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Quintessential Careers Press The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships © Copyright 2008 By Randall S. Hansen, PhD, and Katharine Hansen, PhD All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. Published 2008 ISBN-10: 1-934689-07-6 ISBN-13: 978-1-934689-07-3

Quintessential Careers Press – The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships

Quintessential Careers Press The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships Contents

INTRODUCTION: Why Internships are Important…………………………………………………………………… CHAPTER 1: Determining Your Internship Needs and Setting Internship Goals ............... CHAPTER 2: Finding Internships that Meet Your Needs and Fulfill Your Goals ................

5 7 9

CHAPTER 3: Applying Job-Search Skills to Obtaining an Internship……………………………………

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CHAPTER 4: Sample Internship Resumes and Cover Letters …………………………………………………

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CHAPTER 5: Making the Most of Your Internship ………………………………………………………………………

39

CHAPTER 6: Turning Your Internship Into a Job ………………………………………………………………………

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CHAPTER 7: Internship Resources ……………………………………………………………………………………………….

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CHAPTER 8: Internship Case Study ………………………………………………………………………………………………

47

APPENDIX: Internship Do's and Don'ts ………………………………………………………………………………………

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Quintessential Careers Press – The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships by Randall S. Hansen, PhD, and Katharine Hansen, PhD Quintessential Careers Internship Resources: http://www.quintcareers.com/grad_internships.html

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The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships

program is growing. Employers reported that nearly 36 percent of the new college graduates they hired from the Class of 2007 came from their own internship programs, up from 30 percent from the Class of 2005. Matthew Zinman of the Internship Institute reports that IBM hires up to 2,000 interns annually and converts more than half of them to full-time hires. Recruiting guru Dr. John Sullivan writes on the Electronic Recruiting Exchange that "the most effective sources I have worked with have consistently found that quality internship programs produce the highest quality candidates, the most productive hires, and the hires with the highest retention rates."

Introduction: Why Internships are Important As both educators and partners in Quintessential Careers, we get very frustrated when college students graduate and then tell us that they can't get a job because employers disdain their lack of experience. We try to impress on students how phenomenally important it is that they complete at least one internship, and preferably several. But since we still hear from students facing the how-can-I-get-experience-if-Ihave- no-experience dilemma, some students are probably wondering why they should complete internships. Let's start with the No. 1 reason and work down the list of reasons you must do an internship: 1.

2.

Employers increasingly want to see experience in the new college grads they hire. A staggering 95 of employers said candidate experience is a factor in hiring decisions, according to an annual survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Nearly half of surveyed employers wanted new-grad experience to come from internships or co-op programs. If you have completed internships, you will clearly have an edge over your classmates who haven't. In an Associated Press article, reporter Emily Fredrix quotes Philip D. Gardner, research director of the Collegiate Employment Research Institute, as saying that internship experience is "just one of those things you have to have before employers will even consider looking at your resume." Employers increasingly see their internship programs as the best path for hiring entry-level candidates. "Not only does participation in an internship make the student a more attractive candidate," says NACE Executive Director Marilyn Macke, "but it can also be an avenue to a job." NACE's 2008 Experiential Education Survey shows that hiring from the intern

5

3.

You may get paid more when you graduate if you've done one or more internships. Even back in 2005, NACE reported that surveyed employers that hired entry-level candidates with internship/co-op experience paid them 6.5 more than those without the experience.

4.

You could earn college credit toward your degree. Many if not most colleges provide credit for eligible internships. Check with your faculty adviser or career-services office to see what your school's or major-department's policies are.

5.

Internships enable you take your career plan for a test drive. You might discover by interning in your planned career field that it's not what you thought it would be like. Or one niche of your field is a better fit for you than another. Let's say you're a marketing major, and you complete an internship in marketing research. You discover you hate it. Before giving up on marketing, you do an internship in public relations and find it's a perfect fit for you. Isn't it better to figure all this out before you graduate and are stuck in a field that's not for you? You can also test out career paths not in your major. Let's say you've decided on a major but always had a lingering interest in a completely different field. You could

Quintessential Careers Press – The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships by Randall S. Hansen, PhD, and Katharine Hansen, PhD Quintessential Careers Internship Resources: http://www.quintcareers.com/grad_internships.html

6 do an internship in the other field to decide how strong your interest really is and whether you want to beef up your studies in that field. Finally, you can test out creative ways to combine your interests, as one student we know did who was wavering between med school and a marketing career and did internships that combined medicine and marketing. She ultimately pursued grad school in health-care policy. 6.

7.

You'll gain valuable understanding of your major field and be better able to grasp how your coursework is preparing you to enter your chosen career. You may also discover gaps between your classroom learning and what you need to know in the real world and can strategize how you will fill those gaps. Some employers will even suggest additional courses you should consider. You'll develop skills galore. Maybe you already have the great interpersonal skills employers seek. But in an internship, you can't help but sharpen them by interacting with people on a professional level and in a way that you would never have the opportunity to do in the classroom. The same goes for the teamwork, communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills that employers lust for.

8.

You'll gain confidence. If you're afraid of facing the work world when you graduate, an internship will teach you that you can do it.

9.

You'll build motivation and work habits. All that freedom you gained when you left home for college may have caused your motivation and work ethic to slip. You might be skipping a few classes, missing assignments, or building a class schedule that doesn't require you to get up early. There's nothing like an internship -- where you can't slack off if you want to succeed -- to instill in you the workplace characteristics you'll need after you graduate.

10. You'll build your network. Everyone you meet in an internship is a potential contact for your network and someone you can call upon for advice and referrals when you are job-hunting closer to graduation time.

11. You will build your resume. Any kind of experience on your resume is helpful, but career-relevant internship experience will make a better impression on employers than your serving job at Applebee's. 12. Growing numbers of colleges require internships, reports Zinman. If they're requiring them, they must be convinced that internships are important. Similarly, studies show increasing numbers of students are completing internships. A study released by Vault.com shows that almost 9 out of 10 (86 percent) college graduates reported completing at least one internship, and more than two-thirds (69 percent) reported completing two or more internships. Presumably these students know that internships are valuable for all the reasons listed here. 13. You might make money. Not all internships are paid, of course, but those that do pay can yield pretty decent salaries. Employers queried in NACE's 2008 Experiential Education Survey reported offering their undergraduate interns an average of $16.33 per hour. Now, granted some readers may be saying, "I know all this stuff, but insurmountable obstacles keep me from doing internships." Perhaps it's imperative that you hold a paying job that leaves no time for internships. Perhaps you have family, athletic, or extracurricular obligations. Maybe you live or attend school in an area where internships are scarce. While all these are legitimate obstacles, I still say find a way to complete at least one internship. Work with your school's career-services office to surmount your obstacles and become an intern. If other paid or unpaid obligations are the issue, target summer when your school obligations are decreased. Juggle your schedule so you are essentially working two jobs -- your internship and your other obligations. But don't overlook the possibility of internships during your time in school. If you get college credit for an internship, you can spend the time you would have spent on coursework completing your internship. Bottom line and final thought: Think creatively about how you can do an internship even if you are convinced you can't. It's that important.

The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships

sizes and shapes, from Fortune 500 companies to not-for-profit organizations. What are you looking for? Issues to consider include size, ownership, corporate culture, etc.

Chapter 1: Determining Your Internship Needs and Setting Internship Goals Congratulations! By reading this chapter you are taking the necessary steps for achieving greater career and job-search success upon graduation from college. Internships are invaluable learning experiences for college students -- and almost a necessity for any college graduate. Employers are demanding that college grads have "real world" experience, and internships are one of the best ways for college students to get that experience. So how do you find your ideal internship? It's a three-step process: Determine Your Internship Goals, Prepare/Polish Your Job Search Skills, and Find/Track Down Internship Sources.



What industry would be best for your needs? Even when you know exactly what you want to do, you can still be uncertain about the type of industry that best suits you. For example, if you are a natural-born salesperson, you really have the option of working in any industry, but pharmaceutical sales is quite different from selling insurance.



Where do you want to have your internship? If your internship is during the regular semester, you obviously need an internship close to your college campus, but during the summer months you may wish to have an internship near home so you can save on expenses (and enjoy mom or dad's cooking/laundry service/etc.) or in a location where you hope to land a full-time position when you graduate -- or just to experience a place in which you have never lived before.



Will you consider both paid and nonpaid internships? It would be great if all internships paid, but in reality a large number do not - especially in certain industries. So, you need to decide whether you can afford to not get paid during your internship. One more thing: while it is not always the case, paid internships tend to be more professional (and you do less grunt work) because the employer wants to get its money worth from you.



Do you want college credit for the internship? Many colleges offer at least some college credit for internships. The plus side (besides earning the credits) is that there is usually an internship program with an established list of employers and internships available to you. The down side is that there may be more restrictions on the type and amount of work you can do based on the program guidelines.

Determine Your Internship Goals Before you can even start thinking about finding an internship, you need to spend time reflecting on your goals for obtaining an internship. Consider these questions: •

What are your specific career interests? An internship is a great tool to help you define your career goals. For example, if you're majoring in history, but have an eye on a political career, you might consider an internship with a local or state politician. Or, an internship can help further refine your career goals. For example, if you're a marketing major but not sure whether you want to go into advertising or public relations, you should consider getting internships in both areas to help you decide which is best for you.



Why do you want an internship – and what do you hope to gain from it? There are multiple reasons for obtaining an internship, including answering the question above. Other possible reasons include learning new skills, gaining networking connections, adding work experience to your resume, and as an entry point that you hope leads to a fulltime position with the employer when you graduate.



What type of organization are you interested in? Organizations come in all

7

Quintessential Careers Press – The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships by Randall S. Hansen, PhD, and Katharine Hansen, PhD Quintessential Careers Internship Resources: http://www.quintcareers.com/grad_internships.html

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The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships

Chapter 2: Finding Internships that Meet Your Needs and Fulfill Your Goals

Job and Career Fairs at http://www.quintcareers.com/job_career _fairs.html. •

Alumni Office. Many (if not all) colleges now ask alumni if they would be willing to sponsor current college students as interns – and these alums are a great source for internships as well as a networking source for other internships. Take advantage of this resource! This information may either be found in the career services office or the alumni office.



Company Websites. If you have already identified a specific set of companies where you would like to intern, you should consider going straight to the source by visiting the career section of each company's Website. Try our Quintessential Directory of Company Career Centers at http://www.quintcareers.com/career_cen ters/.



Internship Websites. There are a few general internship Websites, as well as a number of industry-specific Websites. A good resource, but internship sites have lagged behind the development of job sites, so don't depend too much on these resources. Where do you find the best internship sites? Go to our Internship Resources for College Students at http://www.quintcareers.com/grad_inter nships.html.



Books and Periodicals. There are some great print sources of internships. First, there are annual directories of internships, which you can find in our College Internship Books section at http://www.quintcareers.com/internship _books.html. The other print source is trade magazines and newspapers published for your major or career field. If you are a member of a student organization, you may already have a subscription to at least one of them. Your college library should also have subscriptions to these publications -- as should some of your professors. These publications often publish information about internship programs.

Find/Track Down Internship Sources Okay. If you've gotten this far, it's now time to find that ideal internship that perfectly fits all your goals and needs. So, where do you find internships? Try these resources: •







Career Services Office. Just about all career services offices have a list of internship programs, important application dates, and other sources of internship information. This office is a great place to start your search. Some offices even have a special internship coordinator. Major/Minor Department. Major-specific internship programs are frequently maintained by the department office. One or more faculty members may specifically handle internships, so make sure you investigate these sources. Faculty in general can be excellent sources of internship information. Networking Sources. Tell everyone you know that you are looking for a specific type of Internship; these people should include your family, your friends (at school and at home), your family's friends, your professors, past employers, alumni, etc. Just as with job-hunting, networking may be one of your best sources for internships -- especially for competitive internships. Don't forget online networking venues, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and MySpace. Learn more about networking at http://www.quintcareers.com/networkin g_guide.html. Internship and Career Fairs. Most colleges (or college consortiums) offer at least one career fair during the academic year, and often one focuses specifically on internships. Even if you are looking for an internship in a different geographic location, go to the fairs and network with the recruiters. Many organizations have multiple offices – and you may later change your mind. Read our article, The Ten Keys to Success at

9

Quintessential Careers Press – The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships by Randall S. Hansen, PhD, and Katharine Hansen, PhD Quintessential Careers Internship Resources: http://www.quintcareers.com/grad_internships.html

10 •

Cold Contact. If none of these other internship sources work for you, or if you have a specific geographic location you want to target for your internship, consider using the cold calling method to find your internship. This process involves identifying a list of companies and writing them asking for an internship. Where can you get information about companies in a specific geographic location? Consider contacting that region's chamber of commerce for a list of member companies -- or just get your hands on a phone book for that area. What are some other sources? Go to our Guide for Researching Companies at http://www.quintcareers.com/researching_companie s.html. And consider reading our article,

Cold Calling: A Time-Tested Method of Job-Hunting at http://www.quintcareers.com/cold_callin g.html. •

Graduate Assistants. If you attend a college large enough to have graduate assistants who teach some of your classes, these folks can be good sources of internship information because employers are advised to contact grad assistants to recruit interns. Grad assistants have often worked closely with students and know their capabilities.



Classmates Currently in Internships. Recruiting guru Dr. John Sullivan advises employers to seek referrals from their current interns of other students who would make good interns. Some employers even pay current interns a bonus or stipend for referrals. Ask classmates if they're currently doing internships; they may have more incentive than you realize to tell their employers about you.



Recent Alumni. We already mentioned your alumni office. But you probably don't need to connect with that office to ask recent alumni about internships -because you know these alumni from recently being in classes with them. Sullivan suggests that employers may be asking their recent hires to recommend former classmates for internships.



Student Professional Organizations. Employers seeking interns may contact the student chapters of professional organizations. That's just one benefit of belonging; others include networking with other members to learn of internship opportunities and checking into the organization's employment resources.



