Internships

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Internships
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An internship is usually a low or unpaid, short-term, entry-level job, where you can get work experience and build up your resume.  Interns can usually experience many aspects of the job experience.  By doing this, an internship can help greatly in deciding the right career for you.  Many times, you might not realize if a career is right or wrong for you until you experience it in the work field. In today's competitive job market, internships are an increasingly important way for young people to get into their first job and career. Internships:

• Provide practical experience
• Allow exploration of different fields and employment opportunities
• Are important resume builders
• Can often be exchanged for academic credit
• Are sometimes paid
• Can sometimes lead to a full-time job after college

Internships can last from a month to two years and can be part-time or full-time, paid or unpaid. Many companies offer fall, spring and summer internships, and some colleges and universities give academic credit for both part- and full-time positions.

Learn practical skills

Internships provide the opportunity to learn practical skills, from understanding computer software programs to analyzing profit and loss statements. It is a chance to examine a real life work area and the different styles that come along with it.  By experiencing the workplace hands on, you can learn how to work in a team or alone, how to dress, or how to work under deadline pressure.

Finding opportunities

Listings of most internships are available in the reference section of most school and public libraries. You can also call companies directly to ask about internship programs. Many high schools are affiliated with an internship program, so contact your school counselor to find out more information about high school internships. Be sure to make calls well in advance because deadlines can be early. Getting a head start will not only give you enough time to get organized, but it might give you an extra little boost in a competitive internship.

Getting an Internship

Once you have contacted an internship sponsor, you'll probably be asked to send a resume and cover letter, fill out an application or learning contract, and/or schedule an interview.

Resume

Your resume should be clear, easy to read, well organized, and concise (no more than one page in length). A resume should be an accurate representation of past achievements and future goals. 

Cover letter

Professionalism and accuracy are a must on the resume, cover letter and application. A typo or misspelled name could land you in the circular file. Always have one or two people look over your resume and cover letter before sending them out. An extra set of eyes will often catch a mistake that you might have missed. The cover letter is an opportunity to make a personal connection and set yourself apart from other candidates. It should reflect your personality and build on your resume by highlighting any experience which is particularly appropriate to the internship for which you are applying. <for more information on cover letters, click here>

Applications

Some internship sponsors may ask you to fill out an application or learning contract. Always be neat, clear and honest when doing so. The learning contract may ask you to state your learning objectives. Be specific about what you hope to gain from the internship in order to help your internship sponsor outline your duties.

Getting the most out of your internship

Dress professionally

As in any job, it is crucial to make a good impression. Since internships often open doors to future employment, now is the time to knock their socks off. Be cooperative, energetic, and professional at all times. Though you may not have a working wardrobe, dress neatly and appropriately. Notice what others around the office are wearing and follow suit.

Give and take

Before going into an internship, you should know what you want out of it.  You should let your superior know what you are willing to give to this job, and what you expect to get out of it.  For everything you want out of your internship, you should expect to have to work for it in return.

Getting a foot in the door

An internship is an opportunity to gain valuable contacts and show your ability to work hard, learn, and adapt. If a permanent position does open up, you will have an advantage over other candidates because you have already proven yourself in the workplace and been trained for the job.

If you have done good work, companies are more likely to hire someone they know and who has proven he or she is a team player. Though you cannot count on getting a full-time job at the place you have been interning, the contacts you have made on the job can often lead to other opportunities. The best jobs are usually advertised by word of mouth, and your boss at your company might know a colleague at another company who is looking for a new hire.