Dear College Upperclassman:
If you are anything like me or like most other college students, you tend to put off important tasks, leave duties for the last minute and procrastinate as much as possible. It happens. Most of us are balancing school, jobs, sports, clubs on campus and attempts at a social life. With all that is taking place around us, how can one even think of adding one more responsibility to our schedules? My advice: go to the store, purchase a daily planner, organize and prioritize your time, find some blocks of time in your schedule and work on finding an internship.
Tip #1: Internships are the KEY to getting hired post-graduation.
Here is a hint in case you did not already know—most employers that will be looking at your resume after graduation do not care if you were a manager in a retail store for years or held high-title positions in simple, entry level jobs. Cut some of your hours at your paid job, and get some experience working at an internship. The hands-on, real-world experience you learn as an intern is extremely valuable and what employers are looking to hire.
Tip #2: You do not need to spend ALL of your time at your internship.
Yes, it is important to have an internship. But will future employers know whether you worked 40 hours a week at an internship or 10 hours a week. The experience itself is really what matters. If you are lucky enough to find a co-op or paid internship, then go ahead and work (intern) your heart out. But if you are like the rest of us who are just happy to have an internship at all, then take a step back. Don’t over stress yourself. Limit your intern load to 10-15 hours a week so you don’t burn yourself out.
Tip #3: Network! It really is all about who you know
As a college junior or senior, talk to as many people as you know about looking for an internship and wanting to get some real world experience. Obviously, it is still critical to look for internships online on sites like Indeed, Monster, and even Craigslist—but you will be pleasantly surprised how amazing networking really works. If you are out running errands and bump into someone you know or next time you are at the doctors office or speaking to someone in a professional setting, mention in small talk that you are looking to intern. Someone always knows another someone somewhere that needs an intern!
Now that you have an internship, be sure to…
Tip #4: Understand your tasks
When you are tasked to do a project or begin work at an internship, make sure you are paying attention and fully understand your job at hand. Don’t get too overwhelmed and miss important instructions. And if you missed information or are unsure about what to do, then ask questions! Asking questions is not a bad thing! It shows that you want to do a good job the first time and care about the effort you put in.
Tip #5: Be flexible
You may be asked to do things that are new or uncomfortable to you. This is okay! Try new things. You will get a really good taste of what you like doing and what you don't like doing. Even though I am a Management major, my internship is more Marketing focused and I am so fortunate because I have found a new love for marketing. Even if your work differs a little from what you are used to, try it anyway. You may never know how much you love something new.
Tip #6: Dress for the job you want, not the job you have
You've probably heard the expression "dress for success," and it definitely applies in the workplace (even in school!) The better you dress and the more confident you feel, the better you perform at work. Now is the time to go out and purchase professional pants and blouses and skirts and suits and ties and all the business gear you need. How you dress is a direct representation of yourself and how you value yourself. Dress professionally.
Believe in yourself! It is so easy to doubt yourself or think that you are too overwhelmed or too stressed out to be successful or to do your job well. In these cases, just slow down, take a deep breath, and just try to relax. You are doing FINE! Think positively and use this opportunity to make mistakes, learn all that you can, and better yourself. You are gaining important experience and giving yourself an advantage for post-grad life. Stay positive and believe that you will succeed--because if you believe you can, I promise you that you will!
Sincerely,
Second Semester College Senior Speaking From Experience
