InternshipRatings.com

By The Career Development Center
Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Pittsburgh

The interview question most feared by job candidates is also the question most often asked. “So, why don’t you tell me about yourself?”

It haunts our thoughts. We have nightmares about it. We lose sleep. But why are we so afraid to talk about ourselves? As children, we loved nothing more than having people watch and listen to us do or say just about anything. But as adults we cringe at the thought. Keep in mind that this question is not to be handled as a personal one. You do not want to mention details about your family, private life or anything unrelated to the job being discussed.

With the following four easy steps, this dreaded interview question can soon become your favorite. It offers the opportunity to not only sell yourself, but to also compliment the employer and demonstrate your own communication skills.

1. Provide a brief introduction, introducing key attributes that are essential to the open position. Example: “I am mastering the ability to work as a team player, motivate others and set long term goals”.

2. Provide a career summary using your most recent work experience. This is the most important content of your response, so use an example that is current and compelling. Example: “Most recently, I was challenged with volunteering in a school where students’ test scores were slipping. I focused on individual and small group projects. Within a few months, many of my students had improved their reading and math skills”.

3. Tie your response to the needs of the employer. It is your responsibility to make the employer understand how your skills and accomplishments will translate to success in the potential position.

Example: “I am interested in this position because my proven experience in event planning at my university has prepared me to handle many of the challenges your team is facing”. Ask an insightful question. Asking the interviewer a question gives you several advantages. It puts you in control of the interview, shows the employer that you are interested in learning more about the job and may help alleviate your level of anxiety.

That said, be sure not to ask a question merely for the sake of asking. Ask something that is appropriate and specific to the position, or the company and its challenges. Example: “How have you and your employees attempted to solve this marketing problem in the past? Is there currently a plan of action in place?”

It may be a good idea for you to write sample responses for each step above, thinking them through carefully. But be sure to adapt your response to the specific interviewer, company, and position. Remember that answering this question is also an opportunity to show the interviewer your personality. Canned or overly rehearsed responses may make you seem dull. Be yourself! You have just read the key points to making your next interview a success! Your response is now broken down into manageable segments that allow you to present your strengths, accomplishments, and qualifications.

Erin Everhart
Marketing Intern
352 Media Group

I love staff meetings. Call me a dork, fine; call me nosey, whatever; but, I’m actually interested in what other people are doing. I think this trait stems from my inner journalist that requires me to know exactly what other people are doing so I’m able to do my job. It’s really annoying sometimes because there are times when I just want to shut myself up and be as productive as possible to get all my work done, but if there’s something going on around me, I can’t help but pay attention because maybe there’s a story there. Actually, maybe that’s A.D.D. more than anything…

Anyway, that being said, I come to look forward to our weekly marketing meeting. Sure, we’ve only had two so far, and besides it being a break from the computer screen we’re locked to for the other 8 hours during the day, it’s an hour where we get to regroup, recharge and brainstorm. And considering the fact that I actually like the people that I work with, it’s really more of a productive get together than an actual meeting. All of our work is still in the ultra-early development phase, so there’s no groundbreaking discoveries yet. Julia is researching Second Life, the virtual world where individuals and corporations can interact with each other outside the real world. (Think Sim City meets Wii, but with real people.)

352 has recently launched an Express package, which is essentially the Slim Fast version of a customized project with half the price and time, so we all did our share of some market research on web design companies to see what other companies may be doing similar and where we have the competitive edge. In doing the research I found a lot of companies that had a decent portfolio of work, but their own Web site was pretty horrendous. I mean, you would expect your dentist to have good teeth right? So why would you want to choose a Web development company who’s own Web site looks like it was put together on iWeb?

This week definitely made me realize that unless you like to research and are a least a touch creative, marketing probably isn’t the best career path for you. Personally, I’m addicted to information and being the absolute best at whatever I’m doing, so sitting in front of a computer screen all day trying to find ways to make us look better is exactly what I would like to do. Expect maybe with a little more human interaction. If only the budget allowed for interns to go to the Technology for Marketing and Advertising event in London, then this internship would definitely be considered top tier. Oh to dream…

By Yoav Shapira
Vice President
HubSpot

When I was a college student, I knew there were plenty of jobs out there.  I had a few interesting companies in mind, and I had the resources of our career office to help me out.  But from the first moment I started working on my resume, everyone told me it had to be really good because there are many thousands of candidates out there.
I was told the typical person reading my resume would spend no more than 20 seconds on it before making a decision.   They won’t read everything, and they won’t fully understand everything they read.  So I should make sure my resume stands out.  But how do I do this?

