© University of Rochester 1996-2012
Advice
By Burt Nadler, director of the College Career Center
Last year, inspired by parent calls, emails, and "my car is packed, I'm leaving in 15 minutes, so how do I find an internship" student requests, I shared insights and strategies via a Parents Buzz article. Now, let's revisit important issues to inspire you to empower your sons and daughters in the weeks and months ahead.
If you perceive "internships" as affirmative answers to networking queries, as well as responses to postings, as we do, you will agree that internships can be found at any time during the summer (really any time throughout the year) and result from communication, not simply application efforts. And, internships are not just for undergraduates. Members of the Class of 2011 who recently earned degrees must actively seek post-commencement internships as well as jobs via reactive (responding to postings) and proactive (self-initiated and networking driven) strategies.
Students and recent grads begin internship search by stating what type of internship is desired and where (geographically and functionally) they want to intern. Transforming statements like "something major related" and or "an economics or English internship," into vocabulary of the worlds of work is essential. pResearch (research before internship search) is required of goal setting, expression and attainment. Undergraduates looking for summer internships and, yes, graduates seeking post-bac internships must express themselves in the lexicon of the Three Fs, "fields, functions and firms" and act upon the Four Ps, "postings, places, people and programs," to yield success.
Fields: What career fields (more than one is fine) you are interested in? What fields have you identified as related to your major, minor, cluster, or career curiosities?
Functions: What can you do within fields of interest? What internship titles and, most important, specific functions are associated with fields that are your strategic goals? Can you describe what entry-level employers or interns do in these fields?
Firms: What are some companies or organizations you can intern for, and why? Can you brainstorm at least ten companies associated with your fields and functions?
If your student or recent graduate has difficulty answering these questions, they can access www.rochester.edu/careercenter/students/majors/index.html for some self-initiated web-based exploration. And, they can call the Career and Internship Center to schedule phone appointments and continually email a counselor to receive step-by-step support.
Samples to inspire drafting of documents appear here. After drafts are developed, counselors can critique via email and facilitate use of effective field, function and firm targeted tools. Our approach to internship search documentation has proven successful, so we encourage your student to create targeted rather than multi-purpose and general documents.
Postings: There are many posting sites, including CareerLink, CareerShift, NIC, as well as company websites. Candidates must find and use them effectively, but not limit themselves to these resources. They can mail and arrange a phone appointment with a Career and Internship Center Counselor to become informed about posting resources, including those on www.rochester.edu/careercenter/students/internship/index.html. Postings are responded to via targeted resume and "letter of application." Counselors review and revise documents via email and help candidates create field, function and firm focused documents. We have many "parent and alumni connected postings" in our CareerLink system, so please encourage your student or recent alumnus(a) to access and apply to postings.
Places: Online resources including CareerLink, CareerShift, Google Search, printed directories of "top firms," and Vault.com can help internship seekers identify a "hit list" of firms to contact using geographic as well as field and functional criteria. Direct contact with these firms, often via senior managers within functional areas of interest; not necessarily human resources, is strategically sound and often successful; no matter when contact is made.
People: Contact individuals via "networking notes," or phone calls and seek consideration, advice, or referrals. A Career and Internship Center counselor can share how best to use the Rochester Career Advisory Network, LinkedIn, and other resources. Professors, family, friends, previous employers, as well as alumni and alumnae are truly amazing "contacts" that lead to internships.
Programs: Pre- and post-bac internship and academic programs are options to explore. Examples include: Dream Careers, Washington Center for Internships, Masa Israel, IES, and many, many more. Don't let the date on the calendar, deadlines appearing on their websites, or price tags associated with these programs deter your sons or daughters from at least sending emails to learn about these offerings. These offerings, like undergraduate education, are investments in the future that truly pay off.
I am very interested in your CITE FIELD, FUNCTION AND FIRM. After you review the accompanying resume I hope you find me worthy of consideration for an internship, referrals, advice or, simply, career information. An internship for me would involve completing as many special projects as I can within CITE FUNCTIONAL AREA, and also serving in administrative roles. While payment would be appreciated, and is much needed, I would be happy to volunteer as little as ten hours per week and as much as forty hours per week. Are there any special projects you or your colleagues might wish to complete over the next few weeks or months? Would you let me shadow you one day per week and provide administrative support on other days? Is there someone else you would encourage me to contact? If no internship consideration or referrals are appropriate, can we meet so I can conduct a brief information conversation and learn about your career biography?
After reviewing your biography on the NAME UNIVERSITY's DEPARTMENT website, I was inspired to seek consideration for a research support position. After you review the accompanying resume I hope you determine me worthy of consideration for an internship or research assistantship associated with your investigations of TOPIC, TOPIC and TOPIC. An internship for me would involve completing as many special projects as I can within CITE FUNCTIONAL AREA, and also serving in administrative support roles, perhaps conducting literature searches and summaries, assisting you with courses you teach, or planning special events. While payment would be appreciated, and needed, I would be happy to volunteer as little as ten and as much as forty hours per week. Are there any special projects you or your colleagues might wish to complete over the next few weeks or months? Would you let me shadow you one day per week and provide research or administrative support on other days? Is there someone else you would encourage me to contact? If no internship consideration or referrals are appropriate, can we meet so I can conduct a brief information conversation and learn about your career biography and gain insights regarding graduate study in NAME FIELD?
Definitely, do encourage your son and daughter, even if they are a recent grad, to think about taking at least one very "function focused" course over the summer, even if they do not transfer credits to University of Rochester. Supplemental academics prove powerful learning experiences, resume entries, and focal points for future internship and job search success. And, contact with those who teach these courses, and completion of a clearly field and function focused academic experience often lead to a mid-summer or late-summer internship.
Any questions about internship search, and there should be many, please email me at bnadler@mail.rochester.edu. We are available to support students and recent grads all summer, and beyond.
Since last year, when the original piece addressing internship search appeared in the Parent Buzz we changed the name of our office to reflect the critical import of internship search and our belief in the internship imperative. What was for over a decade "the Career Center," in 2010 became "the Career and Internship Center." Soon, in recognition of an extremely generous gift, and motivated by her desire to support our efforts to facilitate your sons and daughters expressing and attaining their career and internship goals, we will be "the Gwen M. Greene Career and Internship Center." Gwen, an alumna and trustee, has for many years provided personal support and guidance for students and alumni seeking internships and careers within the finance world. With pride, those associated with the office that will bear her name, will continue our commitment to meliora-driven efforts to provide always better resources and services for all. Our goal will forever be to help diverse undergraduate and graduate students and alumni articulate and attain their goals. Your help doing so is very much appreciated.
© University of Rochester 1996-2012