Internship Placement Services. We would advocate paying someone to find you an internship only as an absolute last resort. If you would like to consider such a service -- and these companies are far

from cheap -- a couple of them are University of Dreams at http://www.summerinternships.com/ and Fast Track Internships at http://www.fasttrackinternships.com/.

The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships 11

Chapter 3: Applying JobSearch Skills to Obtaining an Internship Prepare/Polish Your Job Search Skills As internships become more and more competitive, it becomes even more important for you to have a strong set of job-search skills. This chapter will give you a solid overview. To supplement its contents, we recommend you visit these large sections of Quintessential Careers: •

Cover letter writing:



Resume preparation:



Interviewing strategies:

Consider some of the resources we have in our career exploration section of Quintessential Careers at http://www.quintcareers.com/career_explor ation.html. 2.

Narrowing Geographic Locations. Whether you plan to complete your internship near home, near your school, or on the other side of the country, having a geographic focus allows you to really narrow your internship search to a select group of employers.

3.

Developing Marketing Materials. You'll need a resume, cover letter, and interview skills, covered in greater depth later in this chapter.

http://www.quintcareers.com/covres.html http://www.quintcareers.com/resres.html http://www.quintcareers.com/intvres.html

Landing an internship -- one you want with an employer you respect -- is a bit like a midterm exam for most college students. This chapter is full of key tools and resources to help you ace that mid-term and succeed in finding one or more internships. Understanding and perfecting these 12 areas related to your job-search -- from identifying specific jobs and careers to researching salaries -- will give you both greater confidence and success as you seek the best job offer upon graduation. 1.

lead to a frustrating internship search with few or weak internship offers.

Identifying Specific Internships. Even though most college students finalize a choice of major by the junior year, a disconnect often occurs between choosing the major and then choosing a specific career path - and hence, internships - that relate to that major. Job-shadowing, informational interviews (see Informational Interviewing: A Powerful Tool for College Students at http://www.quintcareers.com/student_infor mational_interviewing.html), and career research are steps you can take to learn more about specific careers and internships -- in or out of your major. You need direction if you want to find an internship that you will enjoy; just having an idea of "something in marketing" will

4. Finding Prospective Employers. Chapter 2 provides suggestions for finding internship employers. Here are a few more avenues to explore: o leaders in your career/occupation o best companies to work for o matching corporate values/culture o companies for which you have a previous connection How do you research prospective employers? Go to our Guide to Researching Companies, Industries, and Countries at http://www.quintcareers.com/researching_c ompanies.html. How do you know the companies you find are a good match for you? Take our Workplace Values Assessment at http://www.quintcareers.com/workplace_va lues.html. 5.

Seeking Career and Internship-Search Advice. If you're struggling in your internship search, turn to the many resources available through your college or university -- specifically your professors and your career center. Consider reading: It's Never Too Early -- or Too Late -- to Visit Your College Career Office at http://www.quintcareers.com/college_caree r_office.html.

Quintessential Careers Press – The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships by Randall S. Hansen, PhD, and Katharine Hansen, PhD Quintessential Careers Internship Resources: http://www.quintcareers.com/grad_internships.html

12 6. Using Network for Uncovering Internship Leads. The collection of people you know -- and who know you (or know other people in your network) -- amounts to your career network. And while the concept of networking is sometimes a mystery to internship-seekers, it shouldn't be. Networking -- by a very vast margin -- is the very best way to track down internship leads and career opportunities. Take all the socializing you typically do as a college student, crank it up a few notches, and you have networking of the sort that can truly help you find an internship and later land a job upon graduation. When you first enroll in college, you don't necessarily think about the kinds of hard-core networking activities that will really benefit your job search later on. But the earlier you start, the better off you will be. By the way, the networking activities discussed here should supplement, not substitute for, traditional activities, such as sending out resumes and using the Internet in your internship search. Recommendations from college career counselors as to when college students should begin networking range from freshman year to the middle or end of the junior year. Certainly freshman year is not too early to get to know your professors, especially your adviser. Getting to know your cohort students, a process that comes naturally to the collegiate experience, will also lay the networking groundwork in your first year. A good way to meet as many other students as possible is to participate in as many organizations and activities as your academic schedule will permit you to handle. Be a curious friend; finding out as much as possible about your classmates and their interests, along with their families and parents' occupations, can provide valuable information that you may want to recall as you approach graduation. Be sure to reciprocate with information that will help others. Freshman year is also the time to consider whether to join a fraternity or sorority. If you are holding down a job, establish relationships with your boss and coworkers. By sophomore year, you are probably beginning to narrow your career goals, which makes your second year an excellent time to embark on a series of informational interviews that will help bring your career into focus. (For more about what an informational interview is and how to conduct one, see: Quintessential Careers: Informational Interviewing Tutorial at http://www.quintcareers.com/informational _interviewing.html.) Continue to forge ties

with professors, other students, and people you work with. If your career goal is well defined at this point, sophomore year is a good time to join student chapters of professional organizations (or obtain a student membership to a regular chapter). Junior year is key. Start your most serious networking push now by doing the following: • Develop your resume if you have not done so already (see later in this chapter). You should have your resume ready so that you can ask some of your network contacts to critique it. You also want to have it ready in case someone you meet asks for it. You may not be in a position to accept a job at this point, but you could gain an internship opportunity and great contact by having your resume ready. • Begin to brainstorm a list of potential networking contacts. See if you can come up with about 250, but don't beat yourself up if you can't. Any number is a good start, and the list is sure to grow. • Make a list of companies you'd like to work for and start thinking about whom you know who might be able to help you break into your dream companies. • You are probably already a member of an online social-networking venue like MySpace or Facebook. If not, join, and also join LinkedIn. Then search for and contact people in your prospective career field and geographical preference. • Find out if your campus career services office keeps a database of alumni that could be added to your network. Check the alumni files of your fraternity or sorority, too. • Join one or more online discussion groups in your area of professional interest. Ask members' advice on breaking into your field and finding internships. • Step up the pace of informational interviews. People working in your dream companies are excellent targets for interviews. • Consider creating a "networking card," a business card for those not yet employed, so you have something tangible to hand out to people you meet. See our article, Networking Business Cards at http://www.quintcareers.com/networkin g_business_cards.html. • Begin to introduce yourself to every guest speaker you encounter in classes. Give them your networking card, and, if appropriate, your resume. • Continue schmoozing with professors, students, and employers. • Become increasingly active in professional organizations.

The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships 13 Especially in terms of your post-graduation job search, networking activities should be a major focus of your pivotal senior year, but if you haven't done an internship by senior year, these activities will contribute to your finding one: • Join professional organizations in your targeted geographic area. If it's not practical for you to attend meetings, ask the membership chair for a membership list so you can contact members. • If you don't know the best industry or professional organization to join, ask your professors. You can also use these tools: General Professional Organizations and Associations for Networking at http://www.quintcareers.com/profession al_organizations.html. • Meet with your adviser early in your senior year for an in-depth discussion of your career goals, and ask for his or her suggestions for people to contact. • Continue to maintain contact with professors, students, employers, guest speakers, and folks you've "met" through online networking efforts. • Find out if your university or academic department has a formal mentoring program and ask to be matched with a mentor. If no program exists, try to scout out a mentor on your own. Alumni often make especially good mentors. • Fine-tune your list of potential network contacts and set a goal to contact a certain number each week or month. Arrange to meet with as many contacts as possible, and always ask each one for more referrals. Send thank-you notes, and update your contacts regularly on your progress. • Continue informational interviewing. • Begin to contact people with whom you conducted informational interviews earlier in your college career to tell them you are getting close to graduation and remain very interested in their organizations. • When you land an internship -- and later, a job, be sure to write one more note to all your contacts telling them about your new venture. • Also visit our networking resources at http://www.quintcareers.com/networkin g.html to find valuable tools and resources.

7.

Identifying People to Serve as References. More than ever, employers are conducting background checks and asking candidates -- even internship candidates -for references. References are people who can speak to your strengths and abilities -and help sell you to the prospective employer. You should choose your references carefully -- and ALWAYS ask people whether they would be willing to be a reference before you list them. Learn more in this article: The Keys to Choosing and Using the Best Internship References in Your Job Search at http://www.quintcareers.com/job_references .html.

8.

Attending Internship Fairs and Other Events. Career fairs aren't just for postgraduation jobs; you can make internship contacts at a career fair, too. In addition, some schools and organizations offer fairs and expos dedicated exclusively to internships. Even if you do not see any specific employers that excite you in an upcoming career or internship fair on campus, attend it anyway -- to practice your elevator speech (http://www.quintcareers.com/jobsearch_elevator_speech.html) and gain confidence in speaking with recruiters. A career fair may also lend itself to developing additional networking contacts. Learn more about the how to work career fairs in this section of Quintessential Careers: Job Expo and Career Fair Resources at

http://www.quintcareers.com/career_fair_resources.html.

9.

Using Strategic Online InternshipSearching Strategy. While networking is still one of the best sources for finding a internship, you can devote a small percentage of your internship search to using a few specialized internship boards. It can't hurt to also search general job boards for internships, as long as focus most of your efforts on other methods in this chapter and Chapter 2. Here's where you can find links to job boards on Quintessential Careers: • Industry-Specific Job Sites: http://www.quintcareers.com/indres.html

Quintessential Careers Press – The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships by Randall S. Hansen, PhD, and Katharine Hansen, PhD Quintessential Careers Internship Resources: http://www.quintcareers.com/grad_internships.html

14 • •

Geographic-Specific Job Sites: http://www.quintcareers.com/Global_job _resources.html Top 10 Job Boards: http://www.quintcareers.com/top_10_sit es.html

10. Gathering Work Samples. One of the best methods of reinforcing your previous work experiences is by showcasing some of your best examples. These samples can be from previous class projects, internships, volunteering, and any other situation. If you have a large number of samples and awards and recognitions, you might consider creating a career portfolio, which you can then bring with you to internship interviews. Web-savvy grads can also create online career portfolios. For more assistance and to learn more about the types of content you can put into your portfolio, go to this section of Quintessential Careers: Career Portfolio Tools and Resources at http://www.quintcareers.com/jobsearch_portfolios/. 11. Strengthening and Protecting Online Identity. There's no question many employers are looking at each internship candidate's social networking profile as a tool to making employment decisions. While tightening security features is the minimum you should do to protect your profile, you may also consider cleaning it up once you start internship-hunting -- just as you should change your voicemail message to something professional. But don't just stop at tightening the privacy settings on your accounts; take the next step and Google yourself. If nothing significant comes up, consider posting some thoughtful responses/reactions on prominent blogs in your career field -- using your full name. While employers typically do not expect much for college grads, having any kind of (positive) presence in search engine findings can give you an edge over other internship candidates. 12. Learning Internship-Hunting Etiquette. Just as with so many things in life, first impressions are critical in internship hunting. Your cover letter and resume make the absolute first impression of you as an internship-seeker (see later in this chapter). Once you get invited to an interview (more later in the chapter), the keys to a good first impression come down to dressing for the interview and knowing internship-search etiquette. Read more in this section of Quintessential Careers: Job-Hunting & Business Etiquette Resources at http://www.quintcareers.com/jobhunting_etiquette.html.

In case you are seeking even more resources to help with your internship search, you can review some of these college student/grad articles at http://www.quintcareers.com/college_grad_ articles.html and/or visit our Job-Search 101 Tutorial at http://www.quintcareers.com/job_search/. Your Internship Resume and Cover Letter Your resume and cover letter are vital components of your internship search. In fact, they are probably your most important selfmarketing tools. Yet, many college students still struggle with developing materials that are both visually appealing and content-rich. Once you develop the core of a basic resume and cover letter, remember that this version is really just a starting point -- because you should be adjusting each copy of your resume -- and especially cover letter -- that you submit, tailoring each to the specific employer and internship opportunity. Powerful college-student resumes and cover letters have several things in common, so you can kill a number of birds with one stone with this list: 1.

Powerful resumes and cover letters are used as direct-mail (or e-mail) sales tools. It's important to remember the purpose of a resume and cover letter. They don't have to perform the task of getting you an internship since very few people are hired sight unseen. All they have to do is get you an interview. So the primary mission of a resume and cover letter is arouse the reader's interest and sell yourself enough so that you get asked to meet with the employer. The lesson here is to keep your documents concise and to the point. You don't have to include everything about yourself, and you should not include anything that's not relevant. You don't have write your autobiography. Now, granted, some college students have the opposite problem. Instead of limiting the information they list on their resumes, they worry about not having enough. Others are tempted to list every class they've taken, every award, and every extracurricular activity. Many of these items may be worthy resume components, but for every item you're considering inserting into your resume, ask yourself, is it relevant to the kind of job I'm seeking? Course work usually isn't necessary unless it's unusual or you have very little else to list in your resume. Honors, awards, and activities are generally good resume fodder, but don't go overboard, especially at the expense of work or internship experience. We knew one new grad who had an impressive list of honors and awards. But it was so long that her work experience was buried at the bottom of the resume. Consider omitting activities that reveal

The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships 15 ethnicity, and especially political or religious affiliations. Let go of high-school activities and honors unless they are truly exceptional or demonstrate an early interest in your chosen career. Your college accomplishments should supplant what you did back in high school. 2.