This situation is very typical, very common.  It’s also just about the same problem many businesses faces when marketing themselves on the internet.  How do I, as a business, stand out from the competition?  How do I make sure people notice me?  They people in this case are searching on Google and other sites, or surfing on social networking sites like Facebook.  They’re just glancing at things quickly, evaluating many items within seconds, not minutes or hours.
At HubSpot, where I work now, the whole company is dedicated to helping our customers with this challenge.  I think some of the solutions we show our customers would have been helpful for me as a college student.

First, think about the position you’re applying to from the hiring manager’s perspective.  What key words or phrases would they be looking for?  These terms might be technical, like the name of a programming language, or they might be something else.  Make sure your resume contains those key words, so that people glancing quickly can hopefully see them.
But beware the trap of sticking all the buzzwords in a generic “skills” section that becomes a laundry list of stuff you don’t really know.  Instead, weave the key words into your main content: your experience and education.  Describe how you used a particular tool, method, or technology to accomplish a concrete purpose.  This sticks out much more.
More importantly, go out and network with the people you want to hire you.  Career fairs are far from optimal for this.  There are too many people and it’s hard to stick out.  The interviewers are tired and have seen many resumes today.

Instead, take advantage of social networking sites like LinkedIn or Facebook.  Look for the same keywords you picked above, and find people that have those keywords in their profiles.  Try to connect with them, or at least send an introduction message asking for information about their company.  You will find most people are very receptive to this sort of gesture.  They’ll be happy to chat and help you out.

This social networking may feel awkward, and it definitely takes time.  But it’s a very good investment and you will be pleasantly surprised by the results.  Give it a shot today!

By Nick Gaglis
Aspiring Broadcaster
Boston University Class of 2008

The communications business is no piece of cake, but it’s certainly one that anybody can get into with the right attitude. Like any other job, it requires passion, talent, and effort to get things done. Being proactive as an individual is one of the hardest things to do, but it definitely pays off.

The way I got most of my internships was through my own actions. I didn’t need an advisor, or a connection, or anything else. Search a website or two for a company you’re interested in working for. There’s almost always a jobs/employment link at the top or bottom of the screen, frequently next to or part of the about us/contact us page. A quick email with your résumé is all you need to land the job sometimes. I have formally applied (sent applications via mail) to over 15 internships, but the ones I have gotten have all been through succinct cover letters I sent electronically.

As long as you have a well written résumé, a cover letter that states exactly what position it is that you want, why you are the perfect candidate for it, and why you want it, you can land the internship you want. Recommendation letters from professors, employers, or your bosses from other internships are all gold too.

Television and radio are very competitive fields that require ability, persistence, and connections to survive, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t build those things up over time. The reason people start with internships is to create that future for themselves, and they’re already a step or two ahead of anybody who hasn’t had or applied for one yet.

I am a broadcast journalism major, so I look for the positions that land me closest to the on-air personalities. There aren’t too many on-air internships per se, but there are other alternatives. Being a production intern is the best choice while working for a sizable company.

I have been a production intern at four different stations: three radio and one television. I have dealt directly with the people you see and hear in each and every one of them. There is plenty of button pushing, sound checking, and other tasks that may seem mindless and unimportant, but knowing how the broadcast works is infinitely valuable when something goes wrong and the producer needs help. You are much more marketable to an employer for an on-air job if they know that you can help with (or do entirely) the production aspects of the show.

If you land a production spot, don’t be afraid to speak with the talent. You need to be able to communicate with them well in order to put on a quality show. Not all of them are the friendliest people, but I have met more than my fair share of good people in my internships. They’re the ones that can seriously help you out down the road, whether it’s with a cover letter or someone they know who’s hiring.

Erin Everhart
Marketing Intern
352 Media Group

Basic training is done. Whew. The past four weeks have been filled with grunt work, not your standard go get coffee and wash my car, but more like the homework you did in high school that you knew on some level would be helpful in the long run but was always a pain to finish. This week we finished up Phase I of the 352 Internship Program with lectures in general Web design, slicing and coding, marketing and an overview of working for the company.

