Getting Your Ideal Internship

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WHERE TO FIND THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES HOW TO TURN AN INTERNSHIP INTO A JOB OFFER PROFILES OF REAL INTERNS AT WORK

GETTING YOURIDEAL INTERNSHIP

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>> The WetFeet Methodology You hold in your hands a copy of the highest-quality research available for job seekers.Weve designed the WetFeet Insider Guides to help cut down on the time you spend doing job researchby doing some of the work for you. Hopefully we can make your job search as painless as possible.

Each WetFeet Insider Guide is the product of hundreds of hours of in-depth research, critical analysis,and precise writing. We survey massive amounts of publicly available information and conductdozens of in-depth interviews of rank-and-file employees who work for the companies and industrieswe cover. (We keep our company contacts anonymous to encourage candor.)

WetFeet writersexperts at reading between the linesspeak with company recruiting staffmembers to make sure you get accurate information about the recruiting process, compensation,and hiring targets. We also consult countless experts, from career coaches and networking gurus toauthorities on professional etiquette and personal branding, in order to provide you insight on the

latest trends affecting job seekers.

Each Insider Guide undergoes extensive editorial review and fact-checking to ensure that theinformation and writing live up to our exacting standards. And because WetFeet retains all editorialcontrol of our Insider Guides , you can be confident youre reading the unvarnished truth, notcorporate PR.

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6 th edition

InsIder

GuIdeGetting YourIdeal Internship

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Getting Your Ideal Internship

WetFeet

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GettinG your ideal internship

6th Edi ionISBN: 978-1-58207-985-1

photocopyinG is prohibited

Copyrig 2012 We Fee . All rig s reserved. t is publica ion is pro ec ed by e copyrig lawsof e Uni ed S a es of America. No copying in any form is permi ed. I may no be reproduced,dis ribu ed, s ored in a re rieval sys em, or ransmi ed in any form or by any means, in par orin w ole, wi ou e express wri en permission of We Fee , Inc. t e publis er, au or, and anyo er par y involved in crea ion, produc ion, delivery, or sale of is We Fee Insider Guide make nowarran y, express or implied, abou e accuracy or reliabili y of e informa ion found erein. to

e degree you use is guide or o er ma erials referenced erein, you do so a your own risk. t ema erials con ained erein are general in na ure and may no apply o par icular fac ual or legalcircums ances. Under no circums ances s all e publis er, au or, or any o er par y involved increa ion, produc ion or delivery of is guide be liable o you or any o er person for damages of anykind arising from access o, or use of, i s con en .

All illus ra ions by mckibillo



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CHAPTer

3211 internships:the biGpicture

2 overview 2 Benefits f

Interns i s

3 W y T eyW nt Y u

5 the search

6 Ty es fInterns i s

7 T e S nUn id Interns i s

9 S ur es f rInterns i le ds

10 Identifying Y urIde Interns i

11 Interns i s abr d

13 Timing t e Se r

15 GettinG hired

16 T e Re ruitingpr ess

17 W t Em yers

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18 Time ine: l ndingn Interns i

19 Getting Y ura t T get er

19 Interviewing 101

Getting Your Ideal Internship6 th edition



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423 naViGatinG your internship24 hitting t e

Gr und Running

25 a ting like pr

27 M king t e M stf Y ur Interns i

29 Time ine:Y ur Interns i

535 real internproFiles36 ar ite ture Intern 36 M g zine Edit ri

Intern

37 MBa Intern wit S ftw re St rtu

38 MBa Br ndM n gement Intern

39 advertising Intern

40 IT Intern

40 Intern f r c nsumer a i n eM nuf turer

co t t

643 For yourreFerence44 Re mmended

Res ur es



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Internships:

The Big Picture

1Overview ....................................... 2

Benefts o Internships .................. 2

Why Tey Want You ..................... 3



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Overview An internship cAn be one o the most e ec-tive tools or success in the business worlda vehicleto take you rom where you are to where you want togo. Tis is true whether youre an undergrad taking the

rst steps in exploring your options, a graduate student with a clear idea o your career goals, or even an experi-

enced pro essional aiming to change careers.Internships give you new skills, provide memorableexperiences and measurable accomplishments, and letyou make valuable pro essional connections.

