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Showing posts with label resume. Show all posts
Showing posts with label resume. Show all posts

Summer Internship Timeline

Posted by Michelle Pence - - 4 comments

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It's getting tantalizingly close to the most wonderful time of the year... internship season!

The best piece of advice I can give you about the hunt for the perfect summer internship is to start thinking about the process as early as possible.

Many competitive internships at large or well-known companies will have early application deadlines.  For example if interning at the White House is what you have in mind, your application is due January 23 (yikes!).  Luckily, the deadline can usually be found on company websites so you'll have plenty of time to prepare.

Other smaller companies may be more laid back in their due dates, but you'll want to make sure you get your materials in promptly for a competitive edge.

The best part of my internship timeline is that it involves doing much of the work ahead of time.  This way you save yourself a lot of stress and anxiety later on in the semester, when you are deeper into classes and homework while trying to manage the search for an internship at the same time.

Summer Internship Timeline


January


  • Visit your school's Career Center and start scouring the many websites that feature internship listings like YouTern or Internships.com for internships that interest you.  
  • Don't forget that one of the best ways to find an internship is by utilizing your existing contacts, so talk to your professors or people you have worked with in the past to find out about new opportunities.
  • If you have your eye on a particular internship or are aiming to land a dream gig, make sure you do some research and mark down the application deadline now so you don't forget.  Also, start looking into what exactly the company requires in order to apply well in advance.
  • If you have some spare time, run by the Career Center at your school and sign up for a mock interview session.  Getting some practice time in now will help you feel confident enough to face any question you encounter in an interview later on.
Early-Mid February  


  • You will want to have several generic cover letters written targeted at each industry that you plan on applying for an internship in.  For example, if you plan on applying at a magazine, but are also going to shoot for a broadcasting internship, you will want to differentiate between your cover letters.  You will be able to personalize the letters more when you make your final selection of where to apply, but this gives you a head start.
  • By now your resume should be looking sharp with updated information on any recent internships or work you have done.  Run it by someone at your school's Career Center to make sure your resume is in top-notch shape and ready to go.
  • If you don't already have several letters of recommendations on hand, start the process of acquiring them and set a deadline of the end of the month to have them by.  A good strategy is to have at least three letters of recommendation from different sources: one academic, one professional, and one of your choice.
  • Make sure that you have all written materials both in digital form and on nice quality paper with plenty of copies in case you are asked to submit material in the mail.
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Late February

  • Finalize the list of internships you will apply for.
  • Aim to apply to a range of different companies.  You will probably want to apply for at least five internships, however if you are looking at more competitive opportunities applying for more is usually better to be on the safe side.
  • Start digging around for contact information.  The main goal is to send your materials to an actual person, not a generic company email, so if their website doesn't list specifics call and ask.
Early March

  • Submit your materials to your final list of companies.
  • Track all of the companies that you actually apply to, since keeping good records will help keep you on top of things.  Jot down information such as the contact information you sent your info to, when you sent it, and when you plan to follow up.
Late March


  • If you haven't heard from a company that you sent information to, now's the time to call and politely ask if they received your material.
April

  • If you haven't had any luck with landing an internship just yet, keep your eye out for other opportunities.  Many smaller local companies can offer great experience and sometimes don't hire their interns until closer to summer.

The trick is simply to start early and to dedicate yourself to the search.  Show the companies you want to intern for that you are driven and prepared by following these steps, and you will be well on your way to internship success.


Here are some other useful articles:



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Internship Cover Letter Tips & Tricks

Posted by Michelle Pence - - 42 comments

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One of the first steps in applying for an internship is composing a captivating cover letter to send to the company that will make the reader stand up from their seat and declare that they simply MUST have you as an intern. 

No pressure, right?

While the scenario above has a pretty optimistic reaction, the point is that your cover letter will be one of the first things potential employers see that tells them why they should even consider you for an internship.

Here are some tips for writing a top-notch cover letter.

"To whom it may concern" is not a person

Avoid sending a letter to "Whom it may concern" at all costs.  Your goal is to find out who the right person is to send your cover letter to and their correct mailing information.  If the company's website does not list a specific contact, search the web first and if you can't find anything that way, give the company a call and simply ask for more details.  To avoid any simple but deadly mistakes, make sure to jot down the spelling of the person's name correctly, as well as the mailing address.  

Put in the work and you shall be rewarded

It is absolutely crucial to write a different cover letter for every internship you apply for. No if's, and's, or but's about it. It is glaringly obvious when cover letters are written for a generic purpose, as opposed to when they are tailored to fit the specific company. The letters you write can follow the same basic structure, but the content needs to be unique for each.

