How helpful was your internship in landing a job?

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   StellaSeeposted 12 years ago

   College students nowadays are encouraged to gain internship experience while they are in school so that the transition to the working world should be easier. I did an internship while I was in college and although I loved what I did, it's helped me squat in terms of finding an actual job. What do you guys think?

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      TLMinutposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I sure hope the lack of answers isn't because nobody found an internship helpful; it seems like the right way to go. So many jobs require experience specifically besides intern- and externships.

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      1. 77

         StellaSeeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I think the important thing in finding your next job is to have 'relevant experience' on your resume, whether that came from an internship, part time job or volunteering.

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   2. 72

      Born2care2001posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Hi StellaSee,
      I'm new to this forum, noticed your question and thought I would try to help. To answer your question directly, I would say that interning is a definite plus. I have worked at 4 of the largest corporations in the world and some of the smallest companies too, and there have always been interns. There are so many factors involved in successful internships translating into successful permanent employment that it would be difficult to explain all of them in this forum. I will, however, offer a few that might point you in the right direction.
      
      As a Life Architect, mentor and guide for young people, this is not an uncommon question I receive, so here are some tips.
      1) Make sure you are applying for internships/employment in areas of expertise that you absolutely love doing and are enthusiastic about. (If you don't know, find out, immediately) Do what you love or eventually you will be miserable.
      2) Determine what types of organizations with which you would be comfortable and compatible. (Again, if you don't know, get help to find out)
      3) Understand the value of time. This requires research because it involves your values as well as the values of the organization that will hire you or the customer base you will serve as a business owner. It's important in either case because it is an expendable, yet finite resource. With time there are no do-overs!
      4) If you are struggling to find the answers, ask more questions and get help! There is plenty of it out there and it makes no sense (financially or emotionally) in languishing. Even if there is some expense involved, you owe it to yourself. Also, if you decide to ask someone for help, it isn't about the credentials, find someone who genuinely cares about your development!
      
      There are hundreds more, but this should keep you busy for a while, that is, if you really want to be busy.
      
      In parting I would say this:
      "What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
      and
      "Your greatest discovery is finding yourself and it's also your greatest investment." - B. Stuart Noll
      
      Good Luck,
      Rev. Bruce S. Noll

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         StellaSeeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Hi Born2Care, first of all, thank you so much for your thorough advice! I agree with advice number one, I think my biggest issue at the moment is that I had a change in career goals late in my undergrad life that the internship I did and the career field I want to break into are not related. (Although it was a fun internship though!)

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2. 0

   Go Writerposted 12 years ago

   Job hiring is tough right now. I know a girl who's applied to hundreds of jobs in a big city, including 911 dispatch and Home Depot. She's received only 1 response for an interview. She's still waiting for an answer.
   
   You'll have to be patient and resourceful in the meantime. See what other ways you can make money in the meant time, even if it's garage sales, swap meets, etc.

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      StellaSeeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Go Writer! yeah I have a friend from college who applied to over a hundred jobs and she finally landed a job working in retail. But then I also have friends who landed full-time positions within 6 months of graduating..perhaps it's each person to his own kind of a thing. I work part time now but I've been thinking about doing my own money by doing pet sitting or something like that. Thanks for your advice!

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