So finally, on to the real reason why I started this internship: marketing experience. Back in October when I first interviewed with 352 at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Job and Internship Fair, I wasn’t really sure what kind of position to expect from the company. So when they hired me on for the marketing department, I figured any additional experience that varies from the traditional print journalism that clutters my resume would be helpful. I’ve never done any real marketing work, so this is pretty much a clean slate. All the marketing interns–there’s 6 of us total–gathered with Peter VanRysdam, VP of Marketing at 352, on Wednesday to lay out what we hope to accomplish this semester, and I realize that marketing, more than anything, is just finding a clever, creative way that doesn’t cost much to make sure people remember you over the next guy.

Peter divided the work between the 6 of us. One of the interns, Marie, a telecom production UF grad, will be working on putting together some videos to break the work stereotypes that The Office is responsible for, so be on the lookout for them to pop up in You Tube in the next month or so. Another intern Anne and I will be writing up some case studies of recent clients to show off what we’ve done to better attract potential clients, as well as giving you a weekly glimpse in a day in the life of an intern at 352 Media Group. And we’re all brainstorming on ideas to get people to stop by our booth at the Technology for Marketing and Advertising event in London. Free pints were tossed around at the meeting, but we figured getting them sloshed and then signing a contract isn’t exactly the most ethical approach to bringing in new clients. Bummer.

But other than the day to day work, the economic crisis really hit home for me this week when the interns were made aware of some restructuring that had to be done around the company resulting from Microsoft scaling back. Sure we’ve heard about it every day on the news, but having it directly affect you is a different feeling. Maybe that job offer won’t come around in May at the end of the internship, which is fine, because I’d still be doing this regardless. But it’s pretty disheartening knowing that you might not get hired, no matter how qualified you are, because of the economy. It really makes the whole “finding a job” thing a bit more difficult.

Basic training is done. Whew. The past four weeks have been filled with grunt work, not your standard go get coffee and wash my car, but more like the homework you did in high school that you knew on some level would be helpful in the long run but was always a pain to finish. This week we finished up Phase I of the 352 Internship Program with lectures in general Web design, slicing and coding, marketing and an overview of working for the company.

So finally, on to the real reason why I started this internship: marketing experience. Back in October when I first interviewed with 352 at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Job and Internship Fair, I wasn’t really sure what kind of position to expect from the company. So when they hired me on for the marketing department, I figured any additional experience that varies from the traditional print journalism that clutters my resume would be helpful. I’ve never done any real marketing work, so this is pretty much a clean slate. All the marketing interns–there’s 6 of us total–gathered with Peter VanRysdam, VP of Marketing at 352, on Wednesday to lay out what we hope to accomplish this semester, and I realize that marketing, more than anything, is just finding a clever, creative way that doesn’t cost much to make sure people remember you over the next guy.

Peter divided the work between the 6 of us. One of the interns, Marie, a telecom production UF grad, will be working on putting together some videos to break the work stereotypes that The Office is responsible for, so be on the lookout for them to pop up in You Tube in the next month or so. Another intern Anne and I will be writing up some case studies of recent clients to show off what we’ve done to better attract potential clients, as well as giving you a weekly glimpse in a day in the life of an intern at 352 Media Group. And we’re all brainstorming on ideas to get people to stop by our booth at the Technology for Marketing and Advertising event in London. Free pints were tossed around at the meeting, but we figured getting them sloshed and then signing a contract isn’t exactly the most ethical approach to bringing in new clients. Bummer.

But other than the day to day work, the economic crisis really hit home for me this week when the interns were made aware of some restructuring that had to be done around the company resulting from Microsoft scaling back. Sure we’ve heard about it every day on the news, but having it directly affect you is a different feeling. Maybe that job offer won’t come around in May at the end of the internship, which is fine, because I’d still be doing this regardless. But it’s pretty disheartening knowing that you might not get hired, no matter how qualified you are, because of the economy. It really makes the whole “finding a job” thing a bit more difficult.

