I know, I know, it’s December. Colby has already seen its first snow, and dorm windows are all decked out with snowflakes and Christmas lights. Memories of flip-flops and shorts are distant; summer seems painfully far away. But don’t let the season get the best of you. Here’s a word to get you looking forward to the warm days to come: jobs! It’s never too early to start thinking about summer jobs and internships. Get a leg up against other applicants by starting the process early, and avoid some of the stress that comes with the last minute scramble to apply.
The more popular internships are those found in cities. It’s a great way to maximize social life, but also a great way to immerse yourself in the industry you are involved with. The denser the population, the more professionals you will be able to meet and learn from, and the richer your experience will be. Cities also lend themselves to cheep and accessible transportation. Though housing can be expensive in cities, if you find a few roommates the costs can be well worth it. Some internships will even provide housing for you!
Your internship search will of course be focused based on your particular area of interest. Luckily, there are internships available in a wide variety of industries to cover any number of interests. Public relations, communications, marketing or finance are great for those interested in business. Those intrigued by government work might look for opportunities with an NGO, a governmental organization, or the office of a lawyer or politician. Those of a more artistic or literary bent might try to find an internship in the fashion industry, journalism, or media broadcasting. Small groups or startup companies are also a great place to look for internships. Companies of this sort are often happy to offer positions to intelligent college students who might help actively grow their company, and interns wind up getting more responsibilities than they might otherwise get in a bigger company.
The options are many, but the process of actually getting there often seems daunting. You need a resume, and an interview; and how do you even go about finding internships to apply for in the first place? The Colby Career Center has some great resources to help guide your search. There are counselors available to talk to you in person about places to look. The CareerLink website also offers access to multiple networks of job and internship listings both on campus and across the country. The Career Center also offers mock-interviews and resume-writing tutorials that are great for getting you up to speed on everything from what vocabulary to use to how to dress and shake hands.
It is also important to take advantage of any personal connections you might have. At a small school like Colby, it is easy to get to know your professors and the academic world is a small one. Ask your professors if they have any contacts that might be looking to hire. Some professors might even be looking for interns themselves. Take advantage of any “inside” access you might have to the professional word. Parents are also great resources. Ask your mom or dad if they know anyone, or any organization, looking for interns. And not just your parents, ask your friends’ parents too. More likely than not, parents will be happy to be approached by an interested student and will be more than willing to go out of their way to help. Parents also like to brag, so they have a personal interest in the job search!
Summer is months and months away, but the time to apply for jobs and internships is now! Get ahead of the game, visit the Career Center website or ask around among professors, friends, and parents and make sure to check out this article for tips about how to write a thank you note! Good luck!
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