The Ultimate Internship Survival Guide

By NICOLE SCHRADER

Staff Writer

Summer is fast approaching and it is the best time to find and prepare for a fall internship. Internships are important for students to get a real life perspective of their field. There are thousands of sites available at one’s fingertips and since this may be overwhelming, here are four easy steps to help make the search process easier.

Step 1: Stay calm, it is easy to get flustered and confused with all of the information and sites for internships that can be found online. Take a deep breath and use some of the top rated sites, such as Indeed. com, Internships.com or even LinkedIn. These sights act like a search engine, bringing in all relevant internships according to certain parameters.

Step 2: Get help. After finding the desired internship, it requires a resume to be submitted. Creating a resume can be difficult but do not fret, help can be found. The Hannifan Center for Career Connections exists to help students with all aspects of the internship search and even build a resume. They also offer advice for those who have an existing resume.

“Update resumes, prepare for interviews,” said Kelvin Ma, Hannifan Center for Career Connections employee. “[A] nd networking, a very powerful tool can give you connections you might not be able to get on your own.”

Step 3: Apply for everything, being active in the search is key.

Step 4: Be patient after applying, the deadline for applications may not be until later, pushing back the time for a response. So do not worry, they did not forget you. Just keep your chin up and keep applying.

Internships are important for many reasons, from work experience to even finding out more about one’s self. The following students shared how past internship experiences have benefitted them.

“The benefit of having an internship is gaining real world experience,” said Grace Paulus, graduate student.

“It also helps me learn a lot about myself and how to work and communicate with others,” said Clarissa Leon, senior. “[A] nd make[s] me want to become a better person for myself. And you also receive three credits just like any other normal class.”

“The benefits of an internship are unending. Not only do young students get a taste of working in a profession,” said Sharon Lee, Azusa Pacific University junior. “But they also get an unfiltered behind-the- scenes look at what it’s like on a day-to-day basis.”

“It allows you to gain hands-on experience while hopefully getting paid for it,” said Hannah Nyquist, Virginia Tech senior. “An internship can also provide networking opportunities.” Check out the latest internships available at the Hannifan Center for Career Connections, located on the first floor of the library.

Check out the latest internships available at the Hannifan Center for Career Connections, located on the first floor of the library.

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