InternshipRatings.com

By Mike Caldwell
Assistant Director of Career Development for Internships
Grinnell College

How would you describe your current internship search? Is it broad and haphazard? What about your schedule? Do you conduct your search only in your spare time? Is your search defined by occasionally browsing search engines and job boards in hopes of the perfect internship leaping from pages of results?

Unfortunately, this scenario may be common to many internship seekers. However, there is a much better way to explore your internship options. The migration of internship postings to the web has always netted both positive and negative outcomes. Online postings are ubiquitous, and access only few clicks and keystrokes away. A student in Maine may easily search for marketing internship options in California. The problem? This search may require visits to multiple websites and the results are often numerous and unwieldy. It may seem that there is simply too much information to review, too many sites to check, and too little time.

What is the solution? Use technology tools to manage your internship search. Following are suggestions for practical applications that may increase the efficiency of your internship search. Many of these time-saving tools and techniques are severely underutilized. These tools, combined with a targeted internship search strategy, may allow you to maximize your time and the advantages of online resources. You may develop more control of the process and even locate opportunities that you may have missed by using only traditional methods.

· Agents and Alerts – Most search resources provide customized search agents and email alert systems. Take advantage of this resource. These tools deliver new postings direct to your inbox. You get immediate notification when a new post appears-and a jump on the competition. Also, most email alerts provide new postings in an easy-to-review list.

· RSS Feeds – RSS may be the most underappreciated resource in the internship seekers toolbox. If you have not used RSS, don’t be intimidated-RSS generally stands for Really Simple Syndication. The benefits of RSS the internship search are streamlined search results, continuous updates, and the ability to store your searches in one viewable page. Many internship blogs, business news sites, and search engines offer RSS feeds. Most updated web browser and email programs have built-in RSS capabilities for reading these feeds. Search the web for basic instructions regarding RSS. Look at the top left of this page. You can even start using RSS with Take NOTE!

· Custom Pages – For the ultimate in search management, consider building a simple custom page to include access to your email alert results, calendar, to-do list, RSS feeds, company news, and bookmarks for your research. iGoogle, My Yahoo, and My MSN are just three of the options to create a personalized page. Use these resources to link all of your tools in one location.

By Jordan Nashen
Charlotte Bobcats Intern

I have been a sports enthusiast all my life, and when I realized that I didn’t have the necessary God given talents to be an NHL superstar, a high-flying NBA dunker, or even a professional wrestler, I knew that the sports industry was the one that I wanted to call my career.

And so I have. Prior to graduating with a Commerce degree in marketing, I have interned with the 2004 Stanley Cup Champions Tampa Bay Lightning, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), the 2002 Super Bowl Champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats.
Each experience served to be unique and exciting, and provided me with the knowledge, real-life situations that you cannot learn from school textbooks, and most importantly, contacts derived from networking that will further enhance my career.

It is important to start young, because you never know who you will be able to meet and learn from. I was able to work on marketing and PR projects with the Lightning, WWE and Bobcats. My tasks with these organizations ranged from writing press releases and organizing media tours, to writing columns for bobcats.com and updating media guides while receiving editorial credit. It’s a pretty good feeling when your name is only pages away from Vinny Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis.

Interning is one of the best ways to get ahead of the competition in the sports field. The industry is very tight-knit and the contacts you make can become invaluable. Take advantage of every networking opportunity that comes your way and ride it to the fullest extent. It is not so much what you know, but whom you know that will get you to the next level. Networking and interning with a positive attitude are the two keys that can bring you to the next level in this very competitive industry. You never know who you can meet today who can help you tomorrow.

By Jenny Schroth
Assistant Director of Internships
St. Norbert College
De Pere, WI

Each Internship Course will be different; however, the goal of the Communications Internship Course I instruct is to integrate the students’ practical work experiences with a directed, reflective, academic component to help them develop personally, professionally, and intellectually. After successful completion of the course, students will:
• Have an enhanced understanding and confidence in their personal “fit” with the world of work
• Broaden their understanding of their work in the context of their academic courses
• Learn behaviors and skills that promote a successful internship experience via reflection and evaluation
• Have increased knowledge of resources related to career planning and decision making
• Have increased knowledge and skill in advocating and marketing themselves to potential employers and/or graduate schools.