By Joe Bucher, Career Consultant –Student Internship Specialist
San Jose State University Career Center
www.joebucher.wordpress.com

Over the past 5 years I have had the opportunity to assist students in their search for internships. Throughout this time, many students have presented a common theme in terms of the issues and concerns that arise regarding their internship interview. Having been a former intern myself, I have experienced many of the issues that students encounter when faced with an interview.

My colleague, Angela Wayfer shared some insider tips on “Understanding the Internship Interviewing Game Part I.” She outlined some important tips and information on how to shine throughout the interview process. I’d like to share my 5 rules to follow when interviewing for an internship as a Part II to her entry.

1. Know your audience

This sounds simple enough right? One of the keys to this area is the fact that you should spend a considerable amount of time on your research in order to do it well. Here are three keys to ensure that you know your audience:
• Review the job description and the organization’s website including the mission statement and values sections so that you can show how you are a match.
• Utilize your network. Talk to friends, family, and classmates to find contacts that can give you useful background information on your desired industry or organization. Another strategy is to do an informational interview. The point is-the more that you know about the organization’s interview process the better chance you will have to succeed.
• Stay current on the specifics of the industry and organizations that you are intersted in by using tools such as rss feeds and news alerts. You can set up key word alerts on anything from a person, an organization, a product, and more. Hint*-set up an alert for your name and screenames from your social networking sites so that you can manage your online presence.

2. Understand the rules of the game

Whether it is before, during, or after an internship interview there are some important things to know. Having as much knowledge about the process of interviewing will help when the unexpected comes up.
• Attend an interviewing workshop at your school’s career center. This will help you to understand the difference between the different types of interviews that employers use. For instance, employers are increasingly using phone interviews to screen internship applicants. You should know how to put yourself in position to succeed during all types of interview situations.
• Prepare to answer behavioral based interview questions by choosing samples of your past experiences that highlight attributes that are relevant to the internship. Use the “STAR” method in order to formulate thoughtful and concise answers.
• Review everything that is on your resume and be prepared to speak to the details of your experiences. The employer assumes that everything that is on your resume is “fair game.” If you aren’t able to speak to the qualities on your resume, it may cause the interviewer to think that you overstated your abilities.

3. Represent yourself professionally

Most students don’t realize that the interview starts the moment that you make contact with an employer, therefore in all your dealings make sure to act professionally. This rule can help separate you from the pack.
• Be on time! There is no excuse for being late to an interview, including the fact that there was traffic or that the directions you got off of the internet were wrong. Plan ahead by driving the route a day or a week ahead during the same time of the day as your scheduled interview. Aim to be about 10 minutes early.
• Treat everyone in the organization with respect. Often times the hiring manager or committee will ask for feedback from others in the organization. Everyone you encountered including administrative assistants and interns may have an opinion that could help or hurt you.
• Dress professionally. The image that you portray will have an immediate effect on those who are interviewing you. The impression you make within the first 5 minutes will largely shape the rest of your interview. If you don’t have professional clothes and can’t afford them new, consider buying clothing from a consignment store.

4. Be yourself

Remember that the interview is a two-way street. Students can feel pressure to jump on the first internship that is made available to them. While it is important to maintain your own sense of self, learn how to do so while maintaining your professionalism. The interview is an opportunity for both parties to see if there is a fit.
• Don’t overstate your skills on your resume. If an employer realizes that you have overstated your skills during the interview, you not only will lose out on that opportunity but they may share their experience with others in the industry.
• Ask questions and observe the type of questions that the organization asks of you during the interview. This will give you additional information to aid in your decision making.
• Clarify what the interviewer is asking if you don’t understand. It is ok to ask the employer to clarify, repeat, or re-word a question if you are unsure of what they are asking.

5. Practice

Putting yourself in position to succeed in any interview is the combination of preparation, knowledge, and the ability to connect with people. It is important to practice your interviewing skills so that you are ready to answer the call when an internship interview opportunity comes.
• Do mock interviews. Most career centers provide some sort of mock interviewing to give you feedback. Take note of the feedback given on your verbal and non-verbal presentation skills. Most studies show that non-verbal communication has a majority of the impact on the interviewer.
• Continue to get feedback. Once you have learned of some areas to improve upon, continue to practice with someone who will give you honest feedback.
• Continue to develop and research. Even after receiving an internship, it is essential to continue to hone your interviewing skills. You just might be interviewing for a full-time opportunity as a result of your internship experience.