But be aware: Generally speaking, getting aninternship is not a way to make a living. Many internsarent paid. Te idea is that the chance to bee up yourresume while doing valuable work in a real-world set-ting should be its own reward. Still, compensation

policies will vary by industry, with the more glamor-ous industries paying the least, i anything. I youreaiming or an internship in entertainment, sports,advertising, or journalism, expect to work or ree.

Also, take into account your level o experience. Te wider the gap in experience between you and a trueindustry pro essional, the more willing you should beto work without pay. Its possible to start or ree, thenrequest a review along the road to evaluate whetheryou should be paid. Some internships may quali y asindependent study, gaining you academic credits.

Te availability o internships is less a ected by uctuations in the economy than you might think.

Teres good business sense (some might even say cynicism) behind this: When a rough economy orcesa company to cut back on its ull-time employees,interns can sometimes ll the gap. Te internship is ashort commitment, and doesnt a ect the companysheadcount. Also, some industries simply dont havethe unds to unction without interns.

Benefits Ofinternships the experience you add to your resume asthe result o a well-chosen internship will give you anadvantage over your peers. Internships are a meanso inside access; they connect you to the networks o

people who in uence hiring. Getting an internship isnot a guarantee o a ull-time position, but it certainly increases your chances. And in some industries orinstance, nance and accountingcompanies hirealmost exclusively out o internship programs.

Skill BuildingEven i your internship doesnt result in a job at thecompany, it will still help you build marketable skills.Te eldwork is a chance to hone your communicationskills, learn how to work as part o a team, take owner-ship o projects, and gure out how to take initiative.

induStry ExpoSurETe knowledge youll acquire in an internship willbe rsthand. Sure, you can nd out about industry trends, key players, and company per ormance on theInternet. But that cant compare to what youll learn working alongside the pros. Why was Product X intro-duced? Why did they change the marketing strategy

or Service Y? O all the competitors a company has, which is the one that poses the biggest threat? Asan intern, youll gain insights you couldnt possibly obtain by research alone.

InsIder sCOOPOur in erns ip program is a key ool for iden ifyingour fu ure consul an s.

TIP>

By e ime ey gradua e from college, manyof your peers ave already aken advan age

of in erns ips o develop eir careersandyoull be compe ing agains em for jobs.



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nEtworking, MEntoring, and rEfErEncESHow many times have you heard, Its who you know? Your supervisors, coworkers, and ellow interns likely all have connections to thehiddenjob market.

Ask thought ul questions and reveal your interests.Establish a positive relationship with your supervisor,

and ensure you receive evaluations during and at theend o your tenure. Even i your ties to the organiza-tion dont guarantee a ull-time job, they can be a valu-able source o recommendations or re erences or yournext career move.

acadEMic crEditMany schools o er academic credit or approvedinternships in your area o study. Generally, to receive

credit, you must get prior approval. Check with youracademic advisers about credit requirements. Eligibility may depend on such actors as the duration o theinternship, the nature o the projects, supervision, andevaluations.

why they want yOu interns perform reAl work or companies.Tey can provide use ul extra hands on special proj-ects. Moreover, an internship program can help a com-pany build goodwill in the business and educationalcommunities. And or corporations, the real value o internships comes as an extension o the recruitingprocess. Internships provide us the best opportunity to make ull-time hiring decisions regarding students,

says one senior marketing director. We get to see how they per orm on the job or 10 to 12 weeks doing real work. Its the surest way o nding out i theres a good

t between us and the student.

Employers sometimes use interns to test the super-visory skills o management candidates within thecompany. Coaching, mentoring, training, and delegat-ing are all interpersonal managerial skills employeesneed to develop to gain promotions. Some companieseven ask interns i their supervisors are doing a good

job in training them.

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W ile youre gleaning inside informa ionabou e na ure of e work, fu ure projec s,and areas of grow , youre also le ing yourcolleagues see firs and e quali y of yourwork and your en usiasm. t e con ac s youmake may elp you land a permanen posi ion.

InsIder sCOOPWe like o ire people w ove already worked a

e company. I s a ma er of ry before you buy.



