The spring semester has kicked off on our campus, and we’ve already seen many students interested in completing an internship during 2014. We also have students interning in a variety of fields already this semester. Even better, we’ve had contact from new employers, interested in talking with our students about internship opportunities.
According to poll results from internships.com, there’s a huge growth in interest for internships in 2014- both from students and employers. As you can see from the infographic, internships are mutually beneficial. Larger companies use internships to find potential full-time employees, and smaller companies look forward to having interns help them complete projects that may not be done without their help. Students look to their internships to gain work experience, apply skills from the classroom, and expand their network. The link will take you to an article which gives other wonderful statistics and information, but there is one other important thing to consider: 84% of employers say having an intern with their company was a positive experience, while 87% of student interns say that their experience was positive. What are you waiting for? Find an internship and have a positive experience, too!
But I Don’t Like to Talk About Myself!
Networking can be difficult. We get that. Next week we will offer students an opportunity to practice networking during our “So You Think YOU Can Network?” Networking can be frustrating because you don’t know what to share with a professional. On top of that, you’re supposed to introduce yourself through the use of a elevator pitch- a 20-30 second statement all about you without using um, uh, or like. This article from Careerealism is particularly relevant because it addresses your elevator speech and gives you direction on where to start. And of course, you can find other networking resources on our website under Guides and Tip Sheets as well as our CareerSpot videos. To get started, read through the scenario in this article. If you were Chris, what else would you have considered sharing? Now, put yourself in Chris’s shoes. What would YOU say about YOU?
The Email That Goes From Bad To Worse!
Our friends at Vault send us great articles every week. However, when I read this particular case, my jaw hit the floor! How could an email like this possibly be? I share this with you, not to shame or ridicule the original writer, but to share some pointers regarding what not to email a potential employer.
Email is meant to be short and concise. This is particularly true when you’re following up with potential employers. Therefore, it’s imperative to make sure your follow-up email to an employer is focused and sent with a formal tone. If you want the employer to remember you, reference something that you discussed, such as “I was the student who had internship experience with Ernst and Young” or “We talked at length about being a Resident Assistant.” Never share other interview opportunities, as it may shut you out of any potential openings that the employer would have otherwise shared with you. As much as possible, refrain from personal needs and anecdotes and focus on career/professional needs. For example, you can share a personal trait if it pertains to the opportunity: “Having raised goats since I was 3 will be great preparation to work with your veterinary clinic!” Finally, never use emoticons or abbreviations such as LOL, JK, or YOLO, during your search. It’s just not professional.
Vault lists many more things to keep in mind as you write your follow-up email to an employer. What other things do you think are unprofessional in the email? Do you have any suggestions that we didn’t list?
Don’t be one of these applicants!
Things to keep in mind about what your resume and cover letter say about you… from the employers perspective!
ALBRIGHT ELCDC 