Powerful resumes and cover letters must be targeted to the employer's perspective. When constructing your resume and cover letter, put yourself in the mind-set of the employer. Ask not what the employer can do for you but what you can do for the employer. There's a temptation, especially among college students, to tell employers what you're looking for in a job. We frequently see that tendency in Objective statements. The old chestnut about "Seeking challenging position with growth potential," is so overused that it is meaningless to employers. Employers want to know what you can do for them, how you will benefit their companies, how you will impact their bottom lines. While they're not totally oblivious to your career hopes and dreams, your aspirations are not their primary concern.

focus and can read more about resume objective statements in our article Should You Use a Career Objective on Your Resume? at http://www.quintcareers.com/resume_o bjectives.html. The objective statement can be as simple and straightforward as the title of the position you're applying for, which can be adjusted for every job you apply for. Or you can embellish the Objective statement with language telling how you'll benefit the employer. Something like: Objective: To contribute strong ________ skills and experience to your firm in a _________ capacity. In this day of being able to manage our own computer files, you could have several versions of your resume that are exactly the same except for the objective. A specific objective is always better than a vague or general one. •

Include a Professional Profile. A profile section, also known as a "Summary of Qualifications," can help sharpen your resume's focus by presenting 4-5 bullet points that encapsulate your best qualifications and selling points. It's often a good idea to list relevant computer and foreign-language skills in this section instead of burying them at the bottom of your resume, as many job-seekers do. Most of our professional resume samples at http://quintcareers.com/sample_res umes.html (which require Adobe Acrobat Reader) contain these sections.



Tailor cover letters to specific jobs. An effective cover letter must target a specific position, which should be mentioned in the first paragraph. Don't list several possible positions or say that you're willing to consider any position. If you do, the employer will see you as unfocused or even desperate. Read more about cover letter specifics: Cover

To read more about using a cover letter to tell how you'll benefit the employer, see Emphasize What You Can Do for the Employer in our Cover Letter Tutorial (http://www.quintcareers.com/tutorial_36.h tml). 3.

Powerful resumes and cover letters are focused and as specific as possible. The sad truth is that resumes and cover letters are read for between 2.5 and 20 seconds. So you have only the briefest moment to catch the employer's interest. The employer wants to know as quickly as possible: What do you want to do and what are you good at? He or she doesn't have time to wade through lots of text to find out. So how can you sharpen the focus of your resume and cover letter? • While objective statements have fallen out of fashion, you may still want to consider some version of this resume component to sharpen your resume's

Letter Success is All About Specifics at http://www.quintcareers.com/cover_lett er_success.html.

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4.

Also consider specific tailoring for resumes. According to a study by the Career Management Alliance, employers want resumes to show a clear match between the applicant and a particular job's requirements. A "general" resume that is not focused on a specific job's requirements is seen as not competitive. Now it may not be realistic or practical to change your resume for every job you apply for, but you can change certain elements, such as the aforementioned Objective statement and the Professional Profile section. Another alternative is to have more than one version of your resume. Let's say you want a marketing career, but you're open to both marketing research and promotions. You could craft a version of your resume for each niche.

• •

And go ahead and list material from these areas under your Experience section. Don't confuse the reader with a bunch of differently labeled experience sections, such as Internship Experience, Volunteer Experience, Work Experience, and Project Experience. For more about using this technique in cover letters, see Making the Most of Your College Experience in our Cover Letter Tutorial at http://www.quintcareers.com/tutorial_14. html. 5.

Consider adding a graphic. This suggestion is pretty radical, and it's not for everyone, but a very small, tasteful graphic on your resume and/or cover letter could sharpen your focus. One of our former students, for example, wanted a career working with horses. She placed a tiny horse graphic at the top of her resume. Her career focus was instantly apparent. Another student pursuing a law career used a tasteful scales of justice graphic; another interested in international business had a small world-map graphic. See a sample with graphic here.

Powerful resumes and cover letters make the most of your college experience. Too many college students miss the opportunity to exploit valuable experience on their resumes and cover letter because they overlook unpaid experience. Experience is experience. It doesn't have to be paid. Anything you've done that has enabled you to develop skills that are relevant to the kind of job you seek is worth consideration for resume and cover letter mention. That's especially true if you don't have much paid experience. The key, as noted in #1, is relevance. Consider the following in evaluating what experience and skills you've gained that are relevant to what you want to do when you graduate: • Previous internships • Summer jobs • Campus jobs (work-study) • Sports • Entrepreneurial/self-employed jobs • Temporary work • Volunteer work: school, church, club, not-for-profit organizations • Research papers/projects • Campus activity positions

Fraternity/sorority/social club positions Extracurricular or sports leadership positions

Powerful resumes and cover letters portray your skills as transferable and applicable to what you want to do. You may think what you've done is not relevant to your future career, but you can probably spin the experience so that it demonstrates the transferable and applicable skills that most employers want: • Teamwork • Leadership • Communications • Interpersonal • Computer The value of transferable skills is a major reason we urge students to list sports in the Experience sections of their resumes -because athletics so often provide the teamwork, leadership experience, and competitive drive that employers seek. For more about transferable skills, see Transferable Skills -- a Vital Job-search Technique at http://www.quintcareers.com/transferable _skills_technique.html. For more about portrayal of transferable skills in cover letters, see Emphasizing your Transferable and Marketable Skills in our Cover Letter Tutorial at http://www.quintcareers.com/tutorial_17. html.

6.

Powerful resumes and cover letters focus on ACCOMPLISHMENTS, NOT job duties and responsibilities. In a study by the Career Management Alliance, content elements that propelled employers to immediately discard resumes included a focus on duties instead of accomplishments, while documented achievements were highly ranked among content elements that employers look for. Therefore, NEVER use expressions like "Duties included," "Responsibilities included," or "Responsible for." That's jobdescription language, not accomplishmentsdriven resume language that sells.

The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships 17 Instead, emphasize the special things you did to set yourself apart and do the job better than anyone else.

deserve no credit for whatever you received. Always say you "earned" an award or honor rather than "received" it.

Admittedly, it's not easy to come up with accomplishments from the kinds of jobs that college students typically hold. But it's important to: • Start tracking your accomplishments NOW. • Start HAVING accomplishments NOW!

Threatening to overtake verbs in importance on resumes and cover letters are keywords. Employers are increasingly relying on digitizing job-seeker resumes, placing those resumes in keywordsearchable databases, and using software to search those databases for specific keywords -- usually nouns -- that relate to job vacancies. Most Fortune 1000 companies, in fact, and many smaller companies now use these technologies. Experts estimate that more than 80 percent of resumes are searched for jobspecific keywords.

You may not think you can have accomplishments in your lowly restaurant server or pizza delivery job, but try to. Ask your boss what you can do to improve. Strive to win any awards (such as Employee of the Month) that your employer offers. Find ways to go above and beyond your job description.

The bottom line is that if you apply for a job with a company that searches databases for keywords, and your resume doesn't have the keywords the company seeks for the person who fills that job, you are pretty much dead in the water.

For more about accomplishments, see For Job-Hunting Success: Track and Leverage Your Accomplishments at http://www.quintcareers.com/jobhunting_success.html.

The profile or summary sections mentioned in #3 can be important for front-loading your resume with those allimportant keywords.

7. Powerful resumes and cover letters use action verbs and KEYWORDS! Action verbs in your resume and cover letters increase the strength of your writing and make you sound dynamic to employers. Luckily, there is no lack of sources for lists of action verbs; you can find them all over the Web (including Quintessential Careers' Job-Seeker Action Verbs) and in nearly every resume and cover letter book. Almost as important as using action verbs is avoiding weak verbs: • Do. Try "conduct," "perform," or "orchestrate." • Forms of the verb "to be." Instead of "was," say "served," "functioned," "acted." • Work. Everyone works. Be more specific. Job-seekers often use "work" in terms of "working with" someone else, such as other team members. In that context, "collaborate(d)" is often a good substitute. • Received. This verb, especially in the context of receiving an award sounds so passive, as though you

To read more about keywords, see our article, Tapping the Power of Keywords to Enhance Your Resume's Effectiveness at http://www.quintcareers.com/resume_key words.html. 8.

Powerful resumes and cover letters contain NO typos or misspellings. This characteristic should go without saying, yet we still see resume/cover-letter typos and misspellings with alarming frequency. Remember that it's not enough to spellcheck your documents because you may have used a perfectly spelled word -- but it wasn't the word you wanted. For example, a word frequently seen on resumes and cover letter is "possess," but some jobseekers accidentally spell it "posses," which is the plural of "posse." Proofread your resume and cover letter. Put them down for a few hours, come back, and proofread again. Then get a friend or family

Quintessential Careers Press – The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships by Randall S. Hansen, PhD, and Katharine Hansen, PhD Quintessential Careers Internship Resources: http://www.quintcareers.com/grad_internships.html

18 member with a good eye to proof them for you. 9.

Powerful resumes and cover letters are reader-friendly. The Career Management Alliance study ranks easy readability highest of all resume characteristics in terms of first impressions. The employers surveyed ranked use of bullets second highest. Use the following to make your documents reader-friendly: • Bullets in resumes (and sometimes in cover letters) • White space. Make sure your documents have reasonable margins. In our opinion, the default margins in Microsoft Word are wider than they need to be (1.25" on the left and right and 1" at the top and bottom). Margins can be as narrow as .75" if needed. Also make sure you have a line of space between all the jobs listed on your resume and between all resume sections. For cover letters, equalize the white space at the top and bottom of the letter so that it is centered vertically on the page. • Type large enough to read (no smaller than 10.5 point). Now, about the one-page "rule." Jobseekers, especially new grads, are often cautioned to keep resumes to one page. And it's good advice. You should keep it to one page if at all possible. But if your experience is exceptional, don't sacrifice readability just for the sake of keeping the resume to one page. We've seen jobseekers use nonexistent margins and tiny type just to squash their resumes onto a single page. At the same time, if your resume spills over to fill just a small part of a second page (less than half the page), it's probably best to condense to one page by cutting content. Read our article, The Scoop on Resume Length: How Many Pages Should Your Resume Be? at http://www.quintcareers.com/resume_len gth.html.

10. Powerful resumes and cover letters include every possible way to reach you. Powerful resumes and cover letters do no good if the employer can't reach you. Most college students wisely list both their campus and home addresses and phone numbers on their resumes. A surprising number of the resumes we see omit an email address; these days, an e-mail address on your resume is a must. Don't forget your cell phone number, if you have one. In fact, don't overlook any way an employer could reach you. When you're in internship-hunting mode, make sure the outgoing message on your residence-hall answering machine or voice-

mail sounds professional. I've called many students in their dorms and gotten some pretty outrageous messages that would likely turn off employers. A good way to ensure you have all relevant contact information on both your resume and cover letter (remember that the two could get separated) is to use the same "letterhead" on both documents, which also makes for an attractive package. It also never hurts to repeat your most important contact information in the last paragraph of your cover letter. For more about resumes, see our Resume Resources (http://www.quintcareers.com/resres.html), especially our Resume Tutorial at http://www.quintcareers.com/resume_tutor ial/. For more about cover letters, see our Cover Letter Resources (http://www.quintcareers.com/covres.html),

especially our Cover Letter Tutorial at http://www.quintcareers.com/cover_letter _tutorial.html. Following Up After you've found several internship possibilities and applied to them, your work is not done. Just as with job-hunting, you must follow-up with each company. Don't call the companies every day, but be persistent. The old adage about the squeaky wheel getting the grease rings true here. Follow-up your initial contact with a phone call, follow-up your interview with a thank-you letter (more later in this chapter), and follow-up your thank you letter with a phone call. Interviewing for Internships Here are the keys to successful employment interviewing. Follow these simple rules and you should achieve success in this important phase of securing an internship. •





Do take a practice run to the location where you are having the interview -- or be sure you know exactly where it is and how long it takes to get there. Do your research and know the type of job interview you will be encountering. (See types of job interviews at http://www.quintcareers.com/job_i nterviews.html.) And do prepare and practice for the interview, but don't memorize or over-rehearse your answers. (See our some of the best collections of interview questions at http://www.quintcareers.com/interv iew_question_collections.html.) Do dress the part for the job, the company, the industry. Don't dress

The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships 19





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down just because you're interviewing for an internship rather than a job. And do err on the side of conservatism. If you're not sure, you should consider reading our article, When Job-Hunting: Dress for Success at http://www.quintcareers.com/dress _for_success.html. Do plan to arrive about 10 minutes early. Late arrival for an interview is never excusable. If you are running late, do phone the company. Do greet the receptionist or assistant with courtesy and respect. This is where you make your first impression. Don't chew gum during the interview. If presented with a job application (http://www.quintcareers.com/job_ applications.html), do fill it out neatly, completely, and accurately. Do bring extra resumes to the interview. (Even better, if you have a job skills portfolio [http://www.quintcareers.com/job_ search_portfolio.html], do bring that with you to the interview.) Don't rely on your application or resume to do the selling for you. No matter how qualified you are for the position, you will need to sell yourself to the interviewer. Do greet the interviewer(s) by title (Ms., Mr., Dr.) and last name if you are sure of the pronunciation. (If you're not sure, do ask the receptionist about the pronunciation before going into the interview. Do shake hands firmly. Don't have a limp or clammy handshake! Do wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. And do remember body language and posture: sit upright and look alert and interested at all times. Don't fidget or slouch. Don't tell jokes during the interview. Do make good eye contact with your interviewer(s). Do show enthusiasm in the position and the company. Don't smoke, even if the interviewer does and offers you a cigarette. And don't smoke

• • • • • • • • •



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beforehand so that you smell like smoke. And do brush your teeth, use mouthwash, or have a breath mint before the interview. Do avoid using poor language, slang, and pause words (such as "like," "uh," and "um"). Don't be soft-spoken. A forceful voice projects confidence. Do have a high confidence and energy level, but don't be overly aggressive. Do avoid controversial topics. Don't say anything negative about former colleagues, supervisors, or employers. Do make sure that your good points come across to the interviewer in a factual, sincere manner. Don't ever lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and succinctly. And don't over-answer questions. Do stress your achievements. And don't offer any negative information about yourself. Don't answer questions with a simple "yes" or "no." Explain whenever possible. Describe those things about yourself that showcase your talents, skills, and determination. Give examples. Do show off the research you have done on the company and industry when responding to questions. (See our Guide to Researching Companies at http://www.quintcareers.com/resea rching_companies.html.) Don't bring up or discuss personal issues or family problems. Do remember that the interview is also an important time for you to evaluate the interviewer and the company he or she represents. Don't respond to an unexpected question with an extended pause or by saying something like, "boy, that's a good question." And do repeat the question aloud or ask for the question to be repeated to give you a little more time to think about an answer. Also, a short pause before responding is okay. Do always conduct yourself as if you are determined to get the internship you are discussing. Never

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close the door on an opportunity until you are sure about it. Don't answer cell-phone calls during the interview, and do turn off (or set to silent ring) your cell phone and/or pager. Do show what you can do for the company rather than what the company can do for you. Do ask intelligent questions about the job, company, or industry. Don't ever fail to ask any questions -- it shows a lack of interest. Do close the interview by telling the interviewer(s) that you want the internship and asking about the next step in the process. (Some experts even say you should close the interview by asking for the job.) Do try and get business cards from each person you interviewed with -or at least the correct spelling of their first and last names. And don't make assumptions about simple names -- was it Jon or John -- get the spelling. Do immediately take down notes after the interview concludes so you don't forget crucial details. Do write thank you letters within 24 hours to each person who interviewed you. (You can see some sample thank-you letters here: http://www.quintcareers.com/sampl e_thank-you_letters.html.) And do know all the rules of following up after the interview (See http://www.quintcareers.com/interv iew_follow-up-dos-donts.html).

