Job Out of College

College Internship: Why it's a great idea

It's the beginning of spring. Spring break has past and there are only a few more months of school before freedom of the summer. You and your friends are all talking about plans for the upcoming months. Maybe you will be renting a beach house or traveling for a few weeks around Europe then bumming around the house getting a nice tan.

And why not? You have definitely deserved it after all the hard work you have done this year!

I completely agree that you need a break from your stressful lives. However, one of the best ways you can set yourself up for a great career while you are still in college is working an internship or co-op in the summer. Because internships are generally about 8 weeks long, this still gives you plenty of opportunity to relax and have a good summer vacation.

Here are a few reasons why it's a good idea:

1. Experience - talk to some of your friends who have recently graduated and currently seeking employment. Most of the time, the reason they can't find a job because employers want to see experience. So you have a Bachelors or Masters degree, but you have not been able to put it to practice yet. Get some experience - whether it's a paid or non-paid internship, you will still be able to put it down on your resume.
2. Networking - in working an internship or co-op, you are able to align yourself to people in your field. It gives you the perfect opportunity to be able to talk to people, establish relationships and learn as much as you can. Who knows, when you graduate, they might even have a job opening for you. That's how I got my first job out of college!
3. Speak the Language - college may teach you the "technical" skills and knowledge you need to know in your career, but they don't teach you much of the "practical" skills that are required. If you are able to understand the lingo, you will sound much more qualified during your interviews when you graduate.
4. Money - depending obviously on the internship, you can make a lot more money as an intern at a corporation than painting houses or working at a bar. As a freshmen college intern, I made an equivalent to $38,000/yr. Not a bad deal for someone with no degree and no experience.
   
5. Decisions about a career track - you have thousands of dollars in student loans, your parents are scrounging for  cash to pay for your tuition, and your not even sure if you like what you are studying! In working an internship in your career, you will be able to tell first hand whether or not you like the career you are aiming to reach.

So there are 5 really good reasons why you should work an internship or co-op this summer. What are some of your success stories?

Preparing for a Career Throughout High School & College

Despite what your high school guidance counselors and teachers tell you, you are not really preparing yourself for college throughout high school - you are really preparing yourself for your career. Though you may not know exactly what you want to do with your life in high school or even college, you are still building on the fundamental skills that you will need to be successful in your career. These include:

• Work Ethic
• Leadership Skills
• Communication Skills
• and a few others which you can read about in other parts of my blog

So even if you don't know what career you want, you can still begin building on these fundamentals to make you a stronger candidate for whatever career you will eventually choose.

If you want to be ahead of your peers in high school and be generally more mature and ready for college, career, and life, here are a few practical things you can do:

1. Find a mentor - mentors are one of the most valuable sources of information in my opinion. Early in your high school life and definitely in college, you should find someone who you respect and emulate. Begin speaking with them about their career and what they know. This also sets you up for more relationships with other successful individuals since successful people tend to flock together. Talk about your interests, but more importantly, listen to what they have to say.
2. Read - read books, blogs, magazines, newspapers, anything you can get your hands on. The more well-rounded you are, the more marketable you become. If you don't know what career you want yet, reading might help you develop an interest in something. If you know the career you want, learn more about it. Read books about leadership, communication, anything that is written by successful and intelligent people that can teach you something useful.
3. Practice - once you have read some material and learned more about leadership, communication, or maybe even specific knowledge to a potential career, put it to use. Begin exhibiting leadership skills. Try public speaking or giving presentations. Go shadow a doctor or physical therapist, or build a website on your own. The more you put your knowledge to practice, the more you will retain.

So remember, you're not preparing for college in high-school, you're preparing for life. Make a conscious effort to find a mentor, read, and practice fundamental skills like work ethic, communication, and leadership.

Mini-Course Day 4: Follow Up

Two years ago, I went searching for a dog at the local pound. Little did I know that in adopting that black lab puppy, I would be adopting one of the best salesmen I have ever encountered. From the moment our pairs of eyes met, I knew he was the dog for me. Even though there were 5 or 6 other black labs who looked just like him in that glass-wall room, there was something different about Knight. He seemed like a loyal, friendly, and trustworthy companion.  I couldn’t put my finger on it at the time, but in any event, he had me sold.

One of the most important principles in sales and marketing is persistence and follow-up. I recently went looking for a photographer online for my upcoming wedding. I searched for a photographer in Detroit, and came up with about 100 different photographers. I narrowed it down to 15 by going through some websites. I then sent out an email to all 15 to fill out a questionnaire I had prepared – 8 replied via email, 4 of which followed up with phone calls as well. Right off the bat, from 15 photographers I was down to only 4 for the simple reason that those were the four who put the effort into winning my business. After a week or so, I continued to get phone calls from one photographer to make sure I didn’t need any other information. He built a personal relationship with me, a feeling of trust, and credibility through that follow up. The same goes for the job search.

Trust

When you follow up with someone, you get to know the person and therefore develop a feeling of trust. Although trust is subjective, there are things you can do to develop trust in your potential clients (recruiters). When you go to a store, and you have that commissioned salesman who is nagging you about the sale – you just feel annoyed because you know that the salesperson is just looking to make a buck. What you are looking for, are signs of an honest person you can trust.

For example, my dog has these big, expressive eyes. When I’m eating at the dinner table, he will walk up, sit down next to me, put his head down on my lap and just look up at me with his big brown eyes. Although I know that he is looking for some table scraps, he doesn’t make it obvious that he is begging. He just sits there, and makes his presence known. When I do give him some food, he is very appreciative. The visual cues he gives me develop a sense of trust. To learn more about these visual cues, read up in my system.

