Planning Spring Break... to Plan a Practicum

Spring Break = March. At least for most students, March is the month. How does that relate to a practicum or internship?

Taking action in March is timely for the application for many Summer internships. In fact, some businessess and agencies will not even open the application season before March or April. So, it's smart to read applications well ahead of time so that you can meet the deadline.

Taking action in March may also be timely for the Fall internship. Competitive placements may well require planning 6 or more months ahead. How do you know which internships are competitive? Your professor should be able to give an indication but there's no substitute for calling the site yourself. "I am interested in becoming an intern at your site next year. Can you recommend a good time for me to start that process?"

Taking action in March may also be timely for an internship a full year in the future. Typically, that's the international practicum. Do not delay! Start today!

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. © 2010 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 http://www.marybold.com/

3 things you need to apply for an internship

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.

Your resume is the place to list all of your accomplishments and skills. As long as everything you write is true, do not hold back or be shy about your accomplishments!
http://internships.about.com/od/resumetipssamples/a/ResumeTemplate.htm
http://www.princeton.edu/career/undergrads/resumes/resumes/

A cover letter is how you introduce yourself to your potential boss. Include the reasons why you want the position and why you are qualified.
http://www.career.vt.edu/JOBSEARC/coversamples.htm

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.

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

Email Best Practices for College Internship Applications

Adopt some email best practices before you start sending out applications for internships or jobs!

Save, Don't Send
Get into the habit of saving drafts as you compose emails.

From:
Use your school or other "official" email address that makes clear that you are an adult. (Skip the moniker you use with friends and Facebook.)

To:
Leave the To line blank until you have written, spell-checked, and proof-read your message. Think about it—no more accidental sends.

Cc and Bcc
Avoid using the copy function as much as possible. Emailing to multiple people can set up a good friend for awkward problems later if someone is unwise or rude in a Reply All. Emailing blind copies gets more people into trouble than it ever helps anyone. Resist the urge.

Subject:
Get your emails read immediately with strategic wording on the Subject line. (Great for applications!) Good strategies: use key words that clearly state your purpose, include your surname, spell-check. Terrible strategies: using the word help, using the word me, using the word please.

Attach a file
When you must attach a file (great for applications!), follow these basic rules: keep the file size down, send a universal file type like RTF or PDF, create a meaningful filename that includes your surname. Be forewarned: not everyone has the same software that you do and they won't buy it just to be able to open your file. (Common problems: Microsoft Works files and newer versions of Word and Excel that have "x" on the end, like .docx)

Add Event Invitation
Unless you know the recipient wants your invitations to meetings and Facebook and other events, don't use the power of email address books to invite the masses.

Formatting tools
Keep your message simple. Use few colors and typefaces. If you are emailing to an older person (that might describe someone old enough to be hiring you or approving your internship application), select a font of 12 points.

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

Summer Internships -- Start Now!

What do all summer internships have in common?
Application deadlines!

February 1.
March 1.
April 1.
You get the idea.
Don't expect to do this on May 20....

Reality check on what kind of resume gets shredded by the folks who hire interns: Joel on Software's story about how he sorts resumes.

As Joel says, his advice is not so different from every book on resumes you pick up at Barnes & Noble. But most books don't say it with Joel's flair.

Plan your "human" hook now! And watch your commas. These tips will make sense as soon as you read Joel's web page.


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