developing a well-rounded and uniquely qualified candidate."

Rebecca Hall, APR, CEO, and president of IDEA HALL said, yes, she would hire a student who had gained experience working in a restaurant or clothing store while in college "because working in a restaurant or clothing store develops skills of adhering to a schedule, being on time, maintaining standards of excellence for their respective roles and responsibilities."

Finally, Keyla Cabret, university relations supervisor for Aflac said, "Many career seekers often believe that the insurance industry primarily offers jobs in sales, often overlooking the many other professional level opportunities that can exist within the industry that allow for transferable skills. Customer service skills are high on the list of core competencies for Aflac."

So, if you are a recent college graduate who chose not to do internships while in college, but instead to get a part-time job, don't worry. Depending on your responsibilities, your part-time job may be just what you needed to be an asset to any or all of the companies to which you apply.

Posted by Candice Arnold on May 28, 2008 at 10:24 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

In our "melting pot" society, one would expect diversity in the workplace to be a given. It's not. Surprisingly, there are still some companies that are as homogeneous today as they were 60 years ago. If a company is able to thrive without embracing diversity, it's the exception, not the rule. Most employers realize that in order to expand their companies, they must be willing to open their minds and their doors to people from various walks of life - and this includes people with disabilities. Diversity isn't all about race and gender any more.

I asked our internship experts how important they think diversity is to the internship selection process, and this is what they had to say:

"This is vital and necessary, especially for global companies, to have a variety of backgrounds and bring different perspectives to the work environment. These perspectives lead to new ideas, creativity, and growth, and add tremendous value to a company," said Maureen Buehler, global manager for Autodesk Global University Programs.

Rebecca Hall, APR, CEO, and president of IDEA HALL sees diversity as "key in recruitment of interns primarily for the fact that organizations must value diversity of thought and perspectives from individuals with different 'filters' like cultural upbringing, life experiences, etc. This is especially important in today's world with everchanging demographics, which impacts us all."

"Incorporating diversity into the workplace is not only the right thing to do," said Keyla Cabret, university relations supervisor for Aflac, "it also makes good business sense as it is important that a company be reflective of the community and customers in which it serves."

As Katie Layous, internship coordinator for the Art Institute of California-San Francisco, put it, "most employers go with the standard of being equal opportunity employers."

So there's no reason why a student looking for a quality internship or a recent college graduate looking for a great entry-level job should feel hindered because he has a disability or belongs to a certain ethnic minority.

Posted by Candice Arnold on May 27, 2008 at 11:16 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Most of us are aware of the benefits college studens get from internships, like real world experience, professional contacts, and an insider's view of a potential workplace. But what do interns bring to the table?

Our experts all agree that interns bring "insight and objectivity," but as you will see in the following quoted responses, companies gain more than fresh perspectives and ideas from their interns:

Keyla Cabret, university relations supervisor, Aflac had this to say: "Some advantages of being a product of the millennial generation is the ability to adapt to change quickly. Whether it is going to school with a diverse group of people or readily understanding the newest technology, this is a generation that is used to change ... and they expect it. For example, as a college recruiter for Aflac's University Relations department, I am often looking for students for our internship and co-op programs who exhibit characteristics that indicate they are fast learners and not afraid of change. These are the type of students who eventually become full-time employees with the potential of having a long and successful career with the company."

Chrissy Glover, intern recruiter for Scottrade offered: "Often times, the intern is the first face a customer sees when walking into the branch or the first voice a customer hears over the phone. Because of this, our interns have a lot of opporutnity to impact customers' experiences within the first minute of contact. Scottrade takes pride in being recognized for excellent customer service and our interns play a large role in customers having a positive experience with us."

Brian Saunders, junior account executive for Alpaytac provides two examples: As an intern with Ogilvy and Mather 20 years ago, the founder/president of our agency led the acquisition of a major client with her ideas and thorough research and development of a key campaign." More recently, Alpaytac's own interns made a tremendous impact on their company when "a recent group [of interns] conducted outstanding research regarding the unknown toxic chemicals used in household cleaners, which led to a feature interview with our CEO on Air America to promote healthier and safer cleaning."

Katie Layous, internship coordinator for the Art Institute of California-San Francisco, told this internship success story: "I had one company report that an intern helped brainstorm a whole new process for the company to try and it worked. It was much more productive than the past way they had been doing it. Many employers report our AI interns are assets to their organizations and are able to bring the latest technology skills to their companies."

