· By processing events and experiences you are better able to step back and see what you are good at. You can better assess your interests. Reflection assists in the process of determining your fit in the business field. This process can aid you in determining what you like and where you want to go. You can narrow the job search to significant areas of interest, thereby eliminating areas that are not beneficial and helping you to spend more time on jobs that best suit you.

· As students reflect they can express growth in their abilities. This can help to increase your confidence level. We often see when students step back to reflect they can better understand what they have accomplished. By doing so they move from questioning their abilities to becoming excited about what they can do. With this confidence comes the ability to more adequately articulate your skills to an interviewer. If you have a better understanding of who you are then you are better able to share it in the job search.

Reflection is a crucial link to understanding experiences. Each intern should engage in reflection so that they can more fully reap the benefits of their experiences.

Internships are a valuable experience. You should be sure to participate in at least one during your college careers to solidify your learning. However, an internship can become merely an event or line item on your resume if it is not fully utilized. By incorporating the items mentioned into your internship experience, you can move your resume from a report of events to something that tells a story.

Kelli Schutte has worked at Calvin College for the past seven years as a business professor. She has been working extensively with the internship program for the past five years.

Beth Cok has worked in Calvin College Career Services Office as Internship Coordinator for the last three years. She has been involved in corporate management and business ownership for the past 25 years.

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.