The interview is one of the most critical steps in gaining an internship. You can have a well-written resume, cover letter, and great references but ultimately the interview will have a lasting impression on your potential employer. There are many aspects to cover when discussing an interview. However, it is my belief that if you can follow these 5 simple rules you will be on the fast track to a successful internship interview.

Erin Everhart
Marketing Intern
352 Media Group

A note to everyone who thinks they know how Web sites work: You’re deluded unless you have any programming experience. And I’m not talking about building something on iWeb or Wordpress.

We spent the past two lectures at 352 Media Group learning the ins and outs of Web site programming. There was the tutorial on Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2008 Express Edition and an overview on creating workable databases in SQL Server Management Studio Express. Nothing was too terribly confusing into we started delving into C#. This is where things got fuzzy. Essentially, we were learning a new language, and while I’m far from fluent, it’s safe to say that after one week of intensive translations, I’m walking away with a basic understanding: I can follow along in the conversation but only if slow, simple words are used.

Having a journalism background, I’m pretty analytical and detail-oriented when it comes to fact checking and syntax. I can spot a misplaced comma like it’s nobody’s business. But programming takes a different kind of fact checking. It’s case sensitive, space sensitive and spelling sensitive. It’s a matter of problem solving and working through the kinks. You’ve got to try every possible position until you finally find exactly the content to but the asp.Validator cue around to make sure that your e-mail address is actually a valid e-mail address.

For our assignment, we had to develop one of the most basic Web forms: a “Contact Us” page. And even with the step-by-step walk through the Development Director Dan Vogt did, it was quite the task. Unless you put exactly the right coding in the exactly right place with the exact right formatting, the whole page won’t work. I’m sure programming is like anything else in that it takes a certain amount of practice to be able to finagle your way with C#, but I have a much greater respect for anyone who does this on a daily basis. And looking at some of the Web sites that 352 Media programmers have built blows me away by the level of expertise at the company.

Guaranteed if you take a look at my form, it’ll be pretty jacked up. Sure, it was completely frustrating and nerve-wracking, but a skill worth the time put in; at least I got a basic understanding of what goes into making a Web site functional. Regardless if I’m going to walkaway from this internship with a complete career switch, it’s another line on my resume saying that I know basic programming and C#. And anything that will put me ahead of someone else vying for the same job–which in this economy, could be the only job open–is a perk.

By Susan Perry
Hollins University

Internship durations vary from employer to employer and college to college; however, the length of the internship can greatly impact your experience. Internships during the summer are often full-time opportunities for at least ten weeks, but those offered during a semester may be only a few hours a week for fourteen weeks. Furthermore, some colleges offer a month-long mini session for full-time internships and research experiences. So which is most appropriate for you and your current needs?

Brief internships are great to determine whether or not you would enjoy the field in which you are interning and perhaps give you the opportunity for a longer, more intense opportunity in the future. Very often, first years or sophomores may use short internships to check perceptions of the field of interest and to narrow their career choices. Month-long internships are great for this because the commitment is over so quickly!

Full-time summer internships provide a true test of one’s fit to the field and/or organization. During this time, supervisors get an extended interview with the interns and truly see their strengths and weakness. Since the opportunities are full-time, the interns often graduate to higher level responsibilities quickly, once they prove themselves to the supervisors. Due to the longer and more in depth relationship between intern and supervisor, a full-time, summer-long internship is also a great networking opportunity. Supervisors can serve better references and seem more likely to offer future job or internship opportunities.

Semester-long internships offer interns the opportunity to build stronger relationships with supervisors because of the extended nature of the experience, but they do so without an extreme time commitment, often logging half the hours of a full-time summer internship. Since these interns may only be in a few hours a week, supervisors may be limited in the projects they can offer. It may also take several weeks to be trained or gain the trust of the supervisor to take on higher level responsibilities. This is a great opportunity for all students to network, but seniors may seek employment at the end of the year, and current interns would have a better chance of being hired than the unknown applicant because throughout the semester the supervisor provided training and observed the development of the intern.

Internships are an integral part of education and transition to the workplace. Be sure to select your internship and its length with purpose and direction specific to your goals.