This is a question I hear just about every week in my office, and it is a very valid question!
I read a very interesting article today in a magazine called “The Greentree Gazette”, the article discussed an issue that comes up often in college - ‘to intern or not to intern’. One of my very dear friends chose not to intern, and instead spent her final semester of college studying in Turin, Italy - the Host City for the XX Olympic Winter Games in 2006.
Once she returned and began searching for jobs she had an employer tell her flat out “you made a mistake not doing an internship”. Did she? She believes, and I agree, she gained more practical business knowledge studying with an international company than she may have in the states. However, there is something to be said for having an internship, or volunteer work, on your resume.
You may be asking ‘I thought we were talking about ME here?’
Well, yes, we are talking about you- in a roundabout way. There are plenty of ways you, can gain experience in your field of study. You can volunteer, you can job shadow, and you can intern. I know, I know - you are way to busy to do any of those things!!! I don’t doubt that you are busy, we are all busy, but even 2 hours a week can make a difference on your resume, and if it will help you get the type of job you want - isn’t it worth it??
Let me quickly discuss ‘working your way up the corporate ladder’. Generally speaking, brand new graduates are not going to be hired on as ‘the boss’ making $70,000 a year. You are going to have to take a job making less money and probably working more hours just to prove yourself. This does not mean, however, that great jobs don’t come along for new grads - I see it every day…but those grads have prepared themselves for those positions by working part time in their field, volunteering, or interning (for free) while they were in school.
Think of it this way - if you volunteer for 2 hours a week for the next year that is 104 volunteer hours you can add to your resume. And you are making valuable connections with the right people. Those 100+ hours could mean the difference between you getting the job and another candidate with NO volunteer history.
We have heard from many employers that they are willing to hire someone with an Associate’s Degree that has work or volunteer experience over someone with a Bachelors Degree and no experience! There are plenty of area businesses/hospitals/agencies who would LOVE, and desperately need, to have someone volunteer a few hours of their time to assist them in tasks around the office. And because you are so lovable and hard-working…they may even offer you a job!!!
Now, wasn’t that easy?!?
I get it; you don’t have the time, or money, to volunteer. Then - let’s talk part-time work. What is your ultimate career goal? What are you willing to do to reach it? I saw in an article online the other day this statement - ‘TEMP is not a four-letter word’…well, it is…but you know what they mean. If you are struggling to find full-time, permanent work in your field- give a staffing agency a call. Let them know what you want to be doing, ask them if they have ANY sort of work that relates to your field. Even if it’s only a 6-week assignment - it’s still experience, its still money, and you’re making great contacts! It’s also important to keep your Career Services Advisor on your campus updated on your progress, or lack thereof. We are your resource to area employers, networking events, job fairs and job leads but we can’t help you if we don’t know you need it!
In the end my friend did find a job - she moved to Seattle, WA and now has a very successful career as a designer working with a large company. So, the moral of the story is two-fold…follow your dreams, but attempt to gain some experience in the process.
Answer that phone - it could be your career calling!