All students are required to complete a learning agreement within the first two weeks of their internship to ensure the student is creating structured learning goals for themselves with a plan set in place for achieving those goals. The site supervisor and student must talk through the contract together and agree on the goals. Midway through the semester, I conduct a site visit with the intern and their supervisor in order to check in to see what they are learning, how they are connecting their experience to their education and career goals, to determine areas for improvement, and to assess their progress on their learning goals. At the end of the semester, both students and supervisors complete evaluations of their experiences and are encouraged to discuss these with each other. This is a beginning platform for performance reviews, which are certain to happen in their first full time job.

The class meets once a week and every class session includes a “check in” period in which each student has an opportunity to discuss their internship experience that week. What did they accomplish? What was challenging, frustrating, stressful, etc? Students are expected to actively listen and respond to each other and to ask insightful questions. Most recently, one student was explaining how one of her co-workers continually “wastes” her time, by stopping at her cubicle and talking on and on about their personal life and other non-related work issues. I used this opportunity to discuss with my class ideas for how to tactfully confront co-workers.

Other course assignments include: four papers relating their internship experiences to their academic major, creating a resume and cover letter tailored towards a full-time job in their field of interest, creating a professional portfolio, and doing a 30 minute presentation at their internship site. Many people in the world of work will, at some point, be required to give an oral presentation to co-workers and/or supervisors. Since all the students in my class are Communication majors, this assignment presents a wonderful opportunity to practice what they’ve learned in the classroom in a professional work setting. Students are required to “practice” their presentations in class before presenting at their work site in order to receive constructive feedback for improvement from class members and myself.

In addition, we have guest speakers present on a variety of topics including: evaluating job offers, benefit packages, tactful salary negotiation, workplace discrimination, harassment, and conflict management. There is also an employer panel that discusses with the students work/life balance, time management, and ethical guidelines for a first full-time job. Job searching, graduate school, and the importance of informational interviewing and networking are also covered during the semester course.

By Robert Woodard
Assurance and Advisory Business Services
Ernst and Young, LLP

Internships offer college students the best way to break into large companies during their college years. Companies take this opportunity to gauge the ability of potential candidates to become successful members of their organization. In my experience in four years in the Accounting Industry (three years at mid-size firm, and currently at Ernst & Young) I have seen the positive effect that an internship can have on an individual’s career and development. This article will focus on the experience you can gain through an internship, what accounting firms look or in an intern, and how you can get the most out of your internship.

A candidate can gain valuable experience in the Accounting Industry by becoming involved in an internship while they are attending school. I remember discussing with classmates how apparent it was during senior year who had interned at different firms during the previous summer based on their performance and contribution during class. Students who had participated in internships understood the real life applications of the work that the class was performing. An internship will also give you the opportunity for your first exposure to a corporate work office and corporate culture.

Accounting firms focus on students with strong academic performance and involvement in their schools accounting program. Once a student begins an internship a firm will began to look for success factors in candidates. They will want to see how you respond to challenges, deal with superiors and your work ethic. Interns who display a positive attitude and a willingness to be a team player will distinguish themselves from their peers and establish themselves as candidates for full-time offers.

To get the most out of your internship opportunity, approach the internship with a positive attitude and soak in as much as possible each day. Get to know the other interns and talk with them about their experiences. When you are given tasks make sure that you understand what is expected and the time frame to complete the task. Make sure to ask any questions as there are no dumb questions this early in your career. Do not forget that an internship is an “extended interview” with the firm. Get to know the firm’s values, strengths and focuses during your time there and evaluate how they match your own.

Ernst & Young provides specific events for their interns to allow them the best opportunity to succeed. First there is a local introduction event where interns are introduced to the program, the firm and each other. This event is also where interns meet their peer mentor (generally an employee with 1-2 years experience) as well as their counselor (generally an employee with 5+ years of experience). During the internship, Ernst & Young will provide group work for the interns such as researching tax issues in groups to develop team work. Finally, Ernst & Young takes their interns to Disney World at the conclusion of the program. During the trip the interns spend a day meeting other interns from offices across the country through ice breakers and group projects. The second day is devoted to learning more about firm practices and policies and then a night at the theme park.

