Internship and entry-level job candidates know that soft skills are as important to their future success as the hard or technical skills that they learn in their classes. Being likable, for some, is considered a soft skill that can and should be learned by anyone who hopes to have a successful career. Naturally, there are some who would disagree.

"Anyone can be 'nice' but in business, it is better to be likable," said Tara Zoumer, marketing and communications coordinator for Silverado Senior Living. "In my opinion, the key to an interview, aside from the obvious factor of having talent, is the ability to become likable within a single conversation. Just being 'nice' isn't enough; being likable is essential."

Good leaders know how to strike a balance. According to Gary Schinkel, president of Unique Training and Development, Inc., "Being likable or nice is helpful in terms of being approachable. By smiling and being warm, more people are apt to want to be around you, which helps with leadership and achieving results," he explained. "If you are warm and open, people will bring their challenges to you earlier, allowing you to deal with problems quicker, before they get out of hand. So, you want to be just likable enough that people don't hate spending time with you, and then challenge them enough to be their best."

Continue reading "Are You a Likable Intern or a Nice Intern?" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on November 11, 2009 at 10:07 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Let's be honest. You want to be the BEST intern this fall. You want to be the ONLY intern that your employer really pays attention to. YOU want to be the intern that gets offered a job at the end of the semester. Hey, it's a competitive space - I understand. Here are some tips to help you really impress your boss and pimp out your fall internship:

1.Predict the Future. I know you're not a mind-reader however, it doesn't hurt to think about what you will need, what questions you should ask, and what you should bring. The key is to be over-prepared so that nothing slips through the cracks. Students should ask their internship coordinator questions about parking, directions, hours, dress code, supplies needed, and how lunch works ahead of time. These questions should all be put together nicely in one email. You shouldn't have to send your coordinator several emails. You don't want to annoy them before you first day.

Continue reading "Pimp Out Your Fall Internship !" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on September 11, 2009 at 12:42 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

We're approaching the end of the summer but the end of any season is a time of strife for interns everywhere. Almost all of them want to convert their internship either into a better internship or into a full-time, permanent job with their employer. These interns typically ask questions such as:

• How can my internship help me get a real job?
  
• Is it worth taking an internship in hopes of turning it into a real job?
  
• What can I do to turn my internship into a real job?
  
• How should I handle the awkward period between interning and graduation?
  

Continue reading "How to Convert an Internship into a Permanent, Full-time Job" »

Posted by Steven Rothberg, CollegeRecruiter.com on August 20, 2009 at 3:33 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

College students who are about to start an internship often want to know what they should do in order to make their internship a great experience and successful. These questions include:

• What are the key tips for being a great intern?
  
• What are the key tips for finding a great internship?
  
• What are the social aspects of being an intern?
  
• What if my college won't give me credit for an internship, or what if a credit is too expensive?
  
• What's the secret of getting in good with my boss from the first day?
  
• Is it OK to admit you don't know how to do something?
  
• What's the secret of getting in with the staffers?
  
• What's the secret for getting the best assignments?
  

Continue reading "Internship Tips and Secrets" »

Posted by Steven Rothberg, CollegeRecruiter.com on August 20, 2009 at 3:27 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Here are some very common questions asked by interns as they're approaching the end of their internship.

• What if I hate my internship?
  
• What should I have learned by the end of my internship?
  
• How do I end my internship on the right note?
  
• Can I raid the office supply cabinet when I leave?
  

Continue reading "What to Do at the End of Your Internship" »

Posted by Steven Rothberg, CollegeRecruiter.com on August 20, 2009 at 3:22 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I have heard from several students this summer who are struggling to make their internships work. It can be very discouraging when you work hard to find an internship that you think will give you the experience you are looking for but you end up feeling that it's just not what you expected it to be.

Before you make a move, take a step back and try to look at the situation objectively.

Try asking yourself these questions:

• "Why am I so dissatisfied with this internship?"
• "Is the internship different from what I expected?"
• "Is my supervisor unreasonable and difficult to work for?"
• "Is the job so boring that I can't stand going to work each day?"

Once you have identified the problem, it will be much easier to come up with a solution. Continue reading ...

Article by, Penny Loretto, a career counselor at a small liberal arts college in upstate New York, has her own private career counseling practice, Career Choice, and is About.com's Guide to Internships.

Posted by Candice Arnold on August 10, 2009 at 8:30 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

As "The Intern Queen" I certainly had my share of BORING internships. You know, the internships where you can barely keep your eyes open and have to keep slapping yourself across the face to stay awake. The internships where looking at the computer makes you want to take a long nap and sleep forever. The internships where you are told to "hang around" which means sit down and do absolutely nothing so you start texting everyone you know and saving random contacts in your phone.