Remember that your work is not done once you finish the interview. You can't sit back and wait for the internship offer, so consider these key rules and strategies for following-up your interviews. • Do ask at the end of the interview when the employer expects to make the hiring decision. • Do be proactive and consider follow-up a strategic part of your internship-search process. Followup can give you just the edge you need to get the job offer over others who interviewed for the position. • Do use these follow-up techniques to continue to show your enthusiasm and desire for the position, but don't make it seem as though you are desperate. • Do obtain the correct titles and names of all the people who interviewed you. (Ideally, do get each person's business card.) • Do write individual thank you notes or letters to each person who interviewed you -- within two business days. Each letter can be essentially the same, but try to vary each a bit in case recipients compare notes. Don't ever fail to





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send a thank you -- even if you are sure the job is not for you. And do write thank you notes after every interview. Don't worry so much about handwritten versus typed thank you letters, but don't make a mistake by sending it through the wrong medium; make sure you know the best method of reaching the employer, whether by regular mail, email, or fax. In your thank you letter, do show appreciation for the employer's interest in you and do remind the employer about why you are the perfect person for the position. See some sample interview thank-you letters: http://www.quintcareers.com/sampl e_thank-you_letters.html. Don't ever have any errors (misspellings or typos) in your thank-you letters. Do alert your references -- if you have not done so already -- that they may be getting a phone call from the employer. Don't stop internship hunting, even if you feel confident that you will get an offer. Do continue to interview and attempt to find other opportunities. Do follow-up with a telephone call to the employer within a week to 10 days (or sooner, if the employer had a shorter timetable) to ask about the position. And do continue to build rapport and sell your strengths during the phone call. Do be patient. The hiring process often takes longer than the employer expects. Do continue following-up, especially if the employer asks you to. Remember the adage about the squeaky wheel getting the oil. Just don't go overboard and annoy or bother the employer. Don't place too much importance on one internship opportunity or one interview; there will be other opportunities for you. Don't burn any bridges if you do not get an internship offer. And do try and turn the situation into a positive by bringing the interviewer(s) into your network, possibly even asking him or her for referrals to other contacts. Read more about the art of networking.

Still need help securing an internship? Check out all the tools and tips we offer in our Internship Resources for College Students at http://www.quintcareers.com/grad_internships. html.

The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships 21

Chapter 4: Sample Internship Resumes and Cover Letters The sample resumes and cover letters that begin on the next page are especially written for internships. See also our new-graduate sample resumes and cover letters at http://www.quintcareers.com/resume_coverletter_samples.html. Most of these are easily adaptable as internship resumes and cover letters.

Quintessential Careers Press – The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships by Randall S. Hansen, PhD, and Katharine Hansen, PhD Quintessential Careers Internship Resources: http://www.quintcareers.com/grad_internships.html

22 Sample Law Internship Cover Letter: This third-year law student seeks to apply her strong tax-law and international experience to an internship in Japan.

Holly Bennington Columbia University Center for Japanese Legal Studies • 1-6-15 Nishi Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo • 105-0003 090 3723 2632 • E-mail: [email protected]

date White & Case LLP Kandabashi Park Building 19-1, Kanda-nishikicho 1-chome Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0054 Japan Dear [specific name individual]: I am currently a third-year law student candidate at Columbia School of Law, and I am writing to express my interest in obtaining a summer internship position with White & Case, LLP. I would like to become a part of your Japanese tax-law internship program. I would enjoy the opportunity to work within an organization such as White & Case, LLP, and participate in tax-compliance and research projects. My qualifications are based on a combination of my education, global experience, and legal skills. My strongest qualification comes from having spent more than a semester here in Tokyo studying Japanese tax law through Waseda University while also gaining professional experience and polishing my skills in Japanese. I previously studied for a semester at Kyushu University, Fukuoka City, Japan. My successful academic work at Columbia Law and Manhattan College further demonstrates the research skills needed for the position. Soon after entering the Columbia law program, I spent a semester as a research assistant at the Columbia School of Law Center for Public Interest Law. Through constantly interacting with diverse people and performing multiple tasks under time constraints, I have gained three essential qualities to succeed in this fast changing global marketplace: a strong sense of responsibility, a problem-solving mindset, and team spirit. I have made a career commitment to international tax law. I strive to learn more, while pursuing excellence and personal growth. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss a future with your firm, and am including my resume for your consideration. If you need additional information, please contact me via e-mail me at [email protected] at your earliest convenience. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. Sincerely,

Holly Bennington

The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships 23 Sample Law Internship Resume: The Honors and Distinctions section especially helps this resume stand out.

Holly Bennington Columbia University Center for Japanese Legal Studies • 1-6-15 Nishi Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo • 105-0003 090 3723 2632 • E-mail: [email protected]

Objective To contribute strong background in tax law to US and Japan tax-compliance and research projects during summer internship position at White & Case LLP, Tokyo office

Professional Profile • • • •

Solutions-driven law student with strong track record of experience to complement legal abilities, as well as solid educational background in tax law, including coursework in international tax, business tax, estate and gift tax, and income taxation of trusts and estates. Client-focused team player with excellent quantitative skills. Computer-literate oral, written, and interpersonal communicator and presenter; fluent in Japanese and computer-proficient in Westlaw, Lexis-Nexis, MS Windows, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. US citizen with cultural activities visa.

Education • •

Juris Doctor, Columbia University School of Law, New York, NY, expected May 2009; 62 credits completed; Grade Point Average: 3.06; completed semesters of study abroad at Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan, and Kyushu University, Fukuoka City, Japan Bachelor of Arts in History, Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY, May 2006; Grade Point Average: 3.3 cumulative, 3.6 in major

Honors and Distinctions Law School • Waseda University Tokyo, Japan Study Abroad Program, Spring 2008 • Dean’s List, Spring 2008 • Distinguished Class Performance International Taxation, Spring 2008 • IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, Spring 2007

• • •

Note and Comment Editor, Columbia Journal of Transnational Law, 2007-2008 Columbia Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program, 2006-2007 Columbia University Kyushu University Semester Exchange, Fukuoka City, Japan, Summer 2006

Undergraduate • Member, Manhattan College National Historical Society, 20032006 • Manhattan College Field Hockey Team, 2002-2006 • Manhattan College Student Government, 2004-2005 • Invited to Manhattan College’s Honors Convocation, Fall 2005 • Manhattan College Dean’s List, Spring 2006

Legal Experience Legal Language Instructor, Japan Tokyo International School, Tokyo, Japan, Feb. 2008 to Present • Teach legal English to Japanese attorneys in large Japanese law firms. • Develop comprehensive lesson plans that simulate US law-school classroom environment to prepare Japanese attorneys to enter US law schools. • Instruct both individuals and groups of attorneys ranging from first-year associates to senior partners.

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Research Assistant, Columbia School of Law Center for Public Interest Law, New York, NY, Fall 2007 • Represented both ongoing and startup nonprofit organizations. • Drafted contract between nonprofit corporation and international pharmaceutical services company to help senior citizens obtain discounted prescription drugs. • Conducted presentation for newly formed non-profit corporation’s board of directors to define and explain directors’ individual and collective roles and duties. • Drafted new operating agreement for Limited Liability Company that recently merged with another Limited Liability Company. • Completed newly formed non-profit corporation’s application for tax-exempt status.

The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships 25

26 Sample Research Internship Cover Letter: This student uses the highly effective 2-column format to show the match between the internship employer's requirements and her qualifications.

Christy Cao Kim 26237 Briarberry CT • Berkeley, CA 94704 • E-mail: [email protected] • Phone: 510-555-9376 Cell Phone: 510-555-7254

Date specific name of recipient IBM 400 Olive Street Colorado Springs, CO 80904-3559 Dear [specific named individual]: I’m excited by the possibility of joining IBM’s Human-Computer Interaction Department in the Research Internship in your Speech and Visual Processing Group that you are currently advertising. My education and experience in Cognitive Science, focusing on computational modeling, have equipped me with a broad range of expertise in disciplines that closely parallel the requirements of this internship. While my enclosed resume provides a good overview of my strengths and achievements, I have also listed some of your specific requirements for the position and my applicable skills: You require: • Someone who can assist researchers in state-of-the-art projects.

I offer: • Experience in the technical field through my coursework and internship that has sharpened critical-thinking skills that would prove valuable in assisting with these projects. My studies of linguistics, cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy intertwine to address the question of how our mind works and are thus applicable to this internship.



Programming skills in Java and C++.



Proficiency in those languages, as well as enthusiasm for learning new programming tools and applications.



Strong mathematical background.



Completion of significant coursework in math.



Evidence of research participation and independent work.



In addition to developing individual research projects, I have collaborated on diverse teams, including teams that interacted virtually.



Skills in such areas as signal processing, probability and statistics, machine vision, computation structures, algorithms and distributed systems.



Digital audio work that is applicable to signal processing, as well as a curriculum in artificial intelligence that dealt with pattern recognition/edge detection and is therefore relevant to machine vision.

I am also convinced that my linguistics background would be a great asset for Human-Computer Interaction research, especially visual and speech processing. I would also be interested in being considered for the internship in your Collaborative User Experience Group. I plan to contact you to follow up on this letter and see if we can arrange a meeting. In the meantime, please feel free to contact me using the information listed above. I look forward to our meeting. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely,

Christy Cao Kim

The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships 27 Sample Research Internship Resume: This resume uses a chrono-functional format to emphasize skills.

Christy Cao Kim 26237 Briarberry CT • Berkeley, CA 94704 • E-mail: [email protected] • Phone: 510-555-9376 Cell Phone: 510-555-7254

Q U A L IF IC A T IO N S for Human-Computer Interaction Internship • •



Solid and comprehensive computer and math skills. Coursework in artificial intelligence, signal processing, pattern recognition, and machine vision. Exceptionally motivated and able to motivate others; a self-starter.

• • • • •

Exemplary interpersonal skills. Strong organizational skills. Equally effective researching independently and as a dynamic team member. Fast learner who can quickly grasp and apply new ideas. Excellent communication skills.

E D U C A T IO N •

Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Science, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 2009; Minor: Linguistics

P R O F E S S IO N A L S K IL L S • •



• •

Technical Skills Platforms/Operating Systems: Windows, UNIX • Software: Object-Oriented Rational Rose, C++, Visual Basic, HTML, Dynamic HTML, Javascript, • Access (SQL), MS Project, MS Office 2000, Java Coursework included: Natural Language Processing, Machine Learning, Neural Networks, Cognitive • Linguistics, Artificial Intelligence, Graphical User Interfaces, Object Oriented Language Design.

Conducted computational-modeling research project. Developed applications for processing Natural Language documents using machine-learning techniques. Analyzed visualization of topological and spatial relationships; conducted pilot experiments related to expertise and cognitive psychology.

Interpersonal and Teamwork Skills Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills by • Collaborated with professors on research interacting with diverse researchers and engineers. projects. Provided support and assistance to research and • Played key role on team engaged in naturalaudio staff members. language modeling in a human-machine communication using Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR). P R O F E S S IO N A L H IS T O R Y

• •



Research Assistant, International Computer Science Institute, Berkeley, CA, Sept. 2007 to June 2008 Cognitive Science Intern, Knowledge Universe Interactive Studio/Knowledge Planet, Emeryville, CA, May to Aug. 2007 Digital Audio Engineering Assistant, Walt Disney Imagineering, Glendale, CA, May to Aug. 2006

28 Sample Marketing Internship Cover Letter: The internship-seeker draws on early experience in the sport of skiing to pursue a marketing internship at a ski resort.

C ARL H OLMES 567 Snowmeadow Drive • Manchester, VT 05255 802 555-5524 ~ [email protected] date Killington ATTN: Harmony Rappoport 4763 Killington Road Killington, VT 05251 Dear Ms. Rappoport: I am very excited and interested in acquiring a marketing internship during the summer months at the Killington ski resort. With my extensive classroom experience and life experiences on and off a ski mountain, I am convinced that I will be a very successful and beneficial intern for Killington. Throughout my education in the Southern Vermont College marketing department, I have gained considerable experience that could aid me as an intern. In many of my classes, we have created marketing plans for real-life companies to enhance product distribution and placement and product image. As you know, a company that is effectively positioned will have a great response along with, in Killington’s case, a successful ski season. As an intern, I would take the initiative to gather the information that enables Killington to give customers what they want. All of my of my work experience has been geared toward selling and serving customers. As an assistant at a veterinary clinic and an intern at a winery, for example, I have effectively interacted with people and learned to handle everything from complaints to compliments. I am confident that through my work experience and interpersonal skills, I can meet both the company’s and consumers’ needs. I also offer strong computer skills. Having grown up on a ski resort near my hometown of Manchester, VT, I am qualified to work at a ski resort, and I am confident that I will make a significant contribution. My time on the mountain has enabled me not only to progress quickly through my experience levels and race for a regional, but has familiarized me with the way a ski resort operates and what customers want. I am committed to marketing that impacts the customer and enhances your resort’s growth. Thus between my work and life experience, along a solid marketing education, I am certain that I am the right person for the internship. I would like to further discuss the concepts involved in an internship with Killington. I will call you in about a week to make sure that you have received this material, and that you have all of the information you need. I will be in your area in May and would like to schedule a meeting at that time. Thanks for your consideration. Cordially,

Carl Holmes

The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships 29 Sample Marketing Internship Resume: This student states a clear goal and targets his resume to a very specific internship opportunity.

