02 May 2009

No Internship? Need a Job?

Hourly employment, the alternative.
It's a tough year for internships. And for finding good-paying jobs, too. But the summer can still be productive and resume-worthy. Take a look at SnagAJob.com to get some ideas. Tip: scroll down the page to see options by geography.

How can a minimum-wage hourly job work for you? Work for a movie theater part-time and you can claim skill-building in...

... customer service,
... efficiency in food service,
... collaborative teamwork,
... responsibility in handling money,
...
and maintaining a safe and clean environment for the public.

The content on this blog is not offered as legal advice or guidance. Consult your college, advisor, or internship supervisor for help with issues surrounding internships. © 2009 Mary Bold, PhD, CFLE. Dr. Bold is a co-author of the book Reflections: Preparing for your Practicum or Internship, geared to college interns in the child, education, and family fields. More about Dr. Bold can be learned at www.marybold.com

2 comments:

Unknown said...

If you want to find a great internship, don’t, I repeat DON’T wait for an internship to be advertised. Sure, some of them will be posted, but the vast majority of internships will be found through hidden employment avenues. To uncover internships that may be hiding, think about what you need to learn, and who you need to meet, to achieve your career goals. Jot down ideas of organizations and people who are good targets for your career goals. If you’re not sure which people and places would be a potential fit for you, talk to profs connected to your core career interests. They should have ideas. Also research companies and contacts on the Internet, by inputting keywords connected to your future professional focus, such as, “PR firms with sports clients, Los Angeles” (for more info on how to do this, check out this free article at http://www.careersolutionsgroup.net/job-searching-target_research.shtml ). Aim to come up with a list of at least 20 people and places, and contact them directly about setting up a summer internship. Don’t be nervous about appearing pushy. Your ability to take initiative is highly appealing to employers, and you’ll uncover outstanding opportunities for yourself through this approach.

Kevin said...

@Katy: Very true. I found my current internship by just emailing a bunch of companies through their websites.

The one thing to mention, though, is that you won't get many responses. I got a response from 1/5 of the companies I emailed, which is much lower than what I've experienced using a university internship posting board (if your school has one, my undergrad did, my grad school does not.)