Credibility

When you follow up with someone, via telephone, a letter, or even an email, you create a sense of credibility with your customer (recruiter) - it allows the recruiter to put a face to your name. When you follow up, you reveal to the recruiter things that you probably would not think about. Even if you never speak to them during your follow up in person and you just leave a voice message, think about everything you accomplish: you show them that you are not afraid to pick up the phone and call someone you don’t know; that shows confidence and maturity and maybe even leadership; it shows that you are determined to get the job, and you are willing to put a lot of effort into getting it even with the knowledge that you might not get it in the end; it also shows that you really want this job, and you feel like this job is worth the effort.

And if you do happen to catch the person, talk about some personal things so they remember you. The photographer who got my business talked to me about his son and family, other people he photographed, his career, places he’s lived, and this was all in a single 5-7 minute initial conversation with him. I’m not even sure if he even mentioned photography in the first phone conversation. And yet, he still developed a sense of credibility and dependability in speaking to me.

Relationship

Make sure that you develop a relationship with your customer before you try to make the “sale” – this is business 101. You need to work towards developing a relationship to learn something or to network with people in the business.

Who knows how long you will have your current job, or whether you will need to find a new one somewhere else. Even if you don’t get this job, you still have a relationship with someone in the business. Maybe this person will be able to teach you something about your future career, or even refer you to a friend he knows is looking for someone like you! If another job ever comes up with that person, you might be getting an unexpected phone call, especially if you keep following up with them.

I bought my diamond engagement ring for my fiancé from a husband and wife my parents knew through their business. Since then, they have sent me Christmas cards, followed up with phone calls, and have asked my fiancé and me to dinner at their house. They don’t have to do this, but they want to maintain the relationship. Also, since then, I have referred 3 friends who were also looking to buy engagement rings because we had a good relationship. Needless to say, I will also be buying my wedding bands from them, and any future jewelry I ever need.

It’s all about networking!

Just remember, that getting a job is not just a simple equation of knowing how to write a resume, answer questions, or send the right cover letters like most traditionalists will tell you. There is this whole “soft side” to getting a job that can really distinguish you from the next guy. Remember, anyone can follow instructions on how to write a resume… not everyone knows how to interact with your recruiters in the most influential ways.

So remember to create a feeling of trust, credibility, and maintain the relationship with everyone.

Mini-Course Day 2: Social Networking

“When all things are equal, friends buy from friends. When all things are unequal, friends still buy from friends.”

Today’s mini-course will explain the significance of that statement. To be successful in the business world, the academic world, or even in social circles, you need to know people and be likeable.

If you were the richest, most powerful, and smartest person in the world, you could probably get away without putting any effort into networking (mostly because everyone would be coming to you). You need others to become successful at whatever you do – especially job hunting and growing your career.

If you are like I used to be – quiet, somewhat shy, and introverted – you might find it difficult to network with people. If you are like some of my friends – loud, friendly, and extroverted – make sure that your personality is not giving the wrong impression to potential job recruiters. Here are a few pointers and tips on good networking techniques.

Tip #1: Communication Order

Keep in mind that there are various ways to communicate:

1) It is best to communicate directly in person. Recruiters and potential employers will remember your face.  You will also learn techniques to ensure that you are making the right impression with non-verbal communication during your face-to-face meeting.

2) If you can not meet in person, you should communicate over the telephone. If you can’t do face to face, you should at least give the person a voice and tone of voice to remember. If you sound cheerful, positive, and enthusiastic, people will assume you are.

3) Unless specified by the potential employer, use email as a last resort. Email is impersonal and easily deleted. It also shows lack of confidence and untrustworthy mystery.

Tip #2: Be a Story Teller

Think about the last presentation, lecture, or conversation you heard. Who do you find the most interesting? Probably someone who can convey their message in a story. Become an artist in telling your story. Know yourself, be comfortable talking about you and your experiences, and create a story. In my system, I will provide you with what should and should not be included in your story.

Tip #3: Learn to Listen

When you meet someone new, use the following techniques:

1) Listen intently to understand what the person is saying and wait until the speaker is finished before you speak. Do not interrupt if you don’t completely understand. Instead, ask clarifying questions and paraphrase what has been said to make sure everyone is on the same page. You can listen to an audio example of a good conservationist in my system.

2) Ask information seeking questions that will help you better understand the job or topic. Everyone has something that they could teach you. The only way to find that out, is to ask.

3) Let someone ask questions of you before you start talking about yourself. When meeting someone for the first time, be mindful of such fine lines between confidence and arrogance when putting your best foot forward. Once you have established trust, the person will ask questions about you at their own pace.

 

Tip #4: Always Have a Business Card

This is the number one marketing tool for people you meet in person. It’s better than any brochure or resume you can hand them, because it fits in a wallet or rolodex. Few job seekers have them, so make sure you have one! You can create a simple business card and print it up at Kinko’s. Make sure it is eye-catching without being overbearing. You can look at some sample templates in the system and there is more on how to print them there as well.

 

Tip #5: Have a Web Site!

This is one of the easiest and relatively inexpensive marketing tools you can make for yourself. Interviewers often research the Internet for any information on the potential candidate. Be sure to publish “positive impression making” accolades and achievements as opposed to private or personal information that could prove detrimental to you. 

 

I just spoke with a friend who was approached at an interview for an editing position. The first question that the interviewer asked her was “why did you go through a debutant ball when you were 16?” The interviewer “googled” her name before she came in to the interview. If she had a website, she could have had her articles, essays, and sample work up on her website. None of your work needs to be published; they just need to be representative and visible.