Be clear and upfront

You don't want to leave any doubt in the recipient's mind why you're writing the company a letter... for all they know you're trying to sell them something, which is definitely NOT what you want them to think. One of your very first lines should consist of explaining what position you are asking the company to consider you for and for what time period, along with a brief introduction of yourself (name, year in school, etc.).  One of the biggest mistakes you can make here is not being specific enough.  If you have a particular department or position in mind, make sure your letter says it loud and clear.

Show what you know

Through your cover letter you want to convey the idea that you are very familiar with the company, which you should be if you're applying for an internship with them.  You can usually get all of the information that you need from browsing the company's website.  Towards the beginning of the letter you want to take time to explain why you're applying for an internship at this particular company.  Did you randomly pick them out of the phone book?  Are they the best in their field?  In this section of your letter, you can mention recent awards the company has won, their outstanding reputation, etc.

What skills do you bring to the table?

Your cover letter should effectively spell out why the company should hire you as an intern. Although your enclosed resume will contain specific details on your experience, your cover letter lets you spin that information the way you want in order to paint a picture of someone that will make a great intern and be a really good fit for the company.  If you have past experience, talk about what skills or accomplishments you have that makes you qualified for the position. If the internship will be your first professional experience, talk about what you've learned in school or any extracurricular involvement you have that makes you qualified.  If the company puts out  information on the internship such as an overview or description of duties, make sure you incorporate how you will excel at those responsibilities.

Make it physical

To me, nothing says "professional" like a well-crafted packet of information on yourself sent to a company, but it all depends on the situation.  The look of a cover letter and resume printed on high-quality paper, enclosed with a writing sample and letters of recommendations, put together neatly and sent in the mail shows that you went above and beyond simply attaching a Word document to an email.  

Many companies will explicitly state how they want to receive your materials, while others will be more vague.  Always follow the directions that are given to you, however if you have a choice, take the route that shows the most effort.  I like to do a combination of hard copy and digital.  In the past, I have sent a mini cover letter through email, indicating that I had sent additional material in the mail.


Although your cover letter is definitely an important part of applying for an internship, don't let the pressure get to you.  The letter itself should only be a few paragraphs long at best, and you're writing about yourself.  No one knows you better than you do, so just write what you truly think.

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Here are some great resources for cover letter writing:







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New Year, New Internship Goals

Posted by Michelle Pence - - 2 comments

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If you're anything like me, right about now your mind is swirling with ideas for how to improve yourself and your life in the upcoming new year.  After New Years my to-do list is always brimming with resolutions- some of which are new and some that never seem to get done (about that diet...), but there's just something about a whole new year filled with endless possibilities that makes me especially excited and optimistic.

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."
Edith Lovejoy Pierce

I've found that the most effective strategy for coming up with great goals is to be specific, so what could be better than dedicating a few of your New Years resolutions to making yourself a better intern?

Start by having a brainstorming session and write down everything that comes to mind when you think about yourself as an intern and what you'd like to change or do better... you can pick and choose the best ideas later.  Once you have several things written down, select a few things that seem the most important.  It's imperative that once you set your sights on something specific you want to accomplish, that you also come up with several steps for working towards the goal.

Here are some sample internship goals to get your wheels turning:

  • Maintain a persistent positive attitude
    • If you've been doing an internship for a while, it's easy to get dragged into the monotony of some tasks which might make you appear agitated and unhappy.  Even if you think that you can't stand to file papers for another minute, slap a smile on your face and let people see that you're grateful to be there.
  • Polish your resume
    • If your resume is one of those things that you have been meaning to update and perfect, then jump on it this year.  The trek to your campus career center usually isn't as far as it seems, so make an appointment.  You'll be glad you did once you have a professional resume that you can be proud of.
  • Take extra opportunities
    • Ever turned down an opportunity to network with coworkers outside of the office because you were tired or had something else going on?  One extra dinner with your boss and coworkers could mean the different between looking like you're just going through the motions 9am-5pm, and showing that you're really passionate about your internship.
  • Network like a pro
    • Finally get those business cards you've been meaning to have printed made and start working on the art of making small talk.  For some people networking is an acquired skill, and the new year is the perfect opportunity to start practicing every chance you get.
  • Take initiative
    • Want to work on something bigger?  Ask for it!  While you can't neglect your everyday duties, it never hurts to ask for more.  Show your boss that you want to get as much possible out of your internship and let him/her know you're up for the challenge.
  • Connect with a mentor
    • My mentor has proven to be one of the biggest assets in helping me professionally.  If there is someone who you know and admire and that could help you with your career, reach out to them and ask if you can pick their brain.  It may flatter them that you look up to them, and could turn into a positive and valuable relationship.
My advice?  Take advantage of 2011 being a blank slate and actually work towards your resolutions this year!  This year could be your best year yet, but it's all up to you.

