turn your summer vacation into resume riches
Written by Claudia Allen, Editor/Web Content and Production Manager for the National Association of Colleges and Employers. She is a former newspaper reporter and editor, and is the co-author of seven books.
If you’re doing a summer internship, you’ve probably learned to use the copier, the fax machine, the postage machine, and the office coffee maker. But if using office equipment is all you learn this summer, then you’ve interned for the wrong company.
Meghan Firster, coordinator of university relations at Westinghouse Electric Company, first tried her hand at recruiting, labor relations, HR generalist tasks, and writing job descriptions during her internship at Westinghouse a couple of years ago. When she returned to college for her senior year, she took along a better grasp of her college courses in human resources because she had performed many of the tasks her professors discussed.
She also had an offer of a full-time job.
Hands-on experience is an important benefit of doing an internship, Firster says. At the end of your internship, you should be able to say you’ve used the technical skills you’ve learned in college.
An internship or participation in a co-op program adds a bit of magic to a student’s resume, Firster says. Sometimes a good experience can make up for a somewhat low grade point average. “If someone has a lower GPA, but a ton of experience with our competitors, we want them in here,” she says. “A couple of co-op rotations or an internship gives [a student] an edge.”
Here are a few things you should learn on your internship that will add experience to your resume and give you talking points in an interview:
An Understanding of the Career/Work You’ve Chosen
An internship should be about learning on the job and about the job. You’ll get hands-on experience that will help you in your classes and give you a clear picture of the career you think you’re interested in pursuing. You’ll learn about the company’s culture and whether it is a good fit with your goals. You’ll also get to test the size of the organization: do you want to work for a small company or a multinational corporation?
It’s important to go into your internship with an understanding of the kind of work you will be doing. And, on the job, “you should learn more about your major and the work involved,” says Firster. “You should also learn about the company you’re working for.”
Professional Communication Skills
You may have great communication skills, but did you know you shouldn’t include LMAO or a smiley face in an e-mail to a customer? Or, that’s it’s inappropriate to tell dirty jokes to a co-worker? An internship can refine your communication skills, teaching you how to write a professional e-mail, chat with co-workers, discuss work with your boss, use a phone in a professional manner, and work with customers in person.
Good Work Ethic
Being a good worker is about showing up on time every day. But it’s also having a positive manner, no matter what task you’re assigned. It’s showing enthusiasm—that you really want to tackle a project or participate in a team effort. It’s being inquisitive enough to figure out how your work fits in with the work being done by other employees and the company’s goals.
Don’t forget to discuss what you learned in interviews, Firster advises. “It gives [you] a talking point,” Firster says. “[You] can describe what they did. [You] can present technical knowledge.”
Firster says students with internship experience usually orient themselves to the job faster and pick up on things more quickly. “Their competency level is higher,” she says.
Meghan Firster, coordinator of university relations at Westinghouse Electric Company, recruits and works with interns, so she knows what it’s like to sit on both sides of the desk. Here are some of her tips for students in their first professional experience:
Ask simple questions.
Don’t be timid. Everyone was new once and probably asked the same questions. Here are answers to common questions:
- Yes, you get a lunch break. Ask your supervisor how much time to spend at lunch and when to go.
- No, you don’t have to ask permission to use the restroom.
- Yes, you should tell your supervisor when you’re leaving for the day. (It’s polite to say “Good morning” and “Goodnight.”)
- No, you shouldn’t use the company phone for personal calls.
- Yes, you must call if you think you might be late. (And let your supervisor know when you’ve arrived.)
Ask detailed questions.
When you get an assignment, write it down. Ask questions about what is to be done and how your supervisor would like you to do it. This shows you’re interested and want to be successful in your assignments.
Learn all you can about the company.
One of the keys to impressing hiring managers is finding out how your job fits into the overall picture.
Break out of your cubicle.
At Westinghouse, interns are often matched with mentors—someone they can talk to about their work and career goals. “You also need to get out of your cube and visit with other people in other departments,” Firster recommends. “You’ll have more contacts when you go back to school.”
Ask for feedback.
Ask your boss for feedback about your work and your internship. “We have an intern cafe, “ Firster says, “where interns can talk to managers over lunch.” Look for feedback from other individuals, too, she suggests.
Don’t fear mistakes.
You don’t want to make mistakes on the job, but you probably won’t be fired on the spot, Firster says. “Mistakes happen on the job: everyone makes mistakes, even on a professional level. If something goes wrong, go back to your manager and talk about what happened. Seeking out feedback is important.”
Use your communication skills.
Learn the proper way of doing things: talking to co-workers, discussing work with your boss, writing and sending e-mail, helping customers, talking on the phone.
Work with a little humility.
“Managers are looking for people who are down to earth,” Firster says. “Not people who think they know everything. If an intern comes in knowing they will learn something, it will help them.” Most interns are inquisitive and hardworking, Firster adds.
Present yourself positively.
“Showing enthusiasm and taking a positive outlook” no matter what job or project you are assigned gives you points in your manager’s eyes.
Add your internship to your resume.
If you perform well as a Westinghouse intern and receive a job offer, you’ll be two steps up from other new hires. Westinghouse will not put a time limit on when they have to have your acceptance of the offer—and if you accept, your time spent as an intern will be applied to your overall service with the company. (That means you’ll qualify for some benefits sooner than other new hires.)
However, your time as an intern is valuable to most employers. Be sure to include it on your resume.
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