Here are a few ideas for preparing for an internship interview. Actually they work for any interview: job-hunting, applying for graduate school, and internships. The model is called S-T-A-R and it is a simple way to direct your attention to "getting ready" to achieve a goal. But first, orient yourself to the purpose of your interview.
* Learn about the organization by browsing their website or talking to someone you know there. * Think about why you want the position and why you are qualified. * Think about what you will bring to the program (e.g., lots of energy for working with young kids at an after school program). * Practice interviewing with a friend.
When answering an interview question, try to hit these four points: Situation Task Action Results
Using STAR as your guide for answering questions has several benefits: * Answers are focused. * Answers are relatively short (no rambling!). * It gets you started.
Not sure how to tell a story from you last job? Start by describing where you worked and what you did. Just tell a simple story and then respond to questions.
Hopefully, you have a rewarding internship this summer and will use the skills and experiences in your next endeavor. Hopefully, your supervisor appreciates your contributions and recognizes your hard work!
Before you leave to go back to college classes, ask your supervisor if he or she can serve as a reference for you.
When you are ready to ask for the reference, send a letter to your supervisor with this information: * dates of your internship * title at internship * your education information (child dev major at XYZ University, graduating 2010) * key accomplishments while at internship (maintained volunteer database) * info about the job you are applying for, such as name and location of the company as well as what they want out of a candidate (e.g., someone with experience managing a volunteer database)
All these details help your supervisor remember the great work you did and write a more complete letter.
To apply for an internship, you need three things:
* a resume * a cover letter * references
The office of Career Services on your campus can help with each of these. Your academic Department may also offer support services for making your application. Older students can also offer tips because they may have already gone through the process of applying for an internship.
References provide another perspective on you and your work. Pick references who know your academic or professional work and can say that you did a good job.
When selecting a site for an internship, there are several places to look: local organizations (possibly affiliated with your college or university), state-wide organizations that may have opportunities near your home town, or national organizations that may have opportunities on the other side of the country.
AmeriCorps is a national organization that offers 75,000 positions at nonprofit groups around the country. Full time, part time, and summer positions are available.
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Here are a few ideas for preparing for an internship interview. Actually they work for any interview: job-hunting, applying for graduate school, and internships. The model is called S-T-A-R and it is a simple way to direct your attention to "getting ready" to achieve a goal. But first, orient yourself to the purpose of your interview.
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