An internship opportunity at an accounting firm can jump start your career. You will gain real world experience while increasing your chances of being hired by the firm of your choice. If you approach each day of your internship with a positive attitude and focus on working hard and becoming involved in the firm you are bound to have a successful internship and gain experience that you will use for the rest of your life.

By Beth Settje
Internship Coordinator/Career Consultant
University of Connecticut

Growing up, parents often tell their children to “be yourself.” Though good advice, as many know, it’s often easier said than done. Truly understanding oneself often involves trial and error. Students in particular use their time in college as a place to reinvent themselves and to figure out their personal values.

Choosing a career path is definitely an extremely important decision in one’s life. Fortunately there are different opportunities where a student can experiment or try one an occupation for size, so to speak, before making a final decision. Interning is one such opportunity that students are strongly encouraged to pursue. In addition to thinking about the position and the content of the work in relation to one’s career path, he or she will have to consider both his/her individual values as well as the organization’s priorities to see if there is a good fit.

In selecting the values to consider for an internship, students will want to reflect upon where they are at that moment in life. For example, many people have family and financial security as top values, yet for an intern position, those may not be applicable. Working in different part of the country away from parents or siblings, or for a low or non-existent salary may be a reasonable choice at this time in life, compared to five to ten years in the future. This “give and take” approach is often an acceptable compromise at this point in life. There are other values that may be easier to apply which interning could include respect, integrity, and education, as these values are more intrinsic to one’s sense of self and less dependent on outside influences.

Regardless of how fantastic a position seems on paper, if it requires someone to act in a way that leads to compromise his/her values, then it is not a wonderful opportunity after all. Compromising one’s personal core values can create tension for the student and will not necessarily result in a slew of full-time job offers at the end of the internship. If the intern learns that the position is not what it first appeared to be, the student has to make some critical decisions. He/she may choose to stick it out and hope to acquire a really good reference. He/she may choose to leave quietly, explaining to a supervisor that he/she is not comfortable in the environment and would like to move on to a healthier workplace. Lastly, the intern may make a big fuss and pursue the situation until it is resolved. Regardless of the decision, every action has a consequence, so all decisions must be thoroughly contemplated.

To summarize, here are some tips:

1) Clearly identify key values of importance to you. You can type in “list of work values” in any search engine on the internet to see a variety of articles and lists. Once you have a list, rank the values to determine your top priorities for now and the future.

2) Think about what you want from the position, why you chose to apply, and what you anticipate the results being. Do your thoughts clearly reflect the company’s?

3) Decide with whom you are going to associate and how others’ behavior may impact your options. Is there anyone in the company you aspire to learn from in regards to your job search and career path? If no, you may want to question your purpose for working within the organization.

4) When you return to campus after the internship is complete, how will you apply the lessons you learned in the workplace to your academic and other campus commitments? What values will carry over to this other part of your life?

5) Talk to a career counselor at your school if you are evaluating these issues, now or when you return to campus. Very often, that individual can offer clarification and assistance for these and other related issues.

By Darlene S. McDaniel
www.interviewchatter.com

Let me begin by saying there are jobs available despite the turbulent fluctuations in the economy. Organizations are still hiring! If my opening statements are true, than you can land a great internship.

First, you have to know what you are looking for. What type of job are you looking for? Then you need to consider your skills and abilities. What do you know how to do? I am not talking about what you “think” you know how to do, but what will you actually bring to an organization that says, “YES, we want you?”

If you know the job you are looking for and you have some skills and abilities that you can clearly articulate in an interview, than the next step is creating a resume and cover letter that will communicate this information. The Career Center at your University can assist you with developing a targeted resume from the various jobs you’ve held over the last few years. You will also want to begin to prepare for your interview. That may seem somewhat presumptuous, however, waiting until you get an interview to begin to prepare is a mistake – it’s too late once you have the interview. Take some time to do research on the organizations that interest you. Know who they are before you walk in the door. Know as much as you can about the product or service they offer.

Once you have identified your target job and your skills and abilities, you can begin to identify questions a hiring manager may ask. Write down the questions and your answers. Work with a friend who will help you practice interviewing. Let them ask you questions and you answer them as though you are actually interviewing.