Maureen Buehler, global manager for Autodesk Global University Programs, recognizes that students can also have a post-internship impact on companies: "Interns invigorate teams with new talent, techniques and energy to continually stimulate leading-edge ideas. Additionally, internships increase a company's profile at key universities when students return to campus and become 'ambassadors' sharing the value proposition that company offers."

Fresh perspectives, creativity, objectivity, and technological savois faire are only a few of the things interns offer companies during their internships. As pointed out by Rebecca Hall, APR, CEO, and president of IDEA HALL , interns also "provide an opportunity for staff with 2-5 years of experience to learn and practice managing people."

Internship programs are mutually beneficial when created and managed properly.

Posted by Candice Arnold on May 21, 2008 at 12:25 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Making the most out of your internship

Some students choose internships that sound great but end up being disappointments because the students are only permitted to suppor regular employees by filing, photocopying, and going to get coffee for everyone. Since they didn't enroll in college to become office assistants, being given only office assistant tasks on a regular basis sits poorly with them.

So, the question is: How can an intern positively overcome being used solely as an office assistant?

"Seek mentors and request worthy assignments," advises David Kowalczyk, co-director of Career Services at Assumption College. "Offer to do extra work."

Brian Saunders, junior account executive with Alpaytac, and Rebecca Hall, APR, CEO, and president of IDEA HALL, went a little more in depth with their advice. "All interns are assigned those "gofer" tasks occasionally, and it is part of their job to do them well. However, they should never feel limited to these tasks," says Saunders. "Proactively asking questions and taking initiative shows that this person is here ... to learn the industry and become a valuable member of a team. Additionally, what may appear to be 'gofer work' can actually be an important step to executing a campaign. In order to run a successful PR campaign you have to understand the structure of a camaign from the ground up. Success at the lowest levels feeds into success later on."

"What interns must realize is that in tasks that are perceived as mundane, it is the trial test that determines if the individual is adept at following through, providing updates, and is detail oriented," says Hall. "Students can overcome this in a positive way by having a 'can do' attitude and asking for more meaningful tasks when it is clear and demonstrated that they can handle small, administrative tasks."

Keyla Cabret, university relations supervisor for Aflac, agrees with Saunders and Hall that there will be times when interns are called upon to do "basic tasks" like answering the telephone, copying or reviewing documents, and the best way to avoid or overcome being used as nothing more than an office assistant is by speaking up. "A potential graduate ... can gain valuable on-the-job experience by requesting additional assignments or offering suggestions for projects [regular employees] are working on."

All the experts agree that it's up to the interns to take the first step toward improving the conditions of their internship; however, they have some advice for employers, too.

"Companies that only utilize interns for the most menial tasks are missing a tremendous opportunity," says Saunders. "An intern is a fresh, eager and willing young mind. To not utilize them to their full potential is a waste of everybody's time."

Katie Layous, internship coordinator at the Art Institute of California-San Francisco feels "interns need to be guided and coached, and if empoyers are only going to use them as gofers, no one will benefit. If you train an interns well, it benefits both the student and the company in the long run," she said.

"A company should regard an internship program as an important strategic initiative to audition potential students to become full time hires," suggests Maureen Buehler, global manager of the Autodesk Global University Program. "The payoff in converting interns is that key talent is ready to contribute at higher levels more quickly."

"Our advice to other employers would be to set clear goals of what you want from the intern before you hire them. If you have an established position with specific criteria, both parties can reap the rewards," says Elsa Morgan, HR director for JAKKS Pacific.

While it is important for students to speak up when they feel they are being underutilized during their internships, so is it essential for employers to realize the opportunities they have before them to groom future entry-level employees for rewarding careers with their companies.

Posted by Candice Arnold on May 20, 2008 at 10:18 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

Despite statistical proof that internships often result in entry-level employment after graduation, there are still some college students who opt against doing them. If they work at all during college or in the summer, they are choosing to work instead for local retailers and restaurants. Others may work in offices, performing the very tasks that make most interns cringe - filing, photocopying, etc. - during their internships.

Internships are extremely important to those who are completely unfamiliar with the industry in which they want to work. I majored in journalism, but had almost no industry experience outside of two journalism workshops done during my high school years - too far back to even be relevant - and writing occasionally for the campus newspaper. That simply wasn't enough to prepare me for a career after graduation. So, I went in search of one and ended up finding two - one with a community newspaper and the other with an online company, which gave me experience working in the world of "new media."

