I think we can all agree that a summer job is a necessity when you're a college student (especially when you go to an expensive private college). But how can we chose between a job that will make us some extra cash or an unpaid internship that can push us one step closer to the real world? Well, that decision is never easy.
Basically the day I started class last fall was the day I began thinking about my summer plans. I was lucky enough to have a paid internship that previous summer, but I knew I wanted to do something different than what I was learning there. The problem was that every internship that seemed perfect was either too far away from home, unpaid or looking for a candidate with "more experience." If you feel the same way that I do, nothing makes me more upset than a company saying that they're looking for a candidate with "more experience." I mean, we're applying to that job so that we can HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE. But regardless, experience is just as (if not more) important than a degree itself; if you can't work in the real world, then your endless hours of class won't mean very much.
But instead of just complaining about the job search and interview process, here are some tips that will help you land the best possible internship:
1. Start Early!
It's never to early to start networking! If you're looking into summer internships during the fall then you'll have plenty of time to research opportunities and figure out what the best options are for your situation.
2. Take advantage of your resources.
We're all lucky enough to go to a college that REALLY cares about their students. Merrimack is constantly making sure that we are ahead of the game in terms of our career path. The O'Brien Center for Student Success is the perfect place to start! Going to their career fair even as a freshman is the right decision; nothing bad will come out of networking your first year.
3. Don't be too hard on yourself.
If you're having trouble finding a internship that's a perfect fit, don't put yourself down. Even though that real world experience is great for everyone, some fields don't even offer opportunities until you're a senior or a graduate. At this point, working anywhere that gives you a paycheck will be just fine!
4. Only send your resume to places you're serious about.
I made the mistake of sending out an application and resume to just about every business in the Boston area. By doing this, I couldn't completely focus on any of the jobs and ended up losing out on some opportunities that could have worked out well for me. So learn from me, only apply to a job if you've researched the company or position, and you know it is a viable option.
5. Don't be afraid to try something different.
If you can't find a position that's exactly what you want to do in the future, THAT'S OK! Try something new, and you just might like it. Or, even if you don't like that type of work, now you know what to stay away from. Learning what you don't like is just as important as learning what you do like. Take some risks, and it just might pay off!
Follow these tips and you'll be on the right track to finding a summer job that benefits your future AND hopefully that pays, because, think about it, you have to pay for all those 2 a.m. Domino's orders somehow.
Most importantly, once you've landed that internship you've been wanting, your summer stops looking like:
This ...
And starts looking a lot more like this ...
BUT DON'T WORRY TOO MUCH! Those months of missing out on beach days will be worth it eventually!