TURN A BORING INTERNSHIP INTO A GREAT ONE

1.STOP DOING NOTHING. START DOING SOMETHING. Internship coordinators don't always realize that their interns are just sitting around. Usually the person put in charge of internships is an entry-mid level executive. They have tons of responsibilities on top of being in charge of the interns and they often forget that the interns have been left to do nothing. It's your job to be an appropriate reminder. If you find yourself sitting around, go up to your internship coordinator and ask if he/she needs any help. If they don't need any help ask if you can go around and offer to help other executives in the office. This way you are exposed to more tasks and more important, more people!

2. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR RESOURCES. Yes, sitting around for long periods of time completely sucks. However, think of that time as your personal time to advance your career. Your company probably has dozens of resources for your field of interest that you don't normally have at your finger tips. For example, at the television networks and movie studios they most likely have daily subscriptions to the trade publications. Most industries do have trade publications and different professional associations that put out tons of reading material each year. Ask your internship coordinator if you can review these materials. You will find the names of people you should know, your industry news, and articles to make note of. Use this time to really educate yourself on your chosen field.
Continue reading ...

Article by, Lauren Berger, dubbed "The Intern Queen" after participating in fifteen internships during her four years in college. She built her "Intern Queen"brand in May of 2006 and recently teamed up with Quarterlife to create the Quarterlife Internship Program where students can get FREE access to internships in the entertainment and journalism fields. Berger also provides Internship Advice and Content for students.

Posted by Candice Arnold on July 29, 2009 at 6:37 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

We are always told what we should do at internships. But what about the things we SHOULD NOT do ? Some may think that it is common sense. I don't think so. It's just as important to point out what you should NOT do as it is to point out what students SHOULD do.

This is the official Intern Queen list of what NOT to do at your internship

Do NOT break the dresscode. Even if you are comfortable at the company and see other employees wearing jeans or flipflops. Don't dress down unless you are specifically instructed to do so by your internship coordinator/director.

Do NOT park in any spot but where you were assigned to park. The last thing you want is for a security official to have to track you down and have you move your car. You don't want to block an executive in and be a burden to anyone.

Do NOT keep your cell phone on. Vibrate is not acceptable. Turn your cell phone completely off. Don't even get caught pressing the IGNORE button. It should sit in your pocket or purse the entire day and not be touched unless you are on a break or lunch.

Continue reading "What NOT to do at your Internship" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 5, 2009 at 12:24 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I wanted to take a moment to let interns know what they should expect during the first few days/weeks of their internships. A misconception that many students have is that they will be VERY BUSY at all times. Here are some tips that I put together:

• EXPECT lots of downtown. Just as you are getting used to the new job, new tasks, new hours - the company and your boss are getting used to you. They might not be used to having an extra hand around the office so everyone needs time to adjust.
• Don't get frustrated after the first few hours on the job or internship because you aren't given anything to do. Just wait patiently and give yourself and those around you the opportunity to get situated. Be prepared to go outside your comfort zone in plenty of professional and social situations. High school isn't over quite yet ! Be prepared to find new friends to lunch with and to explore the different social circles in the workplace.
• Be patient while the LEARNING CURVE takes its course. Even though the people around you are used to the day-to-day in your new office, [that] doesn't mean everything will click right away. It takes time to learn each company's individual systems in and around the office. Everyone keeps track of things like emails, phone sheets, and databases in different ways. Give yourself a break if you don't get it right away.
• Extra! It's a NEW job. You don't have to love it the first day and most likely you won't. Don't be so hard on yourself and make sure to give yourself credit and take the proper time to adjust.

Article by, Lauren Berger, dubbed "The Intern Queen" after participating in fifteen internships during her four years in college. She built her "Intern Queen"brand in May of 2006 and recently teamed up with Quarterlife to create the Quarterlife Internship Program where students can get FREE access to internships in the entertainment and journalism fields. Berger also provides Internship Advice and Content for students.

Posted by Candice Arnold on December 24, 2008 at 10:25 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

What To Do and What NOT To Do During Your Internship

During the first week of an internship, you should arrive on time. An email should be sent to your hiring manager asking about parking, food, dress, etc one week prior to your first day at the job.

If you are sitting at your desk with nothing to do, you should approach your employer and ask if there is anything you can do to help. If they don't need help ask if there is anyone else in the office you can help.

Whenever you meet someone in passing, you should introduce yourself. If you are in the breakroom with others don't be afraid to extend your hand and meet everyone around you. When you go back to your desk write down their name. If you aren't sure of their last name try to look on your company directory and figure it out. Once you know the person's first and last name, try to get their email address. Keep this information stored so that at the end of your internship or job you have all of your contacts properly stored .

Whenever your boss calls you into the office, go in with a pen and paper. NEVER go in their office without a pen and paper. This shows that you take your job seriously and that you begin each task with a sense of urgency and importance.

• Don't sit on Myspace, Facebook, or LinkedIn while on the job. Make it a point to keep your personal social activities separate from work.
• Don't give close friends your work email account. Have them email your personal account. This will help you to separate your work from your play.

Article by, Lauren Berger, dubbed "The Intern Queen" after participating in fifteen internships during her four years in college. She built her "Intern Queen"brand in May of 2006 and recently teamed up with Quarterlife to create the Quarterlife Internship Program where students can get FREE access to internships in the entertainment and journalism fields. Berger also provides Internship Advice and Content for students.

Posted by Candice Arnold on December 23, 2008 at 10:11 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Social Networks: Virtual Organize It, Stupid!

by Pierre Coupet

No doubt you've heard of the tongue-in-cheek expressions, "Keep it simple, stupid!" and "It's the economy, stupid!" However, in today's day and age, the appropriate mantra for those who belong to social networks should be, "Virtual organize it, stupid!". Let me tell you why:

Great Investment of Time & Effort

You spend a great deal of time joining social networks, reviewing the background of other interesting individuals, and inviting them to become a contact and part of your personal network. In certain cases, you go through the additional effort of setting up and administering your own group, write comments and articles and, in some cases, prepare and send out a periodic newsletter. In no time at all, you reach a major milestone, having developed a network of hundreds to thousands of contacts. You are very excited and proud of your achievements and, in some cases, send out a major announcement to everyone in your network trumpeting the good news regarding the surge in your group's membership total and how great it is.

The Big Question

And then you ask yourself the big question, "Where do I go from here?" You feel like you've reached a dead end and, if you're like most, you try to engage your contacts; ask them to actively participate and contribute content, etc. And, if you are an exception to the rule, you schedule some local, face-to-face, paid or free networking or business events. At the end of the day, after all has been said and done, all you're left with, at best, from your social networking efforts are mediocre or meager results relative to the astounding amount of available opportunities that the virtual environment-internet-Web 2.0 has to offer--that is, of course, assuming you're one of the extraordinary social networkers out there; and, if you are like most others, all you are left with are downright disappointing results. And, unfortunately, that's where it all ends.

The Bigger Question

Which brings us to the bigger question, "Whatever happened to the promise of the Web and Web 2.0?" Never before in the history of mankind have we been so interconnected. We are no longer limited by time, distance, geography, human and capital resources, and collaboration tools. The sky is the limit! We are only limited by our efforts and imagination; the extent of our willingness to break down the natural walls of resistance to change; and our willingness to explore new thoughts and concepts before they are widely accepted. And yet, the most that we attempt to make out of the tools and resources that have been made available to us is to try to set up local face-to-face meetings.

The Ultimate Question

Which now leaves us with the ultimate question, "So what is the missing link?" However, that being said, this one question opens up a pandora box of related questions such as: What else can we do, or should we be doing, in order to take advantage of the almost limitless amount of opportunities that are available to us in this wonderful and absolutely amazing era? Are there any currently available solutions? Are there any emerging schools of thought on that subject?

The Ultimate Answer: Virtual Organize It!

Well, the ultimate answer lies within the virtual organization management discipline. Virtual organization management provides you with a series of best-next practices, policies and procedures for operating in a virtual environment and for managing a virtual organization. Virtual organization management is highly flexible, being that you can virtual organize at any of the following levels of an organizational structure: (1) an individual level, (2) a team level, (3) a group level, (4) a department level, (5) a division level, (6) a social network level and, last but not least, (7) an organization level. With respect to an organization, it can be either of the following: (i) any free standing organization, (ii) a joint venture, (iii) an association, (iv) a consortium or (v) a partnership.

Although social networks provide you with one wing -- which is: the tools you need to effortlessly interconnect on a global scale -- what is sorely needed is the other wing -- which is: virtual organization management -- that you must have in order to fly and soar high up above in this sky of limitless opportunities. So what are you waiting for? Virtual Organize It!

ABOUT AUTHOR: Pierre Coupet is the Founder, Chairman, CEO & Doctor of Virtual Organization Management at Virtual Organization Management Institute; the founder of the modern virtual organization management discipline pioneered since 1997; and also the author of the widely acclaimed white paper**, "How To Virtual Organize Your Social Network." To contact the author, call 818-804-5921 or send email directly to chairman@virtualorganizationinstitute.com

Copyright 2008-2009. Pierre Coupet and Virtual Organization Management Institute. Cannot be reproduced or distributed in whole or in part without permission. All rights are reserved.

Posted by Pierre Coupet on November 25, 2008 at 5:45 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)

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)

The best internship program will not succeed with the wrong interns. Likewise, having the best interns is pointless if you fail to fully utilize and develop their talents and skills, or leave them disappointed and disillusioned. The Internship Institute's Blueprint for Internship Success provides employers with every insight about proven practices. Here are five of the key elements to make an internship successful.

1. Commitment starts with internal buy-in. Company executives must promote an organizational culture that values students' abilities and contributions. Putting commitment to work requires the means to build your internship program with the proper structure. You will need to:

• Budget for program costs such as campus recruiting, technology tools and compensation;


• Allocate proper staff resources and allot them time to manage the program; and


• Invest in the one-time cost and effort to develop program resources to support effective hiring, orientation, training, evaluation and sustained improvement.

2. Planning begins with taking a comprehensive work inventory well ahead of time. Among other things, this project pipeline is what defines recruitment goals, program metrics, resource needs, budgeting, and sets the stage to make interns most productive.

3. Ownership is about making someone accountable for all aspects of the internship program. This person should be fully qualified to supervise students and be innately motivated to do his/her best for the organization and interns alike. Avoid assigning this responsibility to novice managers. This individual should possess at least two years of supervision and project management experience.

4. Engagement is about commitment in action to recruit and manage interns most effectively. Apply the same standards and diligence as you do to recruit full-time employees, especially if hiring them upon graduation is an ultimate goal of your program. Start by identifying two to three schools close by that have academic programs to match your criteria. Forge relationships. Seek guidance from career services professionals and faculty advisors who have an inside track. Make personal connections within alumni associations, and student organizations that match your business needs.

5. Development means going beyond "on-the-job-training" to balance productive work assignments with opportunities for growth. The sooner you train students to be more capable, the sooner they can apply that competency to be more productive. Lectures, textbooks or tests can never substitute for the hands-on experience your organization can provide.

-- Matthew Zinman founded The Internship Institute to make internships THE solution to close the gap between school and work. He has created several internship staffing management products to make it as easy as possible for employers to create the best program. These solutions include: The Blueprint for Internship Success, a supervisor training video (DVD) of proven best practices, the Intern Toolkit with step-by-step resources and downloadable templates, and The Intern Supervisor Guidebook to improve where the internship experience truly happens: one-on-one. These solutions combine his experience managing more than 200 student interns with his passion to make a difference. The professionalism of these products reflect his expertise in communication management and business strategy consulting to nearly 100 companies since 1989. He is a frequent lecturer and author about related topics.

Posted by Candice Arnold on April 1, 2008 at 5:13 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

A college degree by itself no longer commands a quality job. That's a fact of life in a global job market tattooed with relentless change.

Having two or three quality school-related internships under your belt by graduation gives you an edge. The trick is to avoid those dead-end gigs so useless they should come wrapped in yellow crime-scene tape.

When you're partnering with your school, the good news is that you have rights. No one talks about them much but here's my take of what The Intern's Bill of Rights would look like. Or should.

Continue reading "The Intern's Bill of Rights" »

Posted by Steven Rothberg, CollegeRecruiter.com on February 19, 2008 at 1:26 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

What happens when you are asked to do things on your internship that have nothing to do with your major in college? How do you broach the subject with the chief without sounding arrogant?

Watch the "Ask Vampire Bear" as it gives some pretty good suggestions:

Continue reading "Wasted Internship? How to Talk to Your Boss" »

Posted by Steven Rothberg, CollegeRecruiter.com on December 2, 2006 at 4:59 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Internships are essentially temp-to-perm employment opportunities through which both the intern and the employer can evaluate each other to see if the match is a good one. For a job to be an internship, it must be temporary and career-related. But what is that interns actually do? That varies considerably and depends upon what occupational field they are in, but this video provides some light hearted insights:

Posted by Steven Rothberg, CollegeRecruiter.com on June 16, 2006 at 8:29 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Ben Spier was an intern at Fox 40 in Binghamton through an internship that he landed through Binghamton University. While at Fox 40, Ben recorded a great video to document what one of his typical workdays were like.

Posted by Steven Rothberg, CollegeRecruiter.com on June 16, 2006 at 7:38 AM | Leave a Comment (0)