Month: December 2016

3 Things to Do in December to Land a Summer Internship

Image courtesy of nuttakit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of nuttakit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

1. Research

How many times have you told yourself that you will begin your summer internship search when you get some free time?  The winter break is a perfect time for doing some preliminary research on your options.  Begin browsing internship postings in Handshake, Vault, CareerShift, and GoinGlobal.  This will help you identify positions that interest you and help you determine what application materials may be necessary.

 

2. Talk

‘Tis the season for gatherings of family and friends.  Quite often, loved ones use these gatherings as an opportunity to ask you about your life at college and your future plans.  Many positions are filled by someone who knows someone else with a connection to a great job.  Let family, friends, and acquaintances know that you are looking for an internship and ask if they have any ideas related to your field of interest.  Even if they do not know of a job opening, they may know of a professional who would be open to an informational interview.

 

3. Prepare

The spring semester is always hectic, between academic demands and the very active student life on our campus.  Save yourself some stress and create a first draft of your resume over the winter break.  When you return to campus, you can have it reviewed by a friendly staff member in Career and Professional Development, then attend the Internship and Career Fair on January 31st.

As you wrap up the fall semester, remember that the staff of CPD wish you good luck on finals and a merry Christmas!

Written by Amy Ames, Assistant Director of Professional Development

Got through the Interview—now what?

Business TeamYou’ve spent all this time researching, preparing, and practicing for your interview. It was over in a flash, so what happens now? Commence: The waiting game. This time-frame can feel unsettling and unnerving. Even if you felt confident in your interview performance, the final outcome is unknown. Do you have to spend this waiting period passively sitting by your email account or phone? No, in fact you don’t. Have no fear, for there are couple of ways for you to actively wait by following through in your interview process.

  1. Send a follow-up email: As soon as you get home after your interview, make a point to sit down and write a message to your interviewers. You should have gathered business cards for each person involved in the interview process. This doesn’t have to be a long and drawn out email. If you felt that the company was a strong fit, then express your continued interest in the position. Thank the interviewers for their time and for the opportunity to be considered for the job. This email message only needs to be a few sentences to convey your interest in the role after the in-person meeting, to reiterate your fit for the position, and how they can contact you.
  1. Call your references: If you haven’t already notified your references of your in-person interview opportunity, now is the time! It’s very important for them to know where you interviewed and a bit about the position. Your references may be asked questions about your expertise in certain areas, and the more they are informed of the position, the better they will convey your fit. You can also ask your references to articulate what they plan to say about you, to ensure they portray your background and capability in the best light.
  1. Send a hand-written thank you note: You might think that the email you sent already covered your follow-up, but this is an extra gesture that will leave a lasting impression with the employer. The immediate email will keep you fresh in their mind, while a handwritten thank you note that arrives a few days later will remind them of your performance. You can also keep this note on the shorter end, but try to write something different than in your email message.

The waiting process can feel long, but adding these few active steps can help you stay engaged. Stay positive and good luck out there!

Some references drawn from:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jennagoudreau/2012/03/08/after-the-job-interview-five-crucial-steps-to-seal-the-deal/#40ff8577feee

Written by: Rachel Kent, Employer Relations Specialist, Baylor University