1. Make a LinkedIn profile for yourself
This sounds like a scary thing, but it's a very important but also fairly simple part of venturing into the real world. It provides a place to fill out your current and past job titles, volunteer positions, a short personal bio, and other important information about your experience. It's important that you remember that this isn't for social networking with friends. Feel free to connect with friends on LinkedIn, but only do so for professional reasons. Don't let your significant other verify your skills, as this is a professional environment. The messaging feature of LinkedIn can be essential in connecting with people to land an interview. Be sure to connect with professors with important connections in your industry (Dr. Land, Prof. Nordman, Prof. Lacombe, Dr. DiBiasio, if you're looking for something in communications).
2. Stop by the CDIC
Stop by the Career Development and Internship Center (CDIC) as soon as you can. This will help you to get started preparing yourself and your resume for landing internships. It's never too early to come by. Shannon Curtis, the CDIC's Assistant Director, is available most days to meet with students and discuss how to help them achieve their career goals. To connect with her, send her an email at sj.curtis@assumption.edu, or call her office at (508) 767-7248
3. Put together a resume
This sounds like an extremely daunting task, I know, but it doesn't have to be. First, make a list of all of the places that you've worked, from paid jobs to other internships and volunteer positions. List it all. Next, organize each job into the proper category. Figure out which skills you gained and utilized at each job. Also, put your current address and phone number at the top of your resume when things are fully assembled. Organize your resume according to this example here. Bring a printed copy of your resume to a meeting with Shannon at the CDIC, email her a copy of it and request feedback, or post it on the CDIC website uploader.
4. Make a list of all your top internship sites
Take some time to create a list of all the places that you'd be interested in working as an intern. There are lots of resources available in the CDIC and on the Assumption Career Connection page. Try to include places that you could easily navigate to during the week on a school day. Check out the CDIC website to search for internship opportunities here. Attending the 2016 Career and Internship fair is also a great way to connect with internship sites and learn more about where you’d like to work. Here’s a list of which ones will be present at the fair.
5. Learn how to dress the part
Stock up on professional attire. Make sure you get a few pairs of black or navy blue dress pants that fit well, but aren't too tight. Also, get two to three plain, white button-down dress shirts. You should not show any more than four inches from the neck down with a button-down shirt. If you're a person that wears skirts and dresses, get a few navy or black ones. Make sure you refrain from buying a skirt that hits higher than above the knee. Get one or two suit jackets or blazers to top off your look. These are important, because they make you look polished and serious. Wear a tie, and be sure that your dress shoes fit well so you can successfully walk in them and give off a true professional air. To find further information about what to wear to an interview, check out this article from Salisbury University.
