You know it’s that time of the year again when the majority of your Facebook newsfeed is filled with your friend’s sentimental posts about landing a summer internship with the company of their dreams. Whether you’ve already nailed one, are waiting to hear back, or are still in the midst of applying, it’s important to be aware of the many resources available during this staggering process.
For those of you who find yourselves scatter brained on your search to find the perfect internship, look no further. These five websites designed specifically for networking will condense the process and make your life a whole lot easier!
1. LinkedIn’s mission is to connect the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful. You are able to access jobs, news, updates, and insights that will help you be great at what you do or hope to do in the future.
2. Idealist closes the gap between intention and action by connecting people, organizations, ideas, and resources.
3. InternJobs provides millions of high school students, college students, and recent graduates easy access to a wide, targeted audience of job seekers. They believe that learning new skills and expanding your network are the building blocks for a successful career.
4. InternMatch is the largest internship and entry-level jobs marketplace dedicated entirely to students and new grads. Their goal is to help you launch a career you love.
5. Experience helps people understand their interests and aptitudes, and how they can apply their talents in the workforce. The Experience community at its core empowers the next generation workforce to access a world of possibilities.
The University of Arizona Career Services Center provides a proactive resource as well which allows students to access resume builders online, participate in interview prep sessions, meet with an advisor, etc. Located in the Student Union Memorial Center, by appointment you are able to meet with a UA counselor to discuss anything internship related. Another resource available to Arizona students is Wildcat JobLink which is essentially a Match.com for internships and jobs. Once you create a profile and upload a resume, you will be matched with positions that would potentially be a great fit for you based on logistics like your major, interests, etc., on campus and off.
You’ve heard it before but i’ll say it again, it’s all about NETWORKING! With the cut throat competition in the business world, you must be willing to expand your network in order to successfully land a position as a Summer intern. Www. levo.com advises that to establish a great network in college you want to keep regular contact with people at the companies you are most interested in to show your determination and passion for your future career endeavors. The first key to doing so is remembering names. Collecting business cards or using techniques like visualization can help to keep these important contacts stored in your memory bank. Although it may take a little beating to your ego, the next key to remember when it comes to networking is there’s no shame in using your parents friends. In most cases your parents friend’s will be more than happy to help whether its referring you to another company or simply telling you about their experience in the industry. Most colleges also offer networking nights where recruiters set up booths and talk to students about their company which is not only a great opportunity to network but you are also able to practice engaging professionally.
I’ve also put together some useful tips to leave you with that will get you well on your way to becoming an excellent candidate for a Summer internship position! According to elearninginfographics.com, the five basic rules to being a good intern is to be on time, present yourself in a professional manner, engage and get involved but do not try to overtake, be resourceful by going above and beyond, and last but certainly not least, LISTEN, LEARN, and remember that you’re gaining EXPERIENCE.