Career Connection is located in the 2nd floor at the Younkin Success Center and provides services that can assist you in learning more about how to write resumes, cover letters and prepare for interviews.

The practical skills acquired in a field of interest before graduation is the plus that today’s employers are not only seeking, but expecting, from recent graduates. Therefore, it is critical to acquire related experience in your field of interest while in college. Planning a career is critical and learning early in the game the necessary steps to prepare is decisive for landing a job.

What is an Internship?
The word internship usually refers to real-world work experience where students take on temporary roles as workers in an organization and reflect these experiences in an academic setting. Internships can assist you to learn more about a chosen industry or field, become more knowledgeable about general work functions, investigate organizational culture, learn career-related skills, perform a positive service for the community, and enhance skills needed in the workplace.

Are Internships Paid?
Some are and some are not. Payment for a job well done is not necessarily limited to a tangible paycheck. Although a summer job may be well paid and tempting to obtain, the hands-on experience gained through internship participation is an invaluable complement to the knowledge gained in a classroom setting. The pluses of accepting a volunteer position can be found in the flexible hours, diverse work settings, and benefits of real-world skill applications. It will pay off in the long run once the job search process starts.

Why are They so Important?
Students gain practical experience that complements future university courses. Internships also help students prepare for prospective employment. In addition to giving students an idea of how the workplace operates, internships provide students with a competitive edge when seeking employment. Obtaining work during college often results in more job offers, a higher starting salary, and more promotions.

Nearly 1,000 college career services and human resources / staffing professionals who participated in NACE’s study cited internships as an important issue now. When asked about the importance of such programs in the future, both college and employer respondents said internships would be even more important and if not determinant in the hiring process (National Association of College and Employers, 2005).

Internships also play a role in another key concern identified by employers through the study: balancing “high-tech” and “high-touch” methods in attracting and hiring college students. More and more organizations are using technology to streamline the process of sourcing and hiring candidates. At the same time, employers are very conscious of how important it is to treat potential employees as individuals, not numbers. Internships are one way that employers can develop and maintain that personal connection with a potential employee.

When Should I get Started?
Students should consider investigating internship possibilities as early in their academic career as possible. The sooner the excursion begins, the more experiences the student can have.

First year students should begin developing resumes, cover letters and interviewing skills while attending career-related on-campus workshops.

Sophomores, juniors and seniors who meet eligibility requirements may participate during fall, spring or summer quarters in multiple internship placements throughout their academic experience.

Seniors who find themselves in their last year without practical experience in a field of their interest should not be discouraged. There should still be time to secure an internship locally or on campus.

Grades are important. Employers may have grade-point-average (GPA) requirements to apply. If you don’t have a competitive GPA, volunteer opportunities are valuable experiences to seek as well.

Remember that the earlier students start, the more time they have to experience several internships. Students will have more time to decide if their initial impression of an occupation was valid and if that occupation is one in which they one day hope to be employed.

How Do I Plan It?

Get Experience
That is what internships are for, right? WRONG! Employers will look for experience in internship candidates. This “experience” falls into a number of categories.

• School Activities: No matter what your major is, chances are there are different clubs and organizations that you could join. Focus on a few that are in or related to your field of interest.
• Volunteer Activities: This is one of the most under-utilized forms of experience. Even though many volunteer opportunities are unpaid, they provide invaluable experience for resumes. They demonstrate commitment to your career.
• First Step Internships: There is a misconception that internships are only for juniors and seniors. Untrue! Tami Gove, president of Internweb.com, recommends First Step internships that are available to any students, regardless of class standing. First Step internships are typically unpaid and may be more clerical in nature. Students who begin with this step may not have the most challenging assignments; however, they will be exposed to an organizational environment. In the internship game, simply having this exposure may give students a competitive edge over other students.
• School Projects: Whenever possible, utilize school projects to your advantage by detailing the project details in future correspondence with employers.

Learn to Write a Power Resume and a Power Cover Letter
Your resume should summarize related and transferable skills as well as requirements that the employer is looking for. Learning how to tailor a resume to specific internship requirements is critical.

A cover letter should answer the question, why should I hire you? Students need to show fit as well as clear career goals. It is important to know how to write cover letters and learn the employers’ expectations of them.

Practice, Practice, Practice Your Interviewing Skills
In most cases, if an employer is interested in the cover letter and resume you submitted, they will call you in for an interview. Similar to writing an effective resume and cover letter, you will need to do some research on the company in preparation. Depending on your industry of choice, you may even want to prepare a portfolio that includes relevant work or writing samples. It is a good idea to think of this interview the same that you would an interview for an entry-level job.

Follow Up
Sending a follow-up thank you letter has got to be one of the most important things you can do in your internship search. This demonstrates a very important skill to employers.

Seek Assistance
Career Connection is located in the 2nd floor at the Younkin Success Center. For further information you may want to visit http://www.careerconnection.osu.edu and/or call the office at (614) 688-3898 to make an appointment. Walk-in hours are also available. You can also visit your career services office at http://www.careers.ohio-state.edu depending on your college of enrollment. These services can assist you in learning more about how to write resumes, cover letters and prepare for interviews. Searching for internships or any other kind of related experience in your field requires knowledge and understanding of the employers expectations. Also, consider enrolling in Edu Paes 270.02 and get credit while learning these invaluable skills.