Scottrade Intern Recruiter, Chrissy Glover, believes that although it's not impossible to get a good job without an internship, it certainly helps, especially if you chose wisely. "If a [candidate] can say that they have worked one-on-one with brokers, customers, and branch managers that weighs heavily with a potential employer," Glover said. She concluded that for employers, internships are evidence of real world experience and that's what they seem to want most in new hires.

"Even if your elected major doesn't require an internship or co-op, it is suggested your participate in one because the skill set that can be acquired during this brief period is immeasurable when it comes to applying for positions after graduation," said Keyla Cabret, university relations supervisor for Aflac. Recent college graduates want to embark on exciting, lucrative careers. Internships and co-ops can help them achieve their goals by providing the best possible industry-related skills to present to a potential employer.

Global Manager for Autodesk Global University Programs, Maureen Buehler, believes that "through an internship, students will learn and practice essential workplace skills, such as interviewing, collaborating, synthesizing information from diverse sources, and reporting outcomes through oral, written, and multimedia presentations."

Another bump in the road to a recent college graduate's career goals is past interns. As Alicia King, public relations coordinator for Clarke/Eric Mower and Associates (Clarke/EMA), and former Clarke/EMA intern, put it, many interns receive job offers at the conclusion of their internships. "Most companies won't let a good intern get away - it's in their best interest to have the best, most talented employees," King said. So if a recent college graduate applies to Company X with no internship experience at all, let alone any with Company X, the odds against her getting hired are doubled.

Katie Layous, internship coordinator at the Art Institute of California-San Francisco, sees things a little differently. While acknowledging the importance of internships, she knows students can gain practical experience through "part-time field related work or freelance jobs," making them "just as marketable" as graduates who have done internships.

"With the quality of job candidates in the market today, an internship is an integral part of the resume, said Brian Saunders, junior account executive - and former intern - of Alpaytac. "It serves as that ever-important work experience for an entry-level candidate, and provides a reference who can speak to the candidate's abilities as an employee."

Elsa Morgan, human resources director for JAKKS Pacific, probably spoke for most employers and recruiters when she said, "It's not necessarily more difficult [for a recent college graduate to get a good job without internships listed on his resume]; however, we favor those who have had real world experience."

Rebecca Hall, APR, CEO, and president of IDEA HALL, agrees. "When hiring entry- level staffers, 9 times out of 10, the preference is always for someone that has had an internship or two as this indicates the individual is highly motivated and can easily immerse themselves into a real world setting. Most businesses move quickly so it is comforting to hire an entry-level individual that isn't 'too green' - you want someone who knows their way around an office and comes to meetings prepared to take on assignments," she said.

Posted by Candice Arnold on May 19, 2008 at 8:16 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

I recently came across an essay I wrote for a college course about my first real job - an internship with a small newspaper in Maine. Given my recent post about the value of internships, I thought I should share a crazy first day moment from my first internship. And the newspaper shall remain nameless to protect their reputation from me...

On my first day of my first real job as an intern/desktop publishing assistant, I was asked by my publisher boss to take a load of scrap lumber to the town dump. Yes, an open pit of stinky garbage. He magnanimously gave me the keys to the company 20 yr old Impala wagon (think Gremlin wagon but flatter) and we loaded it up practically to the ceiling with some 2x4s. Having never driven a car other than our family 1978 VW bus, I had never experienced power brakes.

On the final curve to the dump, I began to brake - only to realize that brake in this car meant touch the pedal slightly and BRAKE! And in slow motion, I screeched to a halt in the middle of the turn and watched 2x4s slide into the windshield forming a spiderweb of glass. Being an eventual Princeton graduate, I had not stacked lumber behind my head so I was physically fine. But mentally I was not fine. At 17 years old, I was screwing up royally in my first job on the very first day. What a confidence killer! And this was a small town so there was no way I could hide my stupidity for long.

So in tears, after unloading the lumber (the windshield was still driveable), I returned to the office, fearing the worst - getting fired. But no, something worse would happen. My boss, a notorious cheapskate, came out and looked at the car and said, "if you were going to wreck the car, couldn't you have at least totaled it so insurance would pay for it?" I was relieved/horrified/disbelieving at his reaction. And later we all laughed.

There were other unpleasant tasks ahead in my future in this job, but they were doable when balanced with the higher-skilled responsibility I was later given.

