The Benefits of Completing an Internship

It’s been four months since I started my internship with Come Recommended as the media relations intern. Even though four months doesn’t seem like a lot of time when you compare it to four years of learning in a classroom environment, I have learned more than I thought possible.

As we wrap up our time writing for the intern blog, I feel it’s appropriate to highlight the benefits of having an internship under your belt.

Internships help you:

Expand your network. I’ve been able to create relationships with people across the country, which is a great benefit to having a virtual internship.

Sharpen your skills. Mollie mentioned this in her post too. You get hands-on experience with things you may have learned in the classroom but only did as an assignment once. You also learn other aspects of your field that may have not been touched on in classes or during volunteer experience.

Gain experience for the future. During your time in school, try to fit in as much experience as you can — whether it be an internship or volunteer experience. It looks great on your resume and may help you land a job in the future.

Develop new skills. You’re bound to do something in your internship that is new to you or that you haven’t learned in classes.

I hope reading our intern point of view has been helpful, interesting and thought-provoking. Good luck to all of you and please keep in touch!

Twitter: katee688

One Last Post

As I think about my internship with Come Recommended, I honestly believe I was extremely lucky to have had this opportunity. Often when I tell my professors and peers about my internship they are in awe of how I worked in a completely virtual environment. This internship experience was rewarding beyond my expectations. It allowed me to work in groups virtually, continue to improve my writing skills and coordinate with professionals for the Come Recommended Comes to Your City podcast series.

If you are ever presented with the opportunity to work in a virtual capacity, take it! It will offer you an outstanding skill set that will set you apart from your peers. Here are a few benefits I received by working as the event planning intern for Come Recommended:

I extended my knowledge of social media tools. Not only did I sharpen my blogging skills by writing weekly for this blog, but also I learned how to be more professional on Twitter. I also learned how Skype could be used for more than just video conferences.

I created my own schedule. Since I was working from home I created my own work timeline. This also demanded excellent time management skills on my part, but overall I was able to determine when I worked and what I worked on.

I “met” some great professionals. Not only my supervisor (Heather Huhman, an incredible Gen Y author, columnist and mentor), but also while coordinating guests for the podcast series I was able to reach out to some great professionals in the Chicago, IL and New York, NY areas.

I also want to say a thank you to everyone who read this blog and my posts and for the retweets and comments you provided. Thank you to Heather and the Come Recommended team, I had a blast working with all of you.

Best wishes to everyone; keep in touch with me via Twitter! (@molliecrist)

A Time to Reflect

As I look back at the last few months as the public affairs intern for Come Recommended, I sit back in awe of how much I have been able to learn in such a short period of time. While I’ve been able to keep a keen eye on all matters pertaining to education, labor, and healthcare that have been put up for debate on Captiol Hill, I have been able to digest the tools essential to career success and job hunting.

Heather Huhman does not just provide a service with her knowledge and infinite wisdom about entry-level job seeking, but more so a gift for all those interested to be able to obtain, grasp and appreciate.

The closer I inch towards my graduation, the more I realize how tips and tricks learned through my fellow interns’ blog posts, daily tweets from Heather, and other outlets that have helped me secure my future endeavor I will be pursuing following my graduation.

The benefits of online internships have been explored on this blog, as has the importance of leadership ability as a member of a team such as one as unique as the one at Come Recommended. I’ve been blessed with a gracious opportunity to learn from each person’s strengths and find a way to advance the CR agenda.

So now as I look upon the future, I offer some words of wisdom for my fellow soon to be graduates: remember that we are who we are becomming. The choices we make and types of behavior we exhibit now, are the same in which we will likely be exhibit later in life.

Do you save any of your money now? Do you keep in touch with friends you haven’t seen in a while? Do you ever step outside your comfort zone in social situations? Well, then don’t expect to have a eiphany twenty years down the road, make the change today for tomorrow. I am thankful for the steps this internship has allowed me to take to better myself for life in the future, wherever I may end up.

The Learning Curve of Graduate to Employed

As our Come Recommended intern team wraps up its last week, I find the most striking aspect of this job has been just how much I’ve learned about finding employment. Every day in my internship with Come Recommended, I’ve learned something new. Here are some of the most important aspects of finding your transition from college to employment that I’ve picked up:

Finding a job after college is a marathon not a sprint. The journey from classroom to desk will take time, and you need to take care and patience lest you burn out before you begin. The economy could be better, but don’t get discouraged – you will find a job.

Individualize your cover letters and tailor your resumes. With mass job search websites, the temptation to send out 30 identical resumes with the touch of a button is tempting, but there are just so many people like you doing the same. Before you send out an application, research the company, find what they are looking for in a candidate and use those same keywords in your resume. Also, although basic, proofread and edit, because a lot of applicants fail to.

Network, network, network. The fact of the matter is, the vast majority of jobs are found through networking. Use social networks sites like Come Recommended and find your former co-workers, employers, alumni and even those who have similar professional interests. Use the internet to your advantage by creating the foundations of your professional network.

Reach out and stay connected. Stay connected with former coworkers and employers – chances are these connections will continue to advance your career track. More importantly, take the initiative and create new connections with whatever you can. Even an information interview is a means of networking – the particular employer may not be hiring today, but when they are, you have a personal connection to reach out to.