C ARL H OLMES 567 Snowmeadow Drive • Manchester, VT 05255 802 555-5524 ~ [email protected]

GOAL: Marketing Internship, Killington Ski Resort EDUCATION Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, Southern Vermont College, Bennington, VT, 2009; Minor in Management Information Systems Business Study Abroad, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria, Summer 2006

EXPERIENCE Marketing Intern, Mountaintop Winery, Manchester, VT, June to August 2007 • Increased awareness of winery to businesses and visitors. • Negotiated with local business owners to create and sell private wine labels. • Developed marketing materials about various blends, winery events and promotional opportunities. • Planned and implemented private wine-tasting events. • Serviced local liquor stores as needed. • Assisted customers with tasting and wine selection. Marketing Intern, Manchester Montessori School, Manchester, VT, Jan. to April 2007 • Instructed students with math and reading lessons. • Assisted teachers and faculty with projects. • Reorganized and cataloged school library. Assistant, Manchester Animal Clinic, Manchester, VT, Seasonally, May 2002 to June 2007 • Designed brochures targeted at veterinarians promoting new clinics in desired markets. • Handled incoming calls and e-mails to assist customers. • Assisted employees with administrative functions.

ACTIVITIES and HONORS • • • • • •

Dean’s List – two semesters – and Honor Roll – three semesters Computer proficiencies: MS Office Suite, SPSS, iMovie, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, SAP Member, American Marketing Association Reference and Sponsor Chair, Social Fraternity International travel: Austria, British Virgin Islands, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, and Netherlands Skiing: Member of Southern Vermont Ski Team since 1998

30 Sample International Internship Cover Letter: The student describes his fit with the internship employer's positive attributes.

Randall Evans _ _ _ _____ _ _ _ _____ _ _ _ _____ _ _ _ _____ _ _ _ _____ _ _ _ _____ _ _ _ _____ _ _ _ _____ _ _ _ _____ _ _ _ _____ _ _ _

8274 Natchez CT, Culver City, CA 90230 · 310-555-7554 · Email: [email protected]

Date Recipient’s name Company address address Dear [specific named individual]: Excellent analytical abilities, coupled with strong interpersonal skills and attention to detail, make me a strong candidate for a position as an intern with your firm. It’s my drive and determination that especially make me stand out. After reading the description of your international internship program, I have realized that my career interests match your firm’s business objectives, and I am excited by your commitment to developing future leaders. With my previous work experience and my exemplary academic performance as an international business major, I would bring more than the average intern to an internship at your organization. My education has also provided me with knowledge and experience in key areas of interest to [name of company]. I have participated in various extracurricular activities that cultivated my interpersonal communication skills. I am prepared to contribute strong analytical abilities, cultural sensitivities, and language skills that I have developed through relevant coursework and international travel. In addition, my professors and previous employers can attest that I am a team player, as well as an attentive listener who is motivated and dependable under pressure. As a competitive swimmer when I was younger, I learned valuable organizational and timemanagement skills through balancing school and swimming. My involvement in sports has also equipped me with a strong work ethic and competitive spirit. Honesty, trustworthiness, and a drive for excellence round out what I can offer your firm. [Name of company] appeals to me because of its impressive global reach and expertise in many areas. I am particularly interested in an internship because of your firm’s reputation for having a highly supportive and team-oriented culture. I am convinced that the combination of my enthusiasm, creativity, and motivation to succeed will make me an asset in any capacity in which you place me. I can offer you an eager student with the ability to think outside the box and a keen desire to serve your firm and contribute to your team. I will call soon to verify that you received my resume, answer any preliminary questions you may have, and arrange an appointment to talk about a position. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss how I can serve [name of company] in an internship position. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely,

Randall Evans

The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships 31 Sample International Internship Resume: The internship-seeker hopes to apply his personal experience in living abroad and speaking a second language to an international internship.

Randall Evans _ _ _ _____ _ _ _ _____ _ _ _ _____ _ _ _ _____ _ _ _ _____ _ _ _ _____ _ _ _ _____ _ _ _ _____ _ _ _ _____ _ _ _ _____ _ _ _

8274 Natchez CT, Culver City, CA 90230 · 310-555-7554 · Email: [email protected]

Objective International business internship Profile • • •

Excellent communicator with basic conversational knowledge of the Arabic language and cultural understanding through study and the personal experience of three years in residence in Dubai. Enthusiastic team player offering sales and customer-service experience. Computer proficient in MS Office in both Windows and Macintosh platforms.

Education •

Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, May 2009; Minor: Marketing and Sales; GPA: 3.2  Earned University Talent Scholarship.

Experience Performer, Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Culver City, CA, Oct. 2007 to Present • Maintain professionalism and respect religious rituals and cultural differences. • Learned Latin and sacred repertoire proficiently and individually for weekly performances. Sales Associate, The Sharper Image, Los Angeles, CA, Nov. 2006 to Jan. 2007 • Explained features and practicality of high-technology products to patrons. • Assisted customers in selecting best products to suit their needs. • Informed clients of financing options. Support Staff, Woody’s Beachside Restaurant, Manhattan Beach, CA, June 2007 to Aug. 2007 • Maintained dining-area cleanliness and efficient customer turnover. • Demonstrated time-management skills and work ethic; took initiative. • Interacted with customers to ensure satisfaction with their seating and meal. Food Sales Associate, Al Qsar Corporation, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, July 2006 to Aug. 2006 • Promoted food sales to Dubai community at UAE TV festival. • Learned to perform customer service according to local standards. • Experienced everyday Arabic life through cultural immersion.

Activities • • • •

Vice President of Social Activities Alpha Kappa Psi, Co-ed Professional Business Fraternity Pledge Class Social Chair, Alpha Kappa Psi, Co-ed Professional Business Fraternity Member, American Marketing Association Dubai Student Choir: Auditioned and selected three consecutive years as one of 70 choir members.

32 Sample Broadcasting Internship Cover Letter: The student uses the referral technique in her cover letter -- boosting her chances of an interview by name-dropping someone the letter recipient knows.

Mysti Martinez   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

533 Seventh Circle  Glendale, CA 91201-9030  Phone: 949-555-2745 Email: [email protected]

Date Recipient’s name company address address Dear [specific named individual]: Barry Mellman suggested I contact you to introduce myself and my relevant attributes. You would have to look far and wide to find someone who could bring as much enthusiasm and professionalism as I could to an internship at your station. For quite some time, I’ve held a vision of the kind of energy and vitality I could bring to broadcast journalism. I carried that vision to Cal Poly Pomona, where I am a senior majoring in communication studies. I’ve also taken numerous courses that will be instrumental in my mission to contribute my talents to your station. My education and previous internship in broadcasting have prepared me to learn quickly, manage my time, and thrive under the pressure of a fast-paced environment. Having served in a leadership role in my sorority, I also possess the interpersonal and teamwork skills to interact successfully with a wide variety of individuals. I know the job entails more than just glamour, and through my previous internship, I’ve proven my ability to work hard, attend to details, and deploy my exceptional organizational skills. For example, I have organized voiceovers, b rolls, and sound bites for entire news shows as an editor and VTR. My supervisors, co-workers, and colleagues in both professional and campus-oriented positions can attest to my solid work ethic and applicable skills, such as a superlative communications ability, which I demonstrated by interviewing hundreds of homeowners for an investigative report. As you require, I am eligible to receive academic credit for this internship. I am available both days and nights, Monday through Saturday, during the Fall 2008 internship period. While I am especially interested in the Early Morning News, General News, and Entertainment News internships, I am open to others, as well. I’d like to ask if I may meet with you to review my accomplishments and qualifications. To that end, I will phone soon to schedule an interview. I thank you most kindly for your consideration of me for an exciting internship at the station. Cordially,

Mysti Martinez

The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships 33 Sample Broadcasting Internship Resume: The student uses an attractive design and makes the most of her college experience.

Mysti Martinez   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

533 Seventh Circle  Glendale, CA 91201-9030  Phone: 949-555-2745 Email: [email protected]







OBJECTIVE

To contribute writing, editing, and production skills in a broadcasting-related internship.







EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, May 2009; Minor: Journalism; Major GPA: 3.7







PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Producer’s Assistant, KSBY NBC-6, Santa Barbara, CA, Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 • Contacted hundreds of homeowners as part of a two-month, investigative report on newhome construction; helped to expose unethical construction practices, resulting in better informed prospective homebuyers. • Edited video footage for televised news stories. • Conducted interviews with the public and produced stories under tight deadline pressure. • Accompanied reporters and photographers in the field, covering breaking news stories. • Attended investigative reporting workshop with correspondents and producers from NBC’s network headquarters in New York City. Student Researcher, Communications Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, Fall 2007 • Selected as one of three students to present rhetorical criticism paper to California Communications Association’s 73rd annual convention. Bank Teller, Glendale Savings Bank, Glendale, CA, Summer 2007 • Conducted monetary transactions and maintained records. • Developed extensive banking and loans knowledge. • Sharpened excellent customer-service skills and industry knowledge. Leadership Team Member, Pi Beta Phi sorority, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, Fall 2006 to present • Served as disciplinary chair during junior year. • Helped prepare multimedia presentations. • Represented Greek organizations as neutral recruiting representative, counseling prospective members about the Cal Poly Pomona Greek system; committed 10 hours weekly to advising and attending weekly meetings. • Earned Training for Intervention Procedures (TIPS) certification by completing day-long intensive alcohol and drug-awareness training session. • Devote 4 hours monthly to community-service projects, including holiday food drives and assistance with local women’s shelter; participated in fundraising walk for asthma victims. • Served three years in efforts to benefit children’s hospital, assisting with such activities as annual golf tournament and charity bowling events. 





34 Sample Project Internship Cover Letter: The prospective intern uses a reader-friendly and attentiongetting bulleted section to make her qualifications stand out.

CONNIE COATES 2970 Bathurst Ave. • Chattanooga, TN 37415-3718 • Phone: 555-489-6906 • Email: [email protected]

Date Recipient’s name company address address Dear [specific named individual]: As a University of Tennessee senior studying marketing, I am seeking an internship in which I can make a real contribution. My strong interpersonal skills and customer-service experience, as well as my desire to pursue a career in marketing, have convinced me that an internship with your organization is one in which I can add value. Not only has my education as a marketing major provided me with knowledge and experience in key areas of interest to your firm, but with previous internship and school-project experience, I am confident I can distinguish myself from other candidates. Let me describe for you what sets me apart: • • • • • •

As an intern, I have been consistently recognized and cited for providing excellent customer service. I’ve proven I’m goal-driven by engaging in several internships and expect to graduate with a high GPA and several honors. I have demonstrated my teamwork/group/interpersonal skills through extensive group work in my academic courses, and as an intern, contributing as an effective team player ensured the success of each individual and the companies I worked for. As an intern and a student, time-management skills are essential, and I’ve also called on my strong organizational skills and detail-orientation to juggle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment. I have honed exceptional communication skills; both my oral and written communications emphasize detail, accuracy, and thoroughness. I have successfully applied marketing skills to promote the organizations for which I’ve interned.

More importantly, an internship with your firm would be mutually beneficial. Your company has an excellent reputation for quality, and I know that the combination of my strong work ethic, commitment, passion for excellence, and motivation to succeed will make me an asset. I can offer you an eager student with solid skills and a keen desire to continuously learn, as well as serve your firm and contribute to your marketing team. Can we pursue this possibility further? I will call soon to verify that you received my resume, answer any preliminary questions you may have, and arrange an appointment to talk about an internship. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss how I can serve your company in an internship position. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely,

Connie Coates

The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships 35 Sample Project Internship Resume: This resume makes the most of the student's relevant class projects.

CONNIE COATES 2970 Bathurst Ave. • Chattanooga, TN 37415-3718 • Phone: 555-489-6906 • Email: [email protected]

SEEKING MARKETING INTERNSHIP Offering skills in marketing, customer service, sales, advertising, promotion, research, French language, and Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access. EDUCATION Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, expected Spring 2009 Study Abroad, L’université D’avignon, Avignon, France, Spring 2007 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Internships Account Executive, United Way of Knox County, Knoxville, TN, Summer 2008 • Solicited United Way support from broad range of donors. • Conducted employee meetings involving presentations during campaign. • Called on corporations and followed up with corporate accounts. • Analyzed account information and produced research reports. • Assisted in organizing and conducting agency tours with various employee groups. Marketing Assistant, Auberge De Cassagne & Spa, Avignon, France, Spring 2007 • Compiled and maintained business-contact lists. • Responded to business and partnership inquiries. • Assisted in translating Auberge De Cassagne & Spa Web site. • Created content files to publish online product catalog. Projects — conducted in courses at the University of Tennessee Marketing Coordinator, Spring Semester 2008 • Developed marketing/advertising plan for Mary’s Tasty Sandwich Shoppe, Knoxville, TN. • Designed and implemented structured random survey. • Created promotional flyer. Advertising Manager, Fall Semester 2007 • Composed advertising plan for Maryville, TN-based grocery-store chain. • Created print and radio advertisements. Marketing Researcher, Summer Semester 2007 • Designed research project for university to investigate cause of recent enrollment trend. • Developed data-collection forms. • Collected, analyzed, and interpreted data. • Prepared and presented final research report.