And still later, my boss wrote me a wonderful recommendation for college and to this day, I continue to use the desktop publishing skills I learned from that job. I also learned about other menial tasks, sticking clip art on straight, and what it was like to work with great people.

I did not take the job because I knew for sure I wanted to go into newspaper production. I applied for the job because I had computer skills, enjoyed creative pursuits, and wanted to find out what it was like to work for someone. I was just lucky I kept the job after that first day; the funny thing is, my boss fixed that windshield and I saw it driving around for at least another 10 years. Do you have any funny internship experiences to share?

Article by, Juliet Wehr Jones, M.D. and courtesy of Career Key, striving to help all people make the best career choices, worldwide.

Posted by Candice Arnold on May 16, 2008 at 12:25 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

For some recent college graduates, making the transition form the classroom to the workplace is a breeze. They lucked out and found good jobs with good companies, and all is right with the world. Others are not so fortunate. Why do some fair better than others? Well, smart choices is one reason, luck another. A carefully chosen internship can make all the difference in the world.

Katie Layous, internship coordinator at the Art Institute of California San Francisco, thinks "internships help students test the waters with companies. A student might think an organization works on way, but in reality it's completely different than they thought."

"A good internship is a preview of professional level work experience," said David Kowalczyk, co-director of Career Services at Assumption College. When looking for a quality internship the Career Services office is the best place to start. Most, if not indeed all, college and university campuses have one. Get to know your Career Services advisors in addition to talking to friends and classmates who have recently completed internships.

Alicia King, public relations coordinator for Clarke/Eric Mower and Associates (Clarke/EMA), and a 2007 graduate of the University of Florida in Gainesville, speaks first hand about the value of doing internships. "Interning with as many companies as possible is ideal. I interned with an agency and a non-profit organization. It allowed me to get a feel for different working environments and pinpoint which aspects appealed most to me. It also provided valuable experience that can't be taught in any classroom," she said.

Brian Saunders, Junior Account Executive with Alpaytac - and an Alpaytac intern until March 2008 - would agree. "As valuable as education is," he said, "there is no substitute for experience." Saunders advises students to "choose companies where they will actively contribute to projects that have merit in the business world." That may become easier as more and more companies realize that interns can do more than support regular employees, they can actually contribute their ideas, their energy, and the knowledge they've gained in their classrooms.

Companies like Scottrade are already aware of this. Intern Recruiter Chrissy Glover had this to say, "At Scottrade, interns in our branch offices get to interact one-on-one with customers to gain problem solving and customer skills, which cannot really be accomplished in the classroom." And Scottrade is just one example. CollegeRecruiter.com recently featured a series of videos by RSM McGladrey that allow visitors to their site to get an insider's view of some of the things McGladrey interns experience.

There's more to internships than just earning class credits or supporting regular company employees. As our experts agreed, internships teach students what going to work every day is really like. Learning to interact with people from various backgrounds, understanding company policies, and how they can put their education into practice are all key things for students to consider during their internships. Opportunities to network and make valuable professional contacts shouldn't be discounted, either.

Even if a particular company isn't a good fit, there may be some people who can make introductions or provide information that the student can then use to either find a future internship or an entry-level job after graduation.

Keyla Cabret, University Relations Supervisor for Aflac summed up the benefits of doing internships the best. Her top five reasons why students should do internships are:

• "Stay abreast of trends in their chosen career field
• Obtain actual work experience
• Gain perspective on the company and information on their future career
• Build business relationships
• Expand on job skills"

It may be too late to get a summer internship, but it's not too late to start preparing for the fall or next spring and summer. The more internships a student has under his belt by the time he graduates, the more options he has. Since so many companies today choose to hire their best interns (Alicia King interned with Clarke/EMA before being hired), it would behoove any student hoping to land a great entry-level job after graduation to start looking for a great internship first.

Posted by Candice Arnold on May 12, 2008 at 9:02 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

In March of this year, Scottrade sent out a press release in which recruiter and internship coordinator, Amy Meister, listed seven things college students can do to optimize their internship or entry-level employment searches.

1. "Use all of your resources to find a great internship. You don¹t have to look too far to find a great resource. Take advantage ofthe career counselors and advisors at your college or university and look toyour network of friends. Upperclassmen may be able to recommend internships they have held or heard about.

2. Practice professional job seeking skills. Take your internship search seriously as if you were looking for a full-time job. Formalize your correspondence and avoid using ³text messaging² grammar or spelling. Make sure your e-mail screen name is appropriate. Set up a more professional user name, such as using your first initial and last name, or use a university or college e-mail address. Check your voice mail message and ask yourself if that message would resonate well with a potential employer.