Landing a great internship in the turbulent times we live in will come down to networking. The traditional way of looking for a job will not serve you well in the current climate of our nation. Your ability to tap into the unseen job market only comes through networking. Who do you know that knows someone that is looking for a great intern? One recommendation I have seen work time and again, is just talking to professionals in your sphere of influence. Who do you know that knows someone you need to know?

A good resume and cover letter will only unlock a potential opportunity. But if you know how to network, your network will get you in the door. The interview and your ability to connect with the people will get you on the short list of potential candidates!

By David Meerman Scott
Bestselling Author

I’ve had an opportunity to casually explore the attitudes of hundreds of large and small companies whose employees attend my full-day New Rules of Marketing seminar and my keynote speeches. In my very unscientific questioning, my guess is that about 25% of companies block employee access to YouTube, Facebook, and other social networking sites.

Twenty-five percent block access!

That is a huge number of companies that are putting their organizations at a disadvantage.

I can’t tell you the names of the nanny-state dinosaurs. But you’d be amazed at some of the big names that are too scared to let people into the world of social media.

If you are in the market for an internship

My recommendation for people considering an internship is to ask, during the interview process, “Does your company allow employees to use social media like Facebook and YouTube?”

If the answer is “yes!” than you’re all set.

However, if the answer is “No, we don’t allow employees to use social media at work,” then I suggest you stand up, thank the interviewer, and say that you won’t be able to work there. Explain that since you want to be respectful of their time, that you suggest we might as well end the interview right now.

That will get their attention.

Here are some reasons given by people for their companies blocking access to sites like YouTube, Facebook, and other similar sites:

- It is a drain to productivity
- It is a security issue within the company computer systems
- People may harm the company brand should employees reveal too much information
- It is a bandwidth issue

It’s really about trust

I think the big thing here is trust. The reasons cited above are just an excuse. I think these companies just don’t trust employees. But the companies that don’t trust employees, over time, will end up with only the corporate dregs who don’t mind working in an organization that won’t let them communicate with others in the ways that people are using today, like Facebook, YouTube and the like.

Ultimately, I think the HR and legal people are naive and scared and since they don’t understand social media, they just slap on controls.

On one side of the corporate fence, the HR geniuses and the legal eagles are worried about secrets being revealed and time being wasted by their employees while using social media, creating content or commenting on social media sites. Corporate nannies want to make certain that their naive charges don’t get into trouble in the big scary world of information.

Well, duh; we’re talking about people here. Employees do silly things. This debate should be centered on people, not technology.

If you’re a representative of a company

If you’re in HR or a representative of a company, my recommendation to you and your organization is simple. Have guidelines about what you can and cannot do at work, but don’t try to make a specific set of social media guidelines. I’d suggest implementing corporate policies that say (for example) that employees can’t sexually harass anyone, that they can’t reveal secrets, they can’t use inside information to trade stock or influence prices, and they shouldn’t talk ill of the competition in any way or via any media. The guidelines should include email, using social media, commenting on online forums and chat rooms, and other forms of communication. Rather than focus on putting guidelines on social media (the technology), it is better to focus on guiding the way people behave.

IBM Social Computing Guidelines

IBM has developed a set of social media guidelines for employee us of blogs, wikis, social networks, virtual worlds and social media that I think are just fantastic.

From the guidelines: “Whether or not an IBMer chooses to create or participate in a blog, wiki, online social network or any other form of online publishing or discussion is his or her own decision. However, emerging online collaboration platforms are fundamentally changing the way IBMers work and engage with each other, clients and partners.” GREAT. This is the way of the future. Hat tip to IBM.

My advice for bosses is to follow the IBM example.

Do you work for a company that blocks access now?

If you’re an employee (or intern) who works for a company that blocks access, I suggest you send them this article and encourage them to read my other posts and my book The New Rules of Marketing & PR.

If they still refuse to open up, I suggest you quit your job and work for a company that embraces the new world. You’ll need to find a new job at some point anyway, because your company won’t be around in a few years as the smarter competitors take away your business by reaching buyers using social media.

David Meerman Scott is the bestselling author of The New Rules of Marketing & PR and popular blogger at Web Ink Now.