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Link Roundup 11/15/2010

Posted by Michelle Pence - - 1 comments


Looking for that dream internship?  Here are 10 awesome internships that you can apply for right now.- Her Campus

Who doesn't love a good to-do list?  How to maximize your intern efficiency.- The Intern View

In job interviews, what you don't say can be just as important as what you do say.- From College to Cubicle

Have you been to your campus Career Center?  If not, check it out pronto!- Her Campus

Interning after graduation is getting more common these days.  Here are 5 qualities to look for in a post-grad internship.- The Intern View

For anybody with more activities than they can fit on a two-page resume, here are some tips for what activities hurt more than they help.- Her Campus
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Ask The Good Intern: Resume Layout Tips

Posted by Michelle Pence - - 0 comments

Photo Credit http://bit.ly/3L6A
 
apesoli @TheGoodIntern Any suggestions for resume layouts?

Of course!  Having a resume that's up-to-date and ready to go is so important for young professionals, because you never know when an opportunity might arise where you need to give someone a copy of your resume pronto.  Not only is the information included on your resume important, but the look and feel of it can say a lot about you as well.  As you've probably heard, potential employers only spent a few seconds looking over a resume, so make sure the design of your resume is great in order to capture their attention for a bit longer.

Layout

When working on my own personal resume, I like to look for a template that I like and then change the order of things around and mess with the formatting to make it more suitable for my needs.  If you're going to use Microsoft Office, this website is a good place to start.  Just a warning that it might take a few tries to find something that you really like or are able to easily change (some templates make it hard to re-format).  Look for a layout that is well-organized and easy to read instead of too cluttered or distractingly colorful.

 Formatting

One sure-fire way to NOT get your resume read is to use all 12-point Times New Roman font with no special formatting to break up the text... boring!  Instead, stick to one font, but use bullet points under each job or internship to list what you accomplished.  I also sometimes use bullet points under my student organizations to explain how I was involved or under community service to detail what I did.  Just make sure to keep each bullet to one line of text, and use semi-colons to include two topics on one bullet point to avoid lines that are too short and taking up space.  This keeps things stream-lined, but adds a little extra to keep it visually appealing.

Font

Mix in bold and italic font to draw the readers eye where you want it to go.  For example, on my resume I have in bold my major and minor, my GPA, my job titles, and the headings of each section.  I also have the name of my school and the businesses that I worked at in all caps.  The result is that my resume looks clean and professional, but still has different elements that keep it interesting.

Length

One of the things I have the most trouble with is keeping my resume to a manageable length.  The general rule is to keep your resume to two pages at most, and preferably one, the reason being that recruiters want to be able to scan the resume quickly, get what they need, and move on.  Remember that your resume is not supposed to be a comprehensive history of your professional and academic experiences, just a highlight of what parts of your background make you a good fit for the job.  Sometimes it helps me to have one resume saved that includes every job, internship, community service project, etc. that I've worked on, and then pick and choose information from that resume to paste into a new one specific to whatever opportunity I'm needing a resume for.


Keep reading for advice on the content of your resume coming soon!

If you would like to ask The Good Intern a question regarding anything dealing with internships, either send a tweet to @TheGoodIntern or fill out the form on the Contact page of this site, and you will receive a response either on the blog or by email.


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Summer's Over and You Still Don't Have a Fall Internship... Now What?

Posted by Michelle Pence - - 0 comments



The few weeks right before school starts back up can be a hectic and exciting time for lots of students.  On one hand, you're excited to soon be reunited with friends you haven’t seen all summer, but on the other hand you're sad to say goodbye to those summer nights and having free-time, and for some… you're freaking out because you still haven’t managed to land a fall internship.

Although time is limited, it’s still not too late to find that perfect fall internship as long as you kick it into high gear starting NOW.

Be Prepared

Have an updated resume and writing sample ready to go; cleaning up all of your social networking profiles doesn’t hurt either.  

Use Who You Know

The people you know are one of the best resources for finding an internship.  The saying “it’s all about who you know” didn’t pop-up out of nowhere.  It’s not only about who you know, but who they know as well.  Call up your friends and acquaintances and let them know what kind of internship you’re trying to find and ask if they know of anyone in that field they could refer you to.  I once had a professor, who was also an attorney, and simply asked if he knew of any attorney’s in my hometown who might be looking for interns… he not only gave me an attorney’s contact information, but called to put a good word in for me.

Search the Web

Do a Google search for the type of internship you’re looking for and your area.  It can be as easy as searching “public relations internship + St. Louis, MO” and just seeing what pops up.  In the past when I have done this while trying to find an internship, I was surprised to find that a lot of local schools (that weren’t mine) had internship listings that I was able to see and utilize.  Some job search websites now have listings for internships as well.

Do Your Research


When you find a business that you're interested in, do your research before contacting them so you know the essentials such as what they do, who the owner is, etc.  You don't have to memorize the name and face of every employee listed on their website, but put in the effort to let businesses know you are serious about finding an internship.