Consider different opportunities. If you’re currently stuck between college and work, stay busy. Volunteer work experience or part time internships are a terrific way to develop leadership skills and work experience that will continue to push your resume to the top of the pile. Moreover, consider working for a small company. They may lack name recognition, but the amount of experience gained, professional growth and networking with your bosses and upper management are so much greater than finding yourself in a large corporation.

6 Tips for Graduating Interns

These past seven months with Come Recommended have been amazing. It’s definitely hard to bid my farewell to this internship, which has taught me many skills and enabled me to connect with a talented team. I have gathered a few tips for interns who like me are bidding farewell to their internships.

1. Ask for a recommendation – While your tasks are still fresh in your intern supervisor’s mind, make sure you request a written letter of recommendation. Use common sense before you ask. Did you perform above standards or were you continually having to be reminded of your role within the organization?
2. Leave on great terms – Please don’t burn any bridges. So not cool. You never know when your professional paths may meet again, so keep a positive and professional demeanor. If need be, be the bigger person!
3. Stay connected – Continue to foster relationships with your intern teammates and your supervisor through the digital space. Maintain a professional rapport and check-in to see what your teammates are up to.
4. Send tailored thank you notes – A must do! Please send a timely and tailored note to the key individuals who have helped you along the way. Genuine notes are refreshing and are great to receive! Be real and authentic in your notes.
5. Record all the facts - While the internship is still fresh in your mind, make sure your record any exceptional performances or awards you received. Were you recognized by your intern supervisor for something special? Did you make a measurable impact with one of your projects? What transferrable skills did you acquire or apply in this internship that can be applied in your future job? Make sure you jot down the answers to all these questions because they will come handy in your next interview when the interviewee asks you what you took out of this internship.
6. Get excited – You’re done! You’ve worked hard with your internship, and now it’s time to reap the benefits. You’re ready to apply your knowledge, skills and great attitude into the real world. Make sure you go out there with a positive attitude and a fresh outlook. Don’t be afraid to face challenges or to learn new skills.

That’s all folks! That is it from me, your corporate relations intern (2009) and editorial content intern (2010).

I have had a wonderful time connecting with you incredible readers! Thank you to those who have engaged themselves with Inside CR by retweeting posts, posting comments and more.

Also, thank you Heather Huhman and the entire Come Recommended team. You guys have been amazing to work with, and I could not have asked for a better team. Wish you all much success in your future endeavors.

Good luck everyone and my best,

Sunaina

Twitter: SunainaTweets

Moving Back Home: A Post-Graduation Checklist

As graduation approaches, many students are going to be moving back to their hometowns. With the average graduate taking six months to land a job, this is not surprising.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately because I will be moving back home after summer classes. It’s not that moving back home will be a bad thing — because there are a lot of positives to it. Saving money and less financial pressure among them. It’s just a big adjustment from living on your own for the last four (or so) years.

A few things I will be doing when I move back home:

• Changing my “childhood” room in some way. I know I will need a good work area when I move back home (which I don’t currently have). I plan on re-structuring my room for my needs now.
• Making a plan to pay off student loans. Luckily, I don’t have credit card debt like many other students probably do. But paying off student loans will be a high priority when I am saving money by living at home.
• Getting out of the house. I get along well with my parents, but since living at home is an adjustment, I know I will need to get out and do things. Being poor is not an excuse! There are plenty of free (or cheap) things you can do. You need this to keep your sanity.
• Taking time to research. Deciding on where I want to live after moving out of my parent’s house.

What do the experts say? Moving back home:

• Gives you an adjustment period between college and a full-time job.
• Allows you to save money if you do have a job right away.
• Should be temporary. Set a plan for when you are going to move out.
• Allows you to search for the job you really want, instead of one you feel you’re settling for.

What’s on your moving home checklist? How will you deal with living back at home?

Entry-level Job Seekers: Stay Resilient!

The arrival of this Saturday will mark only two short weeks until the end of my undergraduate career. Instead of being excited and ready for a new chapter of life to begin, all I seem to hear on campus is the discussion of not yet having a job lined up. As my supervisor, Heather Huhman, told me this week, it takes the average graduate six months PAST graduation to find their first “real world” job. This statistic actually rattled me a bit, but it also helped me realize that now more than ever job seekers must be resilient in their search.

Though it is tough to swallow, rejection is going to happen. Resume after resume will be submitted without hearing a word. It’s extremely important not to let that make you feel defeated. Keep going and you will find that full-time job that’s right for you, here are a few tips for resiliency during your job search.

1. Do a little every day. Or as often as you can…keep searching, networking or whatever you have been doing in your quest for an entry-level job. If you are feeling frustrated and give up you will only hurt yourself, and possibly cheat yourself out of some great opportunities.

2. Be open to change. This goes for your method of searching and your resume/cover letter. Realize that if you have not been receiving responses, it might be time to try something new. Whether this be a new way of actually finding opportunities or the way your resume looks, be flexible. Also, always seek feedback on your resume from professors, professionals and so on. Everyone has something different to say about resumes, but they might have a suggestion that could help you tremendously.