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The Search

2ypes o Internships ...................... 6

Te Scoop on

Unpaid Internships ....................... 7

Sources or Internship Leads .........9

Identi ying YourIdeal Internship ........................... 10

Internships Abroad....................... 11

iming the Search ....................... 13



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types Ofinternships this guide uses the term internshipto cover any experiential learning opportunity: a position, paid orunpaid, developed or people who are in a school pro-gram (undergraduate or postgraduate), have recently

le t college, or who have pro essional experience but areaiming to change careers. SuMMEr intErnShipSTis is the most common type o internship, bring-ing students on board during their summer vacations.Some companies may hire interns or a quarter or asemester during the school year. Tese positions arelabeled according to the academic period involved, such

as all internor winter quarter intern.

SuMMEr aSSociatE prograMI you have an internship in the legal, banking, orstrategy consulting elds, particularly i youre in law school or getting an MBA, youre likely to have thetitle summer associate . Tese rms, even more thanother employers, look or new ull-time associates rom within the ranks o their interns. Te title itsel is some-

thing o a marketing tool used to attract candidates,implying that summer associate is the step be oreassoci-ate . In some MBA disciplines, you cant get a diploma without having served as a summer associate betweenyour rst and second years.

In the banking industry, the title summer associate has supplanted junior associate in corporate publicationsand recruiting materials. However, the latter title is stillused in the everyday language o partners and executives.In law rms, a summer associate is typically a studentbetween the second and third year o law school.

coopErativE Education (co-op) A co-op is an employer-sponsored work programthat generally lasts longer than a summer or a term. Although internships are usually independent activi-

ties outside the schools purview, corporations willo ten design co-ops in partnership with universities and will be considered part o the educational experience.Co-ops are usually paid.

echnology employers, such as engineering andcomputer/I companies, are the most likely to haveco-op programs. Career centers or engineering and

computer science are especially amiliar with theseprograms. Longer-term co-ops generally involve thestudent more ully in meaning ul projects. Much likean apprenticeship in many trades, a co-op position canserve as an employers way o screening and training

uture pro essionals.

othEr routES toExpEriEntial EducationtemI used shrewdly by a student, temporary agencies canbecome a sort o paid internship. General temp agen-

cies typically o er standard ofce work, but special-ized stafng agencies ul ll requests or temporary and permanent sta in particular elds. A number o national as well as smaller regional stafng rms includespecialized divisions such as management/consulting,accounting/ nance, legal, technology, and creative/marketing.

I no specialized stafng agency serves your area, youcan go with a general temp agency and request particu-lar placements, such as with biotech companies or PR

rms. Te agency may see you as picky, but try to makeit worth its while by developing an in-demand skillexpertise in website production, as an example or which it has a hard time ul lling orders.

TIP>

Develop a solid command of e indus ry ande employer o demons ra e your knowl-

edge and your desire o work wi your argecompanies.



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M y o i e s What i the organization youre targeting doesnt havean internship program? You can still try to work thereby pitching a project o your own devising. Tis is anespecially good tactic with smaller companies and start-ups. Teyre likely to have the exibility to be open toyour project ideas. Research the company; nd ways itsactivities dovetail with your own interests and careergoals. Find someone in the department where youd liketo work. Discuss some o your own strengths as a way o kick-starting ideas. You could nd a way o helpingthe company while urthering your pro essional goals.

Some companies do have ormal programs at nationalor regional headquartersbut that doesnt mean youcant target a branch ofce or project work. I these com-panies try to redirect you to their conventional recruit-

ing pipelines, emphasize you want to create a uniqueexperience and youd pre er to take less compensation inreturn or having more control over your work.

the scOOpOn unpaidinternships Working for free may sound like a raw deal.Te un ortunate reality is that many internships come with no paycheck attached, and that may leave you eel-ing a bit exploited. Volunteering at a nonpro t is onething, but being taken advantage o by a moneymakingenterprise is quite another. Although theres no deny-ing the nancial difculty presented by a summer orsemester o unpaid work, in many cases the internship will provide a value that goes well beyond dollars andcents. Te experience may be its own reward. So couldthe ability to add an elite name to your resume and the

opportunity to rub elbows with industry power players.Be ore you talk yoursel out o an unpaid internship,consider the ollowing:

f a :Id be better o making money at a regular summer job.