36 Summer Analyst Internship Cover Letter Sample: The student focuses on his applicable skills and experience.

GRANT SPEARS Campus Address: 6700 Jefferson St. #134, Portland, ME 04103 Home Address: 3784 Winthrop Dr., Topsham. ME 04086 Cell Phone: 207-555-4342 • E-Mail: [email protected]

Nov. 18, 2008 Harry Winterthorne Director, Undergraduate Internships JP Morgan Chase 270 Park Ave. New York, NY 10017 Dear Mr. Winterthorne: I am interested in speaking with you regarding a Summer Analyst position with JP Morgan Chase. Both my employment experience and my classes in finance have prepared me well to make a significant contribution to your organization. As undergraduate at the University of Southern Maine, I have gained a great deal of knowledge that will enhance your firm’s success. In addition to my finance courses, I have acquired skills in balance sheets, income statements, most types of financial statements, and working capital management. With minimal training, I expect to contribute significantly as a part of your team. My strengths lie in my understanding of the principles behind accounting and finance, as well as my ability to communicate effectively and willingness to work hard. My leadership of my class as president for three consecutive years, along with the drive I demonstrate in competitive Taekwondo, have enabled me to competently utilize my attention to detail and organization while providing exemplary results. My previous employers can attest to my motivation, loyalty, and service and affirm that they have entrusted me with increasing amounts of responsibility. My strong computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and other applications, would be a considerable plus for JP Morgan Chase. As a student juggling multiple projects, I also developed excellent time-management skills and the ability to keep a cool head in high-pressure situations. I am confident that I will be an asset to your organization. My qualifications are an excellent fit with the needs of your firm. In addition, my strong dedication to achieving excellence and my commitment to continually increasing my knowledge and education cannot but contribute to JP Morgan Chase’s continued prosperity. I am eager to meet with you. I will contact you soon to arrange for an interview at your convenience. In the meantime, please feel free to contact me by phone at 207-555-4342. Sincerely,

Grant Spears

The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships 37 Sample Chrono-Functional Internship Resume: This student has strong unpaid experience but little paid work experience. He therefore plays up his transferable skills in his resume.

GRANT SPEARS Campus Address: 6700 Jefferson St. #134, Portland, ME 04103 Home Address: 3784 Winthrop Dr., Topsham. ME 04086 Cell Phone: 207-555-4342 • E-Mail: [email protected]

OBJECTIVE  

Internship at JP Morgan Chase

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE • • • •

• • •

Leadership-oriented college student with strong work ethic and moral compass. Creative problem-solver who excels at conflict resolution, as well as creating positive solutions, identifying efficient methods to correct situations, and following through to implementation. Exceptional interpersonal communicator who collaborates effectively with individuals at all levels – from students to deans, functions as a liaison among groups, builds and leads teams without being overbearing, and fosters cooperation among diverse individuals and organizations. Disciplined and highly organized self-starter who coordinates, manages, and juggles multiple committees, numerous daily meetings, judicial-board and campus ambassador functions, as well as a demanding school load. Motivated, mature, discreet achiever who takes the initiative and attacks issues with originality. Committed competitor who has demonstrated drive toward excellence through achievement of three-time election to class-president position and third-degree black belt in Taekwondo. Computer-proficient performer with skills covering operating systems including Windows and Mac OS, as well as software applications and programming languages, including C++, Java, HTML, Excel, PowerPoint, Minitab, Access, Word, and Outlook; A+ certified.

EDUCATION • •

Bachelor of Arts in Social Thought and Analysis, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME, expected May 2009 Certified Emergency Medical Technician, Topsham Community College, Topsham, ME, June to Aug. 2006

HIGHLIGHTS OF PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS Leadership • Elected president of college class of 1,300 students for three consecutive years. • Function as ambassador for university when alumni, politicians, and dignitaries – from Bryant Gumbel to John Kerry – visit campus; attend dinners in their honor, develop questions to ask them during breakout sessions, and represent student body at large campus events. • Organize all activities for junior class. • Lead individual class council meetings. • Develop and implement class programs and spearhead efforts to raise funds for nonprofit organizations; generate funds for events and promote alcohol-abuse awareness campus-wide. • Serve as key member on judicial board that reviews cases of students who have violated university regulations. • Participate as member of finance and treasury committees to allocate funds for university activities. • Oversee disbursement of funds and budget for class operations. • Established and achieved objectives to build class unity, spirit, morale, and participation in events. • Teach beginning through advanced students in techniques, weapons, and forms of Taekwondo, at House of Taekwondo martial arts studio. • Mentor and coach at-risk junior-high students weekly in math and English and help them improve their grades.

38 G. Spears ~ page two

Interpersonal and Creative Communication ~ Teamwork • As class president for three years, developed strong relationships among university administration, faculty, and students where none existed previously. • Created newsletter and student Web site for activities. • Participate in joint class council to develop and implement school programs. • Collaborate with council members to initiate programs and establish mentoring efforts for at-risk children. • Developed strong team of council members and team within campus-wide student government to enhance accomplishments through cohesive teamwork. • Strengthen university by serving as liaison among students and deans, resulting in improved communication and optimal programs reflecting joint efforts. • Speak at campus events to introduce school to up to 300 prospective students and parents, as well as in small groups at daily meetings and in large school-wide events. • Recruited students for mentoring program and for student-government involvement. • Serve as volunteer self-defense instructor for campus women. • Sold Cutco household knives and provided customer service. • Played key role in training new Cutco employees. Competitive Drive • Began training in Taekwondo at age 5; have trained two to three times weekly for 16 years and currently hold status as third-degree black belt and instructor. Analytical ~ Problem-solving • Developed campus alcohol policies in response to significant campus alcohol-abuse problem; created educational programs and alcohol-free events; collaborated with administration to establish legislation to enforce new alcohol regulations and rules. • Serve as a peer counselor who mentors students with personal and academic problems and helps them develop strategies to improve their situation. • Utilize Certified Emergency Medical Technician expertise to answer questions about simple injuries.

EXPERIENCE HISTORY • • • •

President of College Class, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME, 2006 to Present Mentor, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME, 2005 to Present 3rd-Degree Instructor, House of Taekwondo, Topsham, ME, Summers 2003 to Present Field Manager, Cutco, Topsham, ME, 2005

AFFILIATIONS • • • • • • • • •

Member, Sigma Phi Epsilon President, Junior Class President, Sophomore Class President, Freshman Class Member, University Judicial Board Member, Joint Task Force for Alcohol Policies on Campus Member, Joint Class Council Ambassador, University of Southern Maine Member, Financial Committee and Treasury Committee, University of Southern Maine Student Union

The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships

Chapter 5: Making the Most of Your Internship

4.

Avoid Negativity. The quickest way to kill a good internship is being negative. So, avoid complaining, being rude, disrespecting coworkers, arriving late, leaving early, being closed-minded, missing deadlines, appearing arrogant, wearing improper attire, acting unprofessionally, appearing inflexible, and taking part in office politics. Hint: A common mistake among interns and new hires is treating secretaries and clerks as being beneath them – avoid this behavior at all costs.

5.

Never Shun a Chance to Learn More About the Company/Industry. Take every opportunity presented to you to attend company or industry meetings, conferences, and events; participate in training workshops; and read all company materials. Hint: Meetings may appear (and actually be) boring to you, but they can often offer a good chance to increase your knowledge, network, and build relationships.

6.

Get as Much Exposure as Possible. Some of the best internships rotate you among departments and supervisors, but if yours doesn’t, don’t let that stop you from tackling new tasks, meeting people outside your department, and attending company social events. The more you are exposed to new ideas and new people, the more you’ll learn. Hint: Joining the company softball team (or other informal group) is a great opportunity to meet new people in a relaxed and informal environment.

7.

Don’t be Afraid to Ask Questions. Always remember that an internship is a learning experience for you. While the employer expects to get a certain level of work from you, you are not expected to know everything. Seek advice and raise questions whenever you encounter something that is not familiar to you. Be open-minded about new ideas and procedures – remember that you don’t know everything and that your professors didn’t teach you everything. Hint: Smart people know that there really is

This chapter provides the 12 keys to internship success. Follow these guidelines and you should be well on your way not only to a successful internship, but to a successful career. 1.

2.

3.

Set Personal Goals. While some internships are very structured, others are not, so you need to spend some time before you start the internship setting goals that you want to accomplish. Maybe it’s deciding on what area within marketing that you want to specialize, or learning new skills, or building your network. Whatever your goals, you will feel a greater sense of accomplishment once you achieve them. Hint: Setting unrealistic goals could make even a good internship seem bad, so make sure your goals are realistic and attainable in your internship. Have Regular Meetings with your Supervisor(s). Sound obvious? Well, maybe, but you may get a supervisor who never schedules meetings with you or travels quite a bit, so you have to make sure to have regular meetings where you can share experiences and lessons learned – both good and bad – as well as give progress reports. Hint: While you want to keep your supervisor abreast of your accomplishments, remember to also be a good listener and learn as much as you can during these meetings. Tackle all Tasks with Enthusiasm and a Positive Attitude. In just about every company, the new hire/intern is going to have to “pay his or her dues.” You will undoubtedly be given some grunt work to do, such as making photocopies, but the key is to complete all your work assignments with the same level of enthusiasm and professionalism. Hint: You might also consider working extra hours (beyond the required number for the internship) to show your work ethic to your supervisor(s).

Quintessential Careers Press – The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships by Randall S. Hansen, PhD, and Katharine Hansen, PhD Quintessential Careers Internship Resources: http://www.quintcareers.com/grad_internships.html

no such thing as a dumb question, so ask before doing. 8.

Take Initiative. Employers love employees who dive into tackling tough problems and who think “outside the box” in finding solutions. Just make sure you work with your supervisor(s) so you don’t overstep your authority – and make sure you share successes with her. Hint: There is a fine line between taking initiative and being perceived as a “know-itall,” and for interns especially, it is best to err on the side of caution.

9.

Find a Mentor. A mentor is someone at a higher level in the organization that looks out for you and makes sure you are learning what you need to know and accomplishing what you need to do. A mentor can also shield you from office politics and be a good sounding board for you to discuss ideas, ask questions, etc. Hint: Your supervisor could be your mentor, but it could also be another person within the organization.

10. Network, Network, Network. One of the key tools of job-hunting is utilizing your network to find your next career step, whether another internship or a job upon graduation (and beyond). Build professional relationships with your supervisor(s) and other managers in the organization. These people are also a good source for getting other jobhunting advice and tips from their years of experience. Hint: Even if you have a bad experience on an internship, never burn your bridges because you never know when it could come back and hurt you. Always leave on good terms. 11. Leave with Tangible Accomplishments. One of your goals with any internship is leaving it with some tangible results - both for your resume and your career portfolio (if you use one). Maybe you developed a brochure, computerized an inventory system, organized a sales conference, met with clients, tracked industry trends, etc. Hint: Keeping a journal may help you remember all the things you accomplished on your internship. 12. Enjoy Yourself. Most internships are great experiences, so make sure you have some fun while you’re working and learning. Don’t be so uptight that you are perceived as something you’re not. Hint: Just make sure you don’t overdo the fun – and avoid office romances.

The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships

Chapter 6: Turning Your Internship Into a Job After Clint Pyle’s summer internship with CNL Group, Inc. (now CNL Financial Group) ended, he asked if he could continue to work for the Orlando, FL, firm part-time during the school year, and the company accepted. From an internship in which Pyle engaged in relatively simple financial tasks, such as bank reconciliations and other lower-level financial projects, the finance grad spent two full years working part-time for CNL. Pyle’s plan to use his CNL internship as a springboard paid off. “I was offered a fulltime position upon graduation as a tax accountant,” he says. “I started two weeks after graduation preparing various federal and state tax returns, as well as preparing work papers for public-accounting firms to prepare other tax returns.” Pyle’s experience is not unusual. As noted in the Introduction to this book, employers in NACE’s 2008 Experiential Education Survey reported that nearly 36 percent of the new college graduates they hired from the Class of 2007 came from their own internship programs, up from 30 percent from the Class of 2005. Employers have already had the opportunity to observe the strengths of interns they convert into full-time positions. “We hired several interns to full-time jobs upon graduation, and I noticed that the interns’ performance was superior to that of recent college grads just beginning with our company,” observes Cory Petcoff, a business administration graduate. While some interns simply luck into job offers, others, like Pyle, make a conscious effort to propel their internships into jobs. “I was quite proactive in my efforts to turn the internship into a full-time job,” recalls Pyle, who later became a senior financial analyst in the Treasury Department of The St. Joe Company, Jacksonville, FL. “At the end of the internship, I approached my manager and was very honest and open about my goals and plans. In turn, they offered me the ability to do the part-time work until graduation. As graduation neared, I again approached my manager, as well as my human resources representative, and discussed my future possibilities.”