3. Show an interest in the company. Your initial query or cover letter should be personalized and reference the company and position you are applying for. Do some research about the company and point out any prior experiences that relates to the company. Once you have booked an interview, take the time to research the company further and know what you seek to gain from the position and what you can contribute. When you sit down for the interview, ask informed questions.

4. First impressions are important. It is ok to be nervous, but show your confidence. A great handshake, eye contact, good posture and concentration are keys to creating a great impression. Although casual is in, dressing professionally and wearing a suit shows that you will take the job seriously.

5. Make your experience relate. Employers realize college students may have little professional experience, but that does not mean you should not have a solid resume. Include part-time jobs, volunteer work, fundraising and charitable activities, athletics and even school-related projects that may align with the internship you are seeking. Make connections that work. For example, working as a cashier might not sound impressive or even relevant to an online brokerage. By making these connections, you can show that you are accurate, have handled money and filled out deposit slips and most importantly, that you have experience working with others and resolving customer issues.

6. Think outside the semester. Scottrade, like many companies, values its internship program as a source for hiring top young talent. Let the internship recruiter know that your goal is to work with that company beyond your internship.

7. Follow-up After the interview, send a thank-you letter by mail or e-mail. This will give you another chance to represent yourself to the internship recruiter and hiring manager and reiterate key points from your interview and your interest in the internship.

As their importance continues to grow, finding the best internships will become increasingly difficult, as will finding the best entry-level jobs. Work to improve your soft skills - oral and written communication, professionalism, work ethic, critical thinking, problem solving - and always keep in mind that a large percentage of employers start with their interns when looking for the best entry-level employees.

Posted by Candice Arnold on May 6, 2008 at 3:27 PM | Leave a Comment (2)

Because the job market is getting tougher, today's college students are encouraged to do at least one internship, if not more, before graduating; and they're being advised to begin doing them as early as their sophomore year. This is because employers want entry level employees who are not only educated but experienced, and the only way to get experience is by getting a job in the industry where one wants to work. This common cunundrum no longer applies to recent college graduates. They can do internships, so there's really no excuse for not having the experience needed before going out in search of a career.

No one ever disputes the value of internships that actually put interns to work on projects that will enhance what they've learned in their classrooms. What isn't often discussed is how interns benefit employers.

Mary Lin, Marketing and Public Relations Director of Prescott College, has had a "fantastic experience" with the two interns she hired over the past two years. Not only were the interns "cooperative and enthusiastic" even when they're sometimes asked to put in extra hours, but they also gave Lin's staff an opportunity to learn the "latest" and to act as mentors, which can be very rewarding. "Interns feel like valued members of the process and systems of work," Lin said.

Patricia Harman is the director of communications for the Restoration Industry Association (RIA), "the leading trade association for cleaning and restoration professionals worldwide." Harman, who also teaches at a college in her area, outlined her top 10 list of the reciprocal benefits of hiring interns:

"1. Today's students are extremely well versed in new technology. Our interns work on our website, create our PPT presentations and show a lot of our "old dogs" some new tricks.
2. They add a great outside perspective to many of our projects.
3. They help us find creative solutions we may not have considered.
4. Because they're anxious to learn and get experience, they're willing to work on just about any project we give them. (We give them real work and try not to waste their talents on mindless tasks.)
5. They're a great source of new employees for our company.
6. We work hard to give our interns real experiences that will look good on their resumes or in their portfolios, so they'll have an advantage over other job applicants.
7. We can afford them.
8. They can be a big help when regular staff members leave or go on vacation, or we have a major event that requires more staff.
9. They usually have very good ideas and aren't encumbered by politics or past history. 10. Since we publish a monthly magazine and an e-newsletter, I benefit from having additional writers on staff."

While it's true that not every company can afford interns, those that can do themselves a disservice by not creating an internship program that will not only help college students get much needed practical work experience, but will also help the company teach older employees how to use new technology, bring in fresh perspectives, and facilitate their searches for quality new hires. For example, when Harman's assistant got another job, she chose one of her interns to fill the position. And at Prescott, exemplary interns in Lin's office were able to "move into other positions as a result of their execllent service as interns." Clearly, internships are beneficial all around.

Posted by Candice Arnold on May 5, 2008 at 9:31 AM | Leave a Comment (0)