r a :Internships are a per ect way to test-drive a jobor industry be ore graduation. Love writing or your

universitys newspaper, but wonder whether a pro es-sional newsroom is the place or you? An internshipprovides a glimpse o what its like to work in the indus-try. Whether you end up loving or hating it, what youlearn rom the experience will shape your post-college job search.

f a : Im going to end up stufng envelopes and etching lattes every day.

r a :Ultimately, its not the tasks that count; its whom youre doing them or. Connections are currency.Even go er work can create a positive impression onpeople who will be in a position to hire you down theroad. By answering calls or running errands or a VP,youll be meeting the people they meet. Make sure to

SElf-MadE intErnShipS

Chris, a studenta e Universi yof texas a Aus in,con ac ed an alum-nus w o ad jus

aken a job in Nikesc ildrens appareldivision. C ris addone some researcon is marke andanalyzed keycompe i ors. hes ared is percep-

ions wi ealumnus, w o wasimpressed wi isini ia ive and insig .t e alumnus alkedC ris up wi iscolleagues and

elped im land asummer in erns ip.

Michael contactedCapi al Spor s &En er ainmen(CSE), e agency

a represen sLance Arms rong. heproposed a num-ber of ideas acould elp e firmgenera e revenue.his en usiasm andfollow- roug led

o a summer in ern-s ip, and CSE wasso impressed wi

is work a i kepim as a par - ime

employee during isfinal year in sc ool.Af er gradua ion, CSEasked im o join efirm full ime.



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f a :Teyll stick me in a broom closet and orget about me.

r a :In many cases, the reason a company willengage interns is that theres real work to be done. I youcant be sure this is the case, lay the groundwork or aproductive internship rom the get-go. An educationalplan is a must, because it will set the benchmark or theskills and enrichment you want to acquire. In additionto those goals, arrange or weekly eedback sessions withyour manageras little as 20 minutes a week will do.Tese sessions will help you gauge where you need to

develop pro essionally, make sure youre workload isappropriate, and allow you to seek out new, interestingprojects.

take advantage o your insider statusdont be a raid too er to buy a cup o co ee or senior employees.

f a :Teyll take advantage o my hunger or experience.

r a :Not i youve done your research be orehand.Identi y the companies you hope to work or, thenresearch each one. Does a company have a good repu-tation within the community? Does its website explainthe internship in any detail? ry to contact the personin charge o the internship program to ask about thestructure o the program and the types o activitiesyoull do. Visit your schools career services ofceitmight be able to help you connect with students oralums whove interned at the same place. Te moreyou know about the internship, the better youll be

able to gauge what lies ahead.

f a :Without a paycheck, I wont have anything to show or the time I spent there.

r a :I youre doing an internship or academiccredit, your school will play a role in ensuring yourtasks will meet clear requirements or learning andenrichment. However, i youre setting up an intern-

ship on your own, be sure to ask probing questions inyour interview about the sorts o tasks youll be given,the projects youll be expected to complete, and whomyoull report to. Find out i youll have the chance tospearhead an idea o your own and have the ability to walk away rom the experience with a tangible productthat represents your work.

InsIder sCOOPYoure jus as responsible for ensuring a e in-

erns ip is mu ually beneficial as e employer is.

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sOurces fOrinternship LeadspErSonal rESourcES Your riends, amily, and school contacts might haveideas and connections that can help you identi y andland that ideal internship:

f mMore solid opportunities come rom contacts madethrough amily members than any other source.

f e sUse them well, and nd out i their amilies have con-nections.

p ess sreat any contact that comes rom a pro essor like gold.He might have spent years cultivating it.

c ee ce e sTey have vast usable contacts and opportunities. Keepin mind, though, its a career centers job tohelpyou geta position, not to get it or you.

a mTe alumni ofce and its website will usually provide themeans to search or alumni in your targeted industry.

gEnEral rESourcES A wealth o internship-related in ormation is available

rom the ollowing sources:

J b f sTese o er opportunities to speak directly with com-pany representatives about current or uture opportu-nities. It helps to have a resume and a ocused messageto make the most o the recruiters time. Check out the WetFeet guide, Conquering the Career Fair , or morein ormation.

i e e Job and career websites and company websites all havesearchable databases. A job-posting site could o er hid-den gemsalong with plenty o duds.

t e p b sTese o ten list internship programs, with contactin ormation and descriptive summaries.

p ess c e e esMost have student rates; some let you attend or ree inexchange or one day o volunteering. Also, most con-

erences have student receptions. Attend them to network with peers and working pro essionals.

c m webs es

Many students overlook the career section o a com-panys website in avor o the big job-posting sites.However, many company sites let you apply online.Even better, get the name o a recruiter at the company

rom your career center and personally ollow up onyour online application.

p ess ass sI theres a career youre interested in, theres a pro es-

sional, dues-paying association or it. Most have studentrates. Contact the association to learn about intern-ship opportunities. Local chapter meetings may presentopportunities to nd out whos hiring.

ne s Whos hot and whos not? Keeping up on the news cangive you the inside scoop on why you should call a tar-get company, and it can help you propose a study onindustry trends.



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identifying yOurideaL internship there Are severAl options or identi yingand securing internships. Whether youre interviewingthrough on-campus recruiting programs or using othermethods, you are ultimately your own headhunter.Some companies with ormal programs may not recruiton your campus and others may not even have or-mal programs, but you should still be looking at theseemployers. In these cases, the path is similar to the on-campus process, but you must initiate contact.

dig dEEp You would not buy a car without doing research onit. reat an internship the same way. Un ortunately,

theres no Consumer Reports or internships. Tecompanys website will o er a basic outline with a cer-tain amount o hype; you certainly arent getting anunbiased opinion.

Some assiduous digging can yield results. Youmight get an idea o what to expect rom a review onGlassdoor.com, which provides an inside look at jobsand companies, or a blog post. LinkedIn is a greatsource or background checks, and so is your schools

alumni database. With a little bit o initiative youcan turn these resources into veritable Wikipedias o in ormation about internships. When you target aspeci c company, use the sites search unction to ndsome recent interns within your network. When youspot them, send riendly queries about their intern-ing experiences. Did they work on important projects?Did they receive on-the-job mentoring? What was the workplace atmosphere like? I the answers are no,no, and toxic and su ocating, move on to otheremployers.

find a MEntor A mentor can be an invaluable support in your intern-ship search. Trough your personal network riends,

amily, previous jobsyou should nd an experienced

person in you chosen eld and cultivate the relation-ship. A mentor, wise to the ways o the world and the workplace, can help you realize your goals. She will haveideas about which companies will make good targets oryour internship search. She also can serve as an exampleo how success is achieved in your industry, set a bench-mark or the skills youll need, and provide insight onhow to avoid the typical pit alls.

SElf-aSSESSMEntBecause internships take many orms, you should ask yoursel some hard questions be ore beginning yoursearch.1. y j : What industry do you want to work in? What kind o role do you see yoursel lling? Do you want to work part time or ull time? Do you need to be paid? Do you have a minimum? Do you want to work in a speci c city? Do you want to work or an organization o a

speci c size?

2. y a a : What types o mental challenges do you enjoy?

your hoMEwork aSSignMEnt

Researc is e singlemos impor an ingyou can do before anyin erview. Wi somany resources avail-able e In erne ,career cen ers, careerfairs eres noexcuse for beinguninformed. Bu emos cri ical par ofyour researc will becon ac ing peoplewi experience in

e company and

wi in e field. talko alumni w o ave

worked for your pro-spec ive employer.Meet with peersw ove done in ern-s ips in e same

arge func ionalarea or indus ry.t eyll elp you pickup e lingo and giveyou a clear, insig -ful unders anding of

e indus ry and ecompany i self.



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How well do you communicate in writing and inperson? Get an honest opinion rom someone withgood communications skills.

Do you pre er to research and analyze or discoverand create?