Taking a proactive approach is one of a number of strategies that can help you parlay an internship into a job. Other techniques include the following: • Be sure you want a job with the company with which you’re interning. “I really think interning is [not only] one of the best opportunities for the employer to test drive the person, but for the person to test drive the employer,” says graduate Walter Ballard, who attained his full-time job with PriceWaterhousecoopers LLP, as a result of an internship he did during grad school. Interning gives you a chance to see if you’d enjoy working permanently for your internship company and how well you fit into the organizational culture. Once you’re convinced the employer is right for you, your enthusiasm – based on real-world, insider knowledge – will be a major plus in helping you land a full-time job there. • Once you’ve decided you like the company culture, show you fit in. You can show your fit with employer’s culture in many ways – from wearing attire that aligns with what your co-workers are wearing to demonstrating a work ethic that’s at the same level as regular employees. • Work hard. Putting his nose to the grindstone was the ticket for another Cory Rhoads, who was offered a job right out of college with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) after interning there for the summer between junior and senior year. “I worked hard during the internship and completed my responsibilities,” Rhoads says. “I treated it as if it were the ‘real thing,’ and it turned out to be a good decision, as this was enough for them to see how I would handle working as one of their consultants after school.” Working hard also means not turning up your nose at distasteful assignments that come your way, no matter how menial they seem. Be willing to do what’s needed. Don’t assume that your education equips you with so much knowledge that executing low-level

Quintessential Careers Press – The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships by Randall S. Hansen, PhD, and Katharine Hansen, PhD Quintessential Careers Internship Resources: http://www.quintcareers.com/grad_internships.html











projects is beneath you. Remember the guy in the old FedEx commercial who thought he was too good to prepare packages for shipping because he had an MBA? Don’t be that guy. Be aware that your every move may be scrutinized. “An intern must understand that an employer watches everything you do,” Pyle notes. “Even if you think it is a meaningless task, there is a reason for it, and it is important to your employer. If you handle the task with professionalism – even though you may think you are ‘above’ the task – it will reflect highly on you.” Don’t just work hard. Strive to do your best, and extend your best behavior to your interactions with company stakeholders – suppliers, vendors, distributors, and especially customers. Keep quality in the forefront of your mind for every project you undertake. And be sure you project the utmost in professionalism to those stakeholders on whom the company wants to make a good impression. Seek out extra work, new projects. Show your willingness to go beyond what’s the job description for your internship, especially if the employer is overusing you for low-skill tasks (such as making coffee or acting as a go-fer). Look for ways you can make your co-workers’ jobs easier. You’ll make a great impression while sharpening your skills so you can step into a permanent position when the time comes. Strong academic performance can be influential with some employers. Some firms value good grades highly. If you can maintain strong academics while also performing in your internship, you may gain a leg up. “I think performance in school is important for being selected for one of these opportunities,” Rhoads says. “It was for Andersen’s criteria. Work hard in school to get past the interviews so you can get locked in with an internship.” Maintain a positive, eager-tolearn attitude. Ask questions. Show that you want to learn the job and learn the company. Strike a balance between asking enough questions to show your desire to learn and pestering people with so many queries that you become annoying. Ask if there are any training programs, seminars, or workshops you could attend to increase your learning, and hence, your value to the employer. Look













for opportunities to attend trade shows and industry meetings. Develop your skills. Learn unfamiliar software programs. Try projects that help you to hone skills you’ve never used or don’t use often. Observe the skills used by people in the kinds of positions in which you envision yourself working, and polish those skills. The wider your range of skills, the more valuable you will be to the employer. On the other hand, Allyson Quibell, writing for WetFeet.com, suggests that you choose just a couple of skills to focus on so that you develop those skills to their fullest. Feel free to be creative and bring your ideas to the table. “If you have an idea and you feel there is something that could be done differently, you need to have the courage to put forward your argument,” writes Ann Berry on the former Securities Institute Website. “Nine times out of 10, people are receptive. It’s good to show that you can learn, but also that you can add value.” Track your contributions and accomplishments. Be sure to keep a record of all the ways you’ve contributed during your internship. be prepared to present this list when you make your pitch to the employer for a permanent job. For more about tracking accomplishments, see our article, For Job-Hunting Success: Track and Leverage Your Accomplishments at http://www.quintcareers.com/jobhunting_success.html and our Accomplishments Worksheet at http://www.quintcareers.com/acco mplishments_worksheet.html. * Be a team player. Berry points out that some employers, such as investment banking firms, host many interns simultaneously. Those numbers, she says, should not inspire competition because there are usually plenty of full-time opportunities to go around for successful interns. Instead, teamwork should be among an intern’s major strategies since most employers value their workers’ ability to perform in collaborative relationships. Seek input and feedback from supervisors and co-workers during your internship so you know how to improve as you go along. Show those you work with that you want to be the best you can be. Don’t be shy about asking about permanent job opportunities.

The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships







Your employer won’t know that you’re interested in a job unless you ask. Also be vigilant for opportunities to create a position. Look for employer needs that aren’t currently being met and consider proposing a job to meet those needs. Network with co-workers at your internship – both during and outside of working hours. Get to know as many of the people you work with as you can, and socialize with them outside work, as well. Join the company softball team. Attend the company picnic or party. Everyone you meet is a prospective member of your network, and the more people who know you and your work, the more champions you will have when it comes to turning your internship into a job.

openings, especially as graduation approaches. In addition to touching base with your immediate supervisor determine what other company contacts might be valuable in your quest to join the company – such as human resources folks and hiring managers in the departments that most interest you – and remain in contact with them.

“Relationships are keys to any business setting,” Pyle notes. “Make sure you make an effort to build relationships with not only your coworkers but also your manager. Having a cordial relationship with your manager makes it much easier for you to approach your manager when you might otherwise be hesitant to do so.” Find a mentor. Parlay at least one of your network contacts within your internship into more than just a contact. Cultivate a mentor who can guide you in developing a strategy for obtaining permanent employment. For more about finding and working with a mentor, see our article, The Value of a Mentor at http://www.quintcareers.com/ment or_value.html. If the internship doesn’t segue immediately into a job, keep in contact and be persistent. Maybe you’re not a position to take a fulltime when the internship ends. Perhaps you have coursework to complete before graduation. If that’s the case, be sure to leave on the best possible terms. Write to your supervisor to thank him or her for the internship opportunity. Keep in touch periodically and ask about

Quintessential Careers Press – The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships by Randall S. Hansen, PhD, and Katharine Hansen, PhD Quintessential Careers Internship Resources: http://www.quintcareers.com/grad_internships.html

The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships expanding into Boston and Washington, D.C. markets. Also includes an online forum to network with other users as well as a job-matching agent. Free to job-seekers. http://www.bigapplehead.com/

Chapter 7: Internship Resources Best Bets • College Central – a great place for college students and grads to begin your job and internship searches. You can post your resume, search for jobs and internships, find job fairs, and get expert job and career advice. Includes megajobs search engine. Free to jobseekers. http://www.collegecentral.com/ •

InternJobs.com – a national database o internships for students and recent grads. Job-seekers can search the internship database by keywords or locations and can post a resume online. Free. Part of the AboutJobs.com network. http://www.internjobs.com/



Internweb.com – where college students seeking internships in a variety of career fields across the U.S. can search for internship listings, as well as find many useful resources, including internship-related articles and career tools. Registration required to search for internships. Free. http://www.internweb.com/



externs.com – an internship site for college students, where you can browse for both traditional and virtual internships. With a virtual internship, you work in a remote location (dorm room?) from the employer. No cost to job-seekers. http://externs.com/



GetThatGig.com – where young jobseekers (16-21) can find cool summer jobs and internships, as well as learn about extraordinary career paths in all types of industries, from entertainment and education to healthcare and marketing – and many others. Search for jobs or post your resume. Free to job-seekers. http://www.getthatgig.com/



Global Experiences – an international education programs provider, specializing in international internships and work experience abroad, summer internships, fashion internships abroad, volunteer programs, teaching English as a second language, foreign language training, and similar programs. FeeBased. http://www.globalexperiences.com/



How to Find a Summer Job – a strong how-to guide for finding internships and summer jobs from the Career Services Office of Trinity College. The key tip: start as early as possible to get the best opportunities. http://www.trincoll.edu/depts/career/gu ides/summer_job.shtml



iHipo – a combination of social network and job site, iHipo provides young professionals and students the ability to browse through hundreds of international job and internship postings, post a profile, and develop contacts. iHipo stands for international High Potential network. No cost to jobseekers. http://www.ihipo.com/



Institute for Experiential Learning: Internships in Washington, D.C. –

The Rest: •





After College – a job and internship site for college students and recent college grads. Post your resume or search for job openings (by job type, industry, type of work, location, and keyword). Also includes some basic career resources. Free to job-seekers. http://www.thejobresource.com/ Best Bets for Internships Abroad – an excellent resource for students from almost any academic discipline who are looking for an internship abroad. http://www.cie.uci.edu/iop/internsh.ht ml bigapplehead – where college students and recent college grads can search for all types of jobs and internships in the New York metro area (including New Jersey and Philadelphia) as well as post your resume. Also

Quintessential Careers Press – The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships by Randall S. Hansen, PhD, and Katharine Hansen, PhD Quintessential Careers Internship Resources: http://www.quintcareers.com/grad_internships.html

search the database to find vital information on all about academic internships – mostly in government – in the Washington, D.C. area. http://www.ielnet.org/ •

Intern Abroad – a great source for international internships. Students can search for paid and volunteer, academic and non-academic internships, as well as college credit practical training programs around the world. From GoAbroad.com. Free. http://www.internabroad.com/search.cf m



Internship Institute – particularly geared to employers to support them in offering internships and to advocate for colleges to require internships (http://www.internshipinstitute.org/), but also offers free resources to students (http://www.internshipinstitute.org/stu dents.asp) and a blog, InternGuru (http://www.internguru.com/).



InternshipPrograms.com – where internship-seekers can browse an internship database for possibilities and apply for those of interest directly from this site. Internship categories include: advertising/marketing/PR, journalism and communications, government agencies, sports teams and organizations, law firms, and others. From WetFeet.com. http://www.internshipprograms.com/



InternXchange – an internship site for college students, who you can post your profile (resume) and search for potential internships throughout the U.S. You must register before you can use any of the services. Free to jobseekers. http://www.internxchange.com/



Rising Star Internships – where college students can search for internships and/or post their resumes. http://www.rsinternships.com/



Snag A Job – a job sites for high school and college students looking for part-time, seasonal, or summer jobs. Search for a job by type of job or by location, and than apply online. Free to job-seekers. http://www.snagajob.com/





Student Search System, Inc. – Specializes in finding internships and entry-level employment for college students and graduates. http://www.studentsearch.com/ SummerJobs.com – where summer job-seekers can search by keyword or location for summer jobs. A very nice

resource. http://www.summerjobs.com/ •

Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars – through its programs, students can earn academic credit while they gain practical experience, discover professional strengths and weaknesses, and evaluate career paths. http://www.twc.edu/

Books About and Related to Internships



Hello Real World! A Student’s Approach to Great Internships, Coops, and Entry Level Positions Hello Real World! A Student’s Approach to Great Internships, Co-ops, and Entry Level Positions, by Jengyee Liang (BookSurge Publishing). The book reads like an insider’s guide to getting and succeeding in internships (with some job-hunting after graduation also thrown in). Read our full review of Hello Real World! at http://www.quintcareers.com/caree r_book_reviews/Hello_Real_World.h tml



The Back Door Guide to Short Term Job Adventures: Internships, Extraordinary Experiences, Seasonal Jobs, Volunteering, Work Abroad, by Michael Landes (Ten Speed).



Gardner’s Guide To Internships In New Media: Computer Graphics, Animation and Multimedia, by Garth Gardner, Ph.D. (GGC, Inc./ Publishing).



The Intern Files: How to Get, Keep, and Make the Most of Your Internship, by Jamie Fedorko (Simon Spotlight).



Peterson’s Internships: The Largest Source of Internships Available (Peterson’s Guides).



The Vault Guide to Top Internships, by Samer Hamadeh (Vault).



The College Student’s Step-by-Step Guide to Landing a Job, by Mike Krush (The Samuel’s Intellectual Capital Group).



Major in Success: Make College Easier, Fire Up Your Dreams, and Get a Very Cool Job, by Patrick Combs (Ten Speed).



Summer Jobs Abroad, by David Woodworth (Vacation-Work).



Summer Jobs in the USA (Peterson’s Guides).

The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships

Chapter 8: Internship Case Study

As a college student struggling to make ends meet, would you have the courage to swear off typical college restaurant and retail jobs and commit yourself to careerboosting internships – even unpaid internships? Rising Manhattan College senior Julie Davis (http://www.stetson.edu/~jdavi3/welcome.html)

did – even after relocating from Florida to the far more expensive New York City.

Marketing major Davis, 21, aspires to enter the music business. With four internships under her belt, additional hands-on experience while in high school, and a budding not-for-profit college radio promotions entrepreneurial venture to her credit, Davis could be characterized as already being in the music business. “I’ve wanted to work in music as far back as I can remember,” Davis recalls. “I’ve always had a love of music, mostly stemming from the obsessions my family had. As I got older being part of the music became more ingrained in me.” Davis notes that she can “effortlessly give a timeline of my life based on the music I was into and mixtapes I made at each period.” A native of Sunrise, FL, Davis began to truly get her feet wet in music at around age 15. “My brother decided he wanted to be a musician and start planning events, so I think I gained much of my interest in working in the industry from him pushing me to help with recordings and shows,” Davis says. “From there I helped him set up

a recording studio in my mom’s house, and I started recording and managing my friends’ bands. At that point I was doing anything and everything to keep working in entertainment – planning high-school concerts, working with night clubs, programming at [radio station] WKPX and so on.” WKPX is a non-commercial, educational radio station owned and operated by School Board of Broward County and located at Piper High School, which Davis attended. Her time there comprised a curricular activity in which she worked in various positions, some simultaneously for the full four years of high school – as musical director for a year, music librarian for a year, a programmer for two and a half year years, and a specialty show hostess/cohostess for three and a half years. Davis worked almost full-time at the station during her senior year. After graduation and her time at WKPX, Davis started college at a small private university in a much less lively area of Florida. “It was severely depressing,” Davis says, “to start college in the middle of nowhere and have nothing entertainment-related to do. From the minute I started college, I was looking into internships, and there wasn’t anything – except for Disney Radio – for me.” Davis decided she wanted to spend a summer in New York with her dad and try for something there. “Unfortunately, that didn’t work out so well,” Davis laments. “I had a few phone interviews, but it’s hard to rely on a person you don’t know physically exists – especially in entertainment. I couldn’t land any jobs in New York for the summer.” So she refocused her efforts on Central Florida. “I wanted to explore all my entertainment options in the Orlando area. I had spent four years working in college/noncommercial radio, and I figured that a commercial station was a good place to round out my radio education.” After searching Cox Communication’s job website for weeks, Davis spotted a posting for an unpaid radio-promotions internship at Power 95.3 FM WPYO. Her persistence nailed the internship for her. “I e-mailed my resume and cover letter twice and still didn’t receive word,” she recalls. “I sent it again and hunted down a name and number for the internship coordinator. When I called, and finally got an answer, he said he never received my resume, so I should