3. Keep tabs on yourself. As I mentioned in a previous post, using Google as a background check is vital. Employers will do this, so before you send out your resume, Google yourself. Make it habit and be cautious, as always, of what you post on your Twitter and Facebook accounts.

What are your tips for staying resilient during the job search?

Group Projects: Friend or Foe?

Love them or hate them, group projects have been a fundamental part of the better majority of students’ undergraduate careers at their respective universities. To me, I often saw them as being the bane of my existence and a necessary evil at best. However, as I close yet another giant chapter in my life with my college career winding down by being only a mere 16 days away from commencement, I am looking back with a different approach.

There are many reasons students despise group projects, including the meetings in the library where nothing gets done at first due to everyone just staring at each other like zombies, waiting for someone to come up with the spectacular idea that will carry the rest of the group. People also dislike the e-mail chains, missed phone calls, and tardiness of fellow members to meetings, all things that breed patience and often test one’s sanity from time to time.

I myself cite these reasons among many, many others as to why I have not always viewed upon group projects with the most favorable of thoughts. Yet, had it not been for some of the long and daunting hours spent with random students in which I was paired with, I would have never gained the necessary experience of working collectively with all kinds of different students. For every slacker and sub-par achieving member of my group, was an overzealous and super ambitious member there in which I was able to learn and take something from.

The importance of being able to meet deadlines, being held accountable, and contributing well-done and thorough work are all vital components of a successful group project and concepts that can be grasped along with the way if one so chooses.

Additionally, group projects between yourself and classmates provide ample preparation for the ‘real world’ in which you may be assigned to work with a coworker on an assignment. By the time you graduate, you too should have experience being able to deal with a team member with an opposing personality from yourself or someone who you simply cannot stand.

So I those who have years of group projects forecasted into their future, and those who are a few weeks away the end of their college careers to look back and evaluate your group project experiences. Were they really your foe, or simply a friend in disguise?

Keep in Contact

Bear with me, my post begins with a flashback.

February in Paris – I’m sitting in an Internet café talking to a Heather Huhman of Come Recommended for a position as editorial content intern. Our interview seems to be going alright, but in my head I’m dreading – the focal point of the website is to bring together the best employers and employees by making sure every individual comes to the table with three letters of recommendation. Surely, as a potential and would be employee, I should produce these same letters.

The problem is, up until my last job, I never kept in touch with my employers.

I know any of them would write me a raving review, but in my short-sightedness, I just never kept contact. I told myself I would, I kicked myself for being too timid to ask for a recommendation to keep on hold, and then I forgot.

Today’s blog is short but to the point: get on those recommendations. They can be such a vital way for recent grads to jump out from the piles of other applications. Find your former employers on professional networking sites and keep those channels of communication open. Even an occasional email giving your old boss a brief but positive summary of what you have been up to can be a great way to keep you fresh in their mind.

I’ve managed to find two employers in my email address book (thank you gmail for its automatic email storage), but the rest I can’t find. Even those professor recommendations: most of the professors who I connected with were visiting and since they’ve left I’m trying to figure out how to find them, but chances are they won’t remember me. In this day of instant communication, I don’t have an excuse. Sure I can boast on my resume, but so does everyone else. A letter of recommendation validates these claims and lets any future job know you are for real.

5 Tips for the Class of 2010

It’s incredibly hard to believe that in two weeks I will have completed my graduate studies. This year at Georgetown University has taught me so much, and I’m grateful to many people.  If any readers are looking to receive their master’s in public relations/corporate communications, I would highly recommend exploring the Masters in Professional Studies program.

I know there are many readers who will be graduating this May and here are some tips I’d like to offer you.

1. Stay Connected:

Keep in touch with people who you admire. This can include other students, professors or career counselors. The point is to surround yourself with smart and trusted advisors who like you and want to see you succeed. Remember to foster a two-way relationship, though.

2. Express Gratitude:

It is important to express gratitude and show appreciation. There is a multitude of industry professionals I admire from the MPS program (Kathy Baird, Don Neal, Mark Story, Mike Long, Garrett Graff, Cheryl Haas, Sheri Winston, Allison Barber, Angela Mills, Jennifer Gilman, Shayna Englin and Frank Walter), who have given me new insights from their experiences.   I am so grateful to them!

3. Create Your Portfolio:

Your portfolio is an extension of you. Collect your best pieces to demonstrate your talent. Also consider creating a digital portfolio to enhance your online presence.

4. Enhance Your Online Presence:

I’ve touched on this subject before. Take ownership of your brand! You are what is presented of you online, so please manage the content that is being distributed. Make sure you set up Google alerts to track the times your name pops up in search engines, so that you can actively monitor your presence on the Web.

5. Give Back:

In my opinion, one of the most rewarding feelings in life is to help others. The feeling is amazing, regardless of the magnitude of the task. Trust me on the simple laws of karma. The more you genuinely give the more comfortable in your own skin you will feel.  Try it out! Help a friend with something you’re great at or volunteer with your soon-to-be alma mater.

Good luck to the graduating class of 2010!