3. y a : Do you pre er to work alone or on a team? Can you sit at a desk or hours and remain productive

or do you have to move around to stay energized? Do you pre er working with a lot o direction and

limited exibility or are you more com ortable withopen-ended assignments that require you to be asel -starter?

internships aBrOad your internship seArch could be a greatopportunity to nd work overseas. In act, work pro-grams are becoming more prevalent as alternatives totraditional oreign study. From a summer analyst posi-tion at a Brazilian investment bank to an environmentalconservation internship with a Bangladeshi nonpro t,opportunities or interning in a oreign land are attain-able.

Be aware that most countries demand work permitsor paid internships and other kinds o short-term

employment; you have to get these in the U.S. be oreheading abroad. Te process may be easier i youre working or a U.S. company with overseas ofces.

U.S.-based programs o ering international work exchanges or structured volunteer positions will usually provide participants with the appropriate papers.

Te key prerequisite to gaining an internshipabroad is a willingness to step out o your com ortzone. Youll be encountering new cultures and new languages. You may be headed to a place that lacksthe living amenities you take or granted. An overseasinternship can be a real test o your exibility andmaturity. But the cultural skills you acquire can givea distinct boost to your career prospects. Companiesare desperately seeking people who have cross-culturalcompetency, says Paula Caligiuri, the author o Get aLi e, Not a Job.

Te experience wont simply strengthen yourchances o working overseas; it can help you land a job

domestically. Business is a global proposition, whichmakes cultural competency a highly valued quality.In the words o one university career-services ofce,College grads who understand that their customers ortheir clients might come rom a di erent backgroundthan their own have an important skill set.

takE invEntory When youre trying to identi y internship opportunities

abroad, start by considering your motives. Do you seethis experience as a way to hone speci c work-relatedskills, or more as a cultural immersion? Consider yourlevel o com ort with risk. Would you be okay going toa country where you dont know the language? Are you willing to work in a third-world country or one where women dont enjoy equal rights?

By eshing out your objectives, you should beable to narrow your search to two or three countries.Further, consider the easibility o each: Do you have

InsIder sCOOPEven before I applied for e in erns ip inBangalore, I go grilled by people in my universi ysco-op office. t ey wan ed o make sure a I could

andle e adversi y of India, and e fac aId be one of only wo or ree Americans in ecompany.

InsIder sCOOPWhether youre in Mumbai or San Juan, it helps toave people on e ground.



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riends or amily living abroad? Do you have back-ground knowledge o a speci c country through yourstudies? Is there a special skill you can hone only in oneparticular country or region?

Use your schools career center to narrow downyour overseas choices. Find out what prerequisites theinternships demand. Are there any applicable grantsor school-sponsored placement programs? Your schoolmay subscribe to valuable Web-based re erences suchas Going Global (www.goinglobal.com) or Uniworld(www.uniworldbp.com), o ering comprehensive joblistings and guides to individual countries, along withlists o top employers and visa regulations.

Dont hesitate to tap into the power ul network-ing potential o your academic community. Contactpro essors who have worked or done research in your

target country. Identi y alumni who live there, andsee i the career center can provide names o students who have recently interned there.

In many cases, the right contact is within reachbut out o sight. For example, theres a good chancethe U.S. Chamber o Commerce has an associationdevoted to the economic interests o your targetcountry. For instance, the American Chamber o Commerce o Argentina provides job listings and a

place to post your resume or CV. Also, the American- Argentine Chamber o Commerce, located in theU.S., provides similar listings, including committeemembers (per ect points o contact) and country data. Because organizations like these make it theirmissions to promote trade and investment, youll ndtheyre eager to help.

You might consider using a or-pro it placementprogram to help you ind your overseas internship.Sure, youll be spending money, but consideringthe time youll save in research and arrangements,the ee may be worth it. Still, ind out somethingabout the out its reputation be ore laying downyour hard-earned cash. And make sure its o eringthe kind o experience youre aiming ornot a glo-ri ied ield trip.

MakE it countForeign rms may have a di erent idea o what the word intern means than a domestic employer would.

o ensure an enriching experience, you should getthe job description, development plan, and the

employers expectations on paper be ore you set sail.

I you work or an American rm abroad, youremore likely to go through a classic internship. Youