Meeting the Challenge
By Bubba Fender
Norman Career Services
Arkansas Tech University

Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief; Doctor, lawyer, fireman, chief; Banker, teacher, baker man, priest - how can you be sure what is right for you? Work as an intern. Paid or unpaid, an internship will help you determine if you've made the best career decision.

While many majors require an internship, most often the student must determine who, what, where and how to meet that requirement. Begin with your collegiate advisor and your career service center, as either or both will have solid ideas regarding companies who typically offer internships, as well as the type of duties and responsibilities for which you will be charged. Use the Internet for specific searches, including intern sites such as http://www.usinterns.com . If you have a company in mind, look on their website for Employment/Internship Opportunities, then apply directly.

Have an electronic resume ready to send as an attachment, including your contact information, current student status, major, past work histories, campus/community involvement, and professional references, which is a list of names/contact information for one or two present/past employers, as well as one or two academic professors (make sure these are professors under whom you have acquired an ‘A' or ‘B' grade in your major).

Internships may be during summer months, or even the academic year, and will most likely involve 10 to 20 hours of your time (full-time in the summer). Interns are normally paid a rate above the federal hourly requirement, but do not include insurance or other benefits supplied to full-time workers.

These jobs may be structured to introduce you to each department within the company, minor decision-making, more complicated teamwork, business philosophies, or more. Remember that internships are not to be a one-way street for students to learn hands-on processes, but also for the employer to determine if you are a person they will be willing to hire, train and employ on a full-time basis after your graduation. If you do well, chances of a career position offer are over 90 percent.

Try broadening your search for an internship to a location remote to your home. Not only are they more exciting, but they show a prospective employer you are not afraid to attempt new ideas, places or things. For example, the state of Florida has great intern openings for biology students at Water World; or check out the federal parks, such as Yellowstone ; or contact Walt Disney World theme parks. There are H-U-G-E varieties of internships, including several on the PGA Tour. Plus, there are internships in our nation's capitol. All these companies and places give you hands-on experience in management, customer service, work ethics, and more.

The above is an excerpt from The Last Job Search Guide You'll Ever Need: How to Find and Get the Job or Internship of Your Dreams, which is available for sale for $19.85 in our bookstore or $27.00 at Amazon.com but for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. This hot new book contains job search secrets of the most experienced, most knowledgeable and most respected career experts. Learn career planning, job hunting tools and tactics, interviewing, cover letter and resume writing (lots of samples!), networking, and how to find an internship. Written by 149 career experts. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.