Just Ask

These two simple words are the best advice I can give anyone trying to find an internship and are the reason why I have gotten almost all of my internships.  It sounds silly, but this piece of advice is also why I started this blog- smart and straightforward.  It can never hurt to call or email a business and politely ask if they are considering hiring an intern for the upcoming semester.  Some businesses may have never had interns, but wouldn’t be opposed to taking one on if you’re offering (at this point when larger or more well-known business might have already hired their interns, smaller businesses are a good bet and can offer just as much experience).

NEVER send out a mass email to multiple companies; this is a huge no-no and will pretty much guarantee you won't get an internship with them.  If you decide to email, keep it short and sweet, but personalize the message to describe why you would be a good fit for the company and show that you did your research.  Attach your resume and a writing sample (if applicable) and keep an Excel document of who you called/emailed and what they said to keep track.

Follow Up

The feeling you experience after calling and emailing so many businesses to find an internship can be nerve-wracking to say the least, especially if you’re in a time crunch.  Use the Excel sheet you created to follow-up with those you left messages for, emailed, or who asked for you to send additional information.  That extra effort it takes to follow-up with a company, shows that you're dedicated and have a good work-ethic.

Don’t Give Up

If after all of your hard work you still can’t manage to find an internship, don’t get too down in the dumps.  Once you're actually at school, you will have more access to professors and people who may have connections for you to utilize.  When you're back on campus, hit up your school's career center and the dean of your respective college to see what resources they have available for you to use.  Some businesses contact schools when they have intern positions open up.  If you absolutely can't find a fall internship, focus your energy on a part-time job, student organization, or your school work, and start early on the internship search for the spring.
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Before You Go... Tips for Wrapping Up Your Internship

Posted by Michelle Pence - - 20 comments


As the end of summer approaches, many students are preparing to wrap up their summer internships and head back to school or onto different ventures.  An important thing to keep in mind before packing up your desk and running for the door, is that how you leave an internship can be just as important as how you start one.  Although your internship may be physically over, you will still be relying on the relationships you formed for some time as you embark on your career; so walk, don't run for the door, and use these tips as a checklist to make sure you leave your internship on the right note.

Be Gracious

Consider your internship a learning experience which you were lucky to have.  Make sure to express your gratitude by at least saying thank you to your boss and any other people you got to know while working for the company.  A thoughtful gesture- that is pretty much mandatory these days- is to write thank you notes for various people at work before leaving.  They don’t need to be fancy, just a simple card with a (preferably handwritten) note describing why you are grateful for having participated in the internship and detailing how the person you are writing to helped you in the process.  Buying a small gift or giving baked goods is another option for showing appreciation to someone you became especially close with during your internship, but is definitely not required or expected.  If you do decide to give a gift, be discreet as to not offend anyone you don’t decide to give something to.  

Keep in Touch

Before making your exit, make sure everyone you work with has your "personal business card" (which should include your address, email, and phone number) so that they can easily stay in touch with you.  Also, be sure to ask for their business cards so that you can contact them for recommendations, references, or just to touch base occasionally.  For some coworkers I like to send Christmas or birthday cards, but I only do this for those I became very close to and consider a friend.

Update Your Resume

Although this task can wait until your internship is actually over, it shouldn’t be put off for too long after.  Updating your resume while what you actually did during the internship is still fresh in your mind will help you avoid writers block when trying to describe your job duties and experiences later on.  It will also allow you to have an accurate resume ready-to-go just in case you need it.  Update you LinkedIn page while you’re at it with the same information, and connect with your coworkers if they have profiles.

Ask for an Evaluation

Even if having an evaluation completed is not required, asking your supervisor for one will help you figure out what skills you need to work on for your next internship or job and which areas you are doing excelling in.  You might be surprised by the answers.

Organize Your Portfolio

Save information on any projects you worked on during the internship to your personal flash drive or computer.  This includes press releases, fliers, emails, etc.  Something you might not think is meaningful now, may be beneficial to have later as proof of the different projects you completed.  I also like to type up a short summary of my internship experience (such as any difficulties I experienced, what I am most proud of, etc.) just to have as a reference for future applications or essays.

Ask for a Letter of Recommendation

Giving your employer a heads up that you would like a letter of recommendation, as opposed to waiting several months to ask, is considerate.   This way, they will not have to strain to recall your job performance when composing the letter.  Politely ask if they would be willing to write a letter to support you in your future endeavors, and give them all of the essential information such as when the letter is needed by and what it will be used for (such as for grad school, job applications, etc.).

Finish What You Started

Try your best to finish all the projects you started during your internship, and if that’s not possible, make sure you take the proper steps to help the person who will take-over the project by leaving detailed notes and files.  Also do some general housekeeping like making sure your desk is clear and that there isn’t a picture of your dog as the background on the computer; the next intern will appreciate it.
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