Quintessential Careers Press – The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships by Randall S. Hansen, PhD, and Katharine Hansen, PhD Quintessential Careers Internship Resources: http://www.quintcareers.com/grad_internships.html

send it again directly to him. I called back to ensure he got it, and he asked me to come in immediately for an interview. After that I had to call at least three times before they told me I was hired and another two before I had a start date. Davis interned there as a “Power Player” during the summer and fall of 2006 as she entered her sophomore year of college. “Not only did I get the commercial radio-promotions position,” Davis notes, “I was allowed to intern a few days in the sales department. Outside of commercial programming, I developed an understanding of most of the business operations of a typical commercial station. I definitely met my objectives there. The position was great at the start. It was mostly socializing at events and night clubs. I was the only person I knew that could get credit for partying.” But Davis says the novelty eventually wore off when the station became shortstaffed. “I put all the effort I had into helping out here and there – working extra hours, helping in the office, staying late before big events,” she recalls. “There were paid jobs available at the time, so we [interns] were being watched carefully. Even after all of the effort I put in, I was the only intern who didn’t get hired. Every other intern was shocked, and even some of the staff, but that’s how things worked. It wasn’t the effort that meant anything, just random picks.” Needless to say, Davis would not recommend this internship to others. “Not to sound biased, but it wasn’t a very realistic atmosphere,” she says. “Working there meant showing off and believing you were a celebrity more than running a station effectively. Interns were mostly discriminated against instead of taught valuable lessons. We weren’t allowed to sit in on meetings or do any meaningful work. The most I learned from that specific internship is how unprofessional commercial radio can be.” The experience did show Davis a direction into which she does not want to venture. “This position turned me off to the commercial-music industry,” she notes. “Personally, I don’t think it’s a place for business-minded individuals with a serious passion for quality music. I have a feeling the open-access setup through the Internet may change the structure of commercial music for the better, however. We’ll see.” Despite the bitter taste left by the internship, Davis says she had at that point “developed an addiction to internships.” “I enjoyed working – even for free – and gaining the experience, but I think I liked putting the experience on my resume just as much,” Davis says. “Internships are funny in that the more you can say you learned from the position, the more people are willing to give you a chance to learn at your next position. After working at Power,

I swore off restaurant gigs and retail stores and decided internships were the only way to go. To expand my options I transferred to a school in New York, and now I spend the last few weeks of every semester looking for another position to challenge me. I mostly have tried to apply for internships I could stretch my experience to fit, but positions that I’ve never specifically been involved in. That way, I can hone the skills I’ve already developed while trying my hand in a whole new arena.” Before making the move to New York, Davis interned as a corporate marketing assistant at Citrix Systems, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, during the summer 2007. Davis found the paid Citrix internship through INROADS, a co-curricular job program that prepares minority students for professional positions. Davis says her job-search strategy was successful because “I took advantage of the programs available to me in this job search.” Davis explains that she was also offered a position with The Recording Academy, which also hosts a college program, GRAMMY U. “It helps having a large group on your side,” Davis says. Citrix was Davis’ first internship foray outside the music business. “At this point I was preparing myself for moving to New York, and I wanted a position with a wellknown, major corporation. Having international experience with a large company turned out be a great way to differentiate myself from other job candidates in a place as diverse as New York.” While Davis met her objective to attain international experience, many other interns there weren’t as lucky. “Most of the Citrix interns worked with software development, so they didn’t get much outside experience. Luckily, I was one of two corporate-level interns, so I worked daily with representatives from over 100 different countries,” Davis says. “This was my first internship in which I was actively a part of the operations. I attended team meetings, I put in my opinion on company and team affairs, and my suggestions were taken seriously. The best part of the whole experience was being pushed to work with the other marketing teams. I was hired for Customer Marketing, which entailed work with case studies, event planning and CRM [Customer Relationship Management] systems, but I was also recruited for C-level projects with Second Life and companywide initiatives. I was pushed to interview heads of various teams and start networking,” she recalls. Davis also participated in numerous programs and classes through Citrix. “We had a ton of internship luncheons, free days to go to skill-building classes, and a team outing for everything. Yep, all that extra socializing was torture – just kidding!” Davis indicates that the Citrix experience provided an excellent building

The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships block for her life and career. “The family at Citrix, most of which I still keep in touch with, taught me incredible life lessons,” she says. “In one summer I felt more comfortable taking chances and making the most of my college experience because of the stories they shared of moving around the world, starting families, and living life all while living comfortably. While the professional experience was priceless, I think this position contributed most to my life in relation to my career as opposed to my career alone.” In fact, Davis would not necessarily recommend the Citrix internship for others interested in the music business, but calls it “an internship better suited for someone looking for a hands-on corporate experience.” In the fall of 2007, Davis made her planned move to New York and enrolled in Manhattan College – but as usual, she was focused on her next career move. “My purpose for moving to New York was to get more industry experience. A major record label was an obvious choice. My main goal was to get my foot in the door and create a place for myself in music. She had applied for an internship at a label even before arriving in the city, having found a posting on entertaimentcareers.org. “Major recordlabel positions are hard to come by,” Davis notes, “especially when moving to a new state. I applied for this internship about a week before I moved to New York, and I got a call back the day after I got there. Perfect timing.” The position was as an unpaid international marketing intern at Island Def Jam Music Group, and Davis spent her fall 2007 semester there. “Although I was only there for a semester, I worked with a great group in International Marketing,” Davis recalls. “I even temped for the department’s administrative assistant on a few occasions. I’m pretty sure that if I wanted to get in at Island Def Jam when I graduate, I could make a few calls and have some good references. It was great being in the label environment. For an office job, everything was incredibly casual. The team I worked on was very close-knit, so it made it easy to feel relaxed around everyone.” The casual atmosphere had its downside, “at least for the interns,” Davis notes. “No one had any issues asking us to go on a coffee run or go pick up lunch. The worst aspect of the internship was the lack

of accountability. There were four interns on our team, but we were each held accountable for the actions of one. The idea was that it promoted teamwork, but since half of us didn’t see the other half all semester, it was hard to coordinate and nearly impossible to check each other’s work.” Davis recommends this internship as “a great position for anyone looking to get started in the music industry.” Davis also notes that Island Def Jam’s internships “are a good way to figure out if working in commercial music is for you.” Already soured on commercial music by her experience in Orlando, Davis was still exploring. “Most of the interns I talked felt [commercial music] was a little too fake for them,” Davis observes, “but almost al the full-time employees appreciated the opportunity to work in a such a fast-paced glamorous atmosphere.” Ultimately, though, Davis says the internship “turned me off to commercial music in general. I don’t even listen to mainstream radio anymore! But it did show me that I’d like to focus my attention on independent music and helping lesserknown artists make a name for themselves. Added bonus: I now know record label jobs don’t pay squat for the amount of work you have to put in.” Davis’ current internship represents her second venture outside the music business, but the choice of industry was not entirely by design. “I’ll admit a large part of the search was to avoid working at a restaurant. Moving to a big, expensive city happens to cost a ton! My main objective, however, was to learn a thing or two about public relations and/or branding, the two areas of marketing I hadn’t worked in at all. She found a paid internship at a publicrelations agency through an e-mail blast to her college’s business school sent out by the school’s Career Services office. “My previous internship with Island Def Jam pushed me to be more open to opportunities that weren’t directly musicrelated,” Davis says. “Being open to a different learning experience is what landed me in such a great place.” Davis also notes that this openness to learning provides an instant answer to the frequently-asked interview question, “Why do you want to work here?” Davis got the new learning experience she sought. “This internship was just what I

Quintessential Careers Press – The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships by Randall S. Hansen, PhD, and Katharine Hansen, PhD Quintessential Careers Internship Resources: http://www.quintcareers.com/grad_internships.html

needed to balance my marketing knowledge,” she says. “It actually spurred my interest in media relations, which turned out to be a big part of my plans for the future. For someone looking to find where they fit in the marketing world, this is a great position. I get to work with event planning, I use Photoshop almost daily to come up with designs for clients, and I’m learning how much goes on in journalism and different industries our clients work in. It’s a great place for well-rounded experience.” Davis’ experiences at the firm were less satisfying during the spring 2008 semester than during the subsequent summer. “Somewhere along the line of this position, while I was working 20 hours a week during the school year, I got bored,” Davis explains. “It was hard for everyone because we all wanted to give me more responsibility, but there just weren’t enough hours in the week.” In contrast, though, Davis says, “working full-time over the summer brought all sorts of new challenges. Recently, I’ve been meeting with clients, developing contact lists and putting together press materials for various client opportunities. The best part thus far came last week when I was asked to become a full-fledged team member for one of our client projects. It sounds lame, but involves pitching media contacts and developing relationships to ensure a smooth well-publicized launch of a new product. It’s easily the biggest responsibility I’ve had at any internship.” In fact, Davis believes the internship “will be a great after-graduation bargaining chip. A few consecutive months in a professional environment with important responsibility doesn’t seem like a simple ‘I make coffee runs’ type of internship. I think I’ll be able to sell my experience here as a first job.” In looking back at all her internships, Davis says that “surprisingly, my non-music related internships have been my favorites. It’s so much easier to actively participate and learn without feeling alienated in nonentertainment jobs, mostly because the egos are much smaller.” Davis advises other students interested in doing internships: “Don’t limit yourself, especially in business. If you have a preference for one field, such as marketing, explore as much of that field as you possibly can. Skillsets tend to overlap, but if you’re perceptive, you’ll learn a ton about who you are and where you fit in the mix.” Where has school been for Davis during her internship addiction? Asked to compare the learning she gained from internships with her classroom learning, Davis declares that “the two don’t compare at all. I like to think of my classroom education as the first few steps on a long flight of stairs. Internships come right after. College is important for getting the basics

and becoming well-rounded. Classes point you in the right direction and give you something to talk about when you get there. For me, that direction was toward internships. In each position I’ve held, I’ve gained more of an insight on the goings-on of actual offices, not just the group-project simulations you get in class. Internships shed light on the mysterious world of office politics, the role of experience and expectations, work etiquette, and so much more. I’m using my internship experience as footing for when I graduate and start working full-time. Most of my friends that have graduated already had a serious case of culture shock when they started working. I feel as though my experience will make it a much smoother transition.” That transition will likely include Davis’ latest venture. While working at the publicrelations agency and getting firsthand experience with PR, Davis says, “I felt like I was ready to start working toward one of my lifelong goals – starting a not-for-profit college-radio promotions and publicity company. After working at Island Def Jam and Power, I felt like my energy was much better spent using my college-radio experience and my publicity experience to help artists that have yet to become established by offering a low-to-no cost service. And so, I established BlockStar Promo (http://www.blockstarpromo.com/).” (See also BlockStar’s MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/blockstarpr). “My main goal is getting quality music – music that means something to someone – heard while giving artists who are as passionate about music as I am a chance to shine,” Davis says.” The plan is to work with artists that have upcoming projects they’d like to share with the world, such as new albums, a major tour, etc. It’s also giving me a chance to work on developing my web-design skills. I’d like to get a good site set up and create quality video presentations for media contacts as well as potential clients. I wanted to make a booklet, but I feel like this is much more economical and environmentally friendly. Right now I’m still working on spreading the word and getting established as a legal entity in New York, but I’m hoping to start consulting and promoting independent artists all over the country by the end of the year.” Although Julie Davis’ internship addiction has yet to be tested with postgraduation career success, her experience demonstrates a number of lessons about internships: • Students will generally obtain more career-propelling learning from internships related to their future paths than they would from working for money in the type of low-level service jobs in which college students often work.

The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships •









While it make take resourcefulness and persistence to obtain internships, they are quite possible to get with some effort. Even paid internships are attainable. But if you can’t find a paid internship, remember Julie Davis. If she could manage in expensive New York City on an unpaid internship, maybe you can find a way to manage. Remaining open to internships a bit outside the realm of your immediate career plans will enable you to expand your skillset and your network. Employers increasingly hire experience, even in new grads, and the more internships you have, the more experience and accomplishments you have to list on your resume. With the right attitude – like Davis’s – you can find silver linings even in disappointing internships.

Quintessential Careers Press – The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships by Randall S. Hansen, PhD, and Katharine Hansen, PhD Quintessential Careers Internship Resources: http://www.quintcareers.com/grad_internships.html

Appendix: Internship Do’s and Don’ts •







Do try at obtain at least one internship during your college years. And do try to get multiple internships.

Do send thank you letters to all people who interview you -- and all the people who help you find an internship.



Do set specific goals for yourself and each internship. Know what you want to accomplish with each internship.

Don’t ever give up in your internship quest. And do exhaust all possible internship leads.



Do enjoy your internship -- even when you are doing the inevitable grunt work many interns do as part of “paying your dues.”



Don’t burn any bridges -- even if your internship was not the best.



Do keep in touch with key coworkers from your internships -and do cultivate them to become part of your network.

Don’t expect all internships to be paid. We wish they all were, but many are not. And do at least consider accepting both paid and nonpaid internships; some of the best internships may not be paid.



Do expect to be treated professionally. And do act professionally at all times.



Don’t expect internships to just be handed to you; internships must be earned, as with any job.



Do utilize your network of family and friends to the fullest to get leads on internships.



Do try and schedule regular meetings with your internship supervisor.



Don’t pass up opportunities to have experiences beyond the regular scope of the internship that lead to chances to learn more about the company or industry.



Do get as much exposure throughout the internship organization as possible.



Don’t be afraid to ask questions. And do be open to learning new skills and methodologies.



Do find a mentor within the organization, whether it’s your internship supervisor or some other manager.



Do make sure you leave your internship with new skills, a better understanding of your field, and tangible accomplishments.



Do take advantage of job and career fairs to scout possible internship opportunities.



Don’t forget to take advantage of the career services office at your college – they typically have leads to numerous internship opportunities.



Do be sure you have a dynamic cover letter, a superior resume, and polished interviewing techniques.

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