“Enjoy this summer because next one you need to get a real job.” My father said this to me at the start of my freshman year summer, right after I began my fourth consecutive year as a camp counselor. I laughed him off, and told him I wasn’t worried about finding a real job yet. After all, my three older siblings all didn’t worry about getting a “real job” or internship until the summer after their junior year of college.
Then, the school year started, and my dad forwarded every e-mail from the Career Center about internship fairs or resume building tips to me, and I realized that last summer really was my last one to relax. It seems that everyone I know is trying to get an internship this summer, so I hopped on the bandwagon. When confronted with trying to sort through companies, and talking to those around me, the same question kept being posed, “Well, what do you want to do after graduation?” The truth is, I’m not entirely sure. I have a rough idea, but I don’t know where to start.
The internship fair was a huge shock. I’m not in CSOM, and have zero experience with a career fair atmosphere, and was entirely overwhelmed. I left having spoken to some companies, but feeling that I hadn’t left any lasting impressions with any of the employers. One of the most demoralizing and annoying parts was that half of the companies who I spoke to told me that they would accept my résumé and application, but do not give sophomores very high consideration.
In a job market that is constantly getting more competitive, it seems that finding an internship has become even more important than ever, but isn’t necessarily easier. The pressure to make yourself stand out is definitely on, and hopefully even if I won’t be working with kids this summer, I’ll be able to get an internship and make the best out of it.
Sources:
http://www.debatingeurope.eu/2013/05/14/should-internships-be-better-reg…