Parents Buzz

Advice

'The Internship Imperative'

By Burt Nadler, assistant dean and Career Center director

For more than 30 years I explored all aspects of career services, including psychological, logistical, and strategic issues surrounding goal-setting, internships, post-baccalaureate employment and graduate school admissions. While reflections on days past intrigue me, projections to the future, addressing changes in society, the economy, and most critical, the nature of higher education and relationships between students and their families, prove most valuable. For many months I have contemplated issues associated with what I call “The Internship Imperative.” Without getting into too much detail, simply, students of this generation, your sons and daughters, must understand, act upon and, frankly, complete at least two “internships” during their undergraduate tenures. And, most important, they and you must understand the realities of internships and not dwell on fantasies, that too many cling to. With summer here, I want to share with you, and ask that you appropriately share (with love, patience and positive affect) the “summer internship survival tips” offered by ten affirmations below.

• Internships are best described as “a summer experience for two to 12 weeks that involves shadowing, special projects, and administrative tasks.”

• Most internships are unpaid, especially during economically difficult times.

• Pro bono post-baccalaureate internships are truly bridges from commencement to employment.

• Internships are “selective,” requiring requests for consideration, evaluation by potential “hosts,” and that candidates possess specialized skills and a sense of career field and job function focus.

• Externship shadowing experiences can be as brief as two hours or two days and as long as two months; and are open to those who are curious, not necessarily qualified.

• The capacity to express focus and use targeted resumes, and networking notes, or cover letters are required for internship search success.

• Internships are obtained through communication, not necessarily application efforts.

• Domestic and overseas fee based internship programs are investments that pay off long term.

• Internship seekers must act upon the four P’s: postings, places, people and programs.

• It is truly never too late to look for an internship.

For elaboration regarding how these words can be transformed into effective deeds of your students, call (585) 275-2366 or e-mail bnadler@mail.rochester.edu. And, of course, encourage your student to do so as well.

Even more boldly, when your son or daughter returns home, please, if they are undergraduates, act upon the following advice. If they have a “job just for the money,” or not, encourage them to communicate with the Career Center regarding how to conduct “information conversations” or “externship shadowing experiences.” We recommend those about to become sophomores and juniors complete at least two such undertakings. If they don’t have a summer job, we absolutely advocate completion of two to four such experiences. It may be as simple as e-mailing a note to contacts stating: “I am excited about the prospect of learning more about your career biography and observing you at work. Would it be possible to arrange an information conversation when I can learn more about your background and shadow you for a few days? Attached is a copy of my resume to reveal my academic background and, I hope, why I am curious about you and your career field. While an email response would be welcomed, I will call to confirm receipt of this note and to discuss your reactions to this request.” We are prepared to help your student develop an effective campaign using well crafted networking notes and resumes. Those who are about to become seniors, must, and I repeat must, complete a comprehensive internships as well as at least two externship experiences. This is crucial to their post-baccalaureate success.

If your senior has returned home and is, like most, “still looking,” encourage that he/she find pro-bono post-baccalaureate internships. Yes, that means volunteering! Do not, although it may be financially appropriate, state “you must find something paid,” for that will psychologically and, frankly, logistically impede progress towards their search for full-time professional opportunities. We recognize this is a challenging year for many, and that financial circumstances have changed, but you must continue to “support,” in so many ways, including financial, your recent grads as job search progresses. As you have done so generously for four years invest in room, board, and “education” for at least three to six months longer. This might mean supporting their move to a target city away from home, supporting them as they complete volunteer internships, paying for career targeted courses, or investing in fee based internship programs or specialized training institutes. Remain confident that your investments will, within the appropriate time frame that is job search today, pay off! Again, if you seek clarification regarding any information appearing in this column, please call or e-mail. We are open all summer and focus much of our efforts on assisting recent grads and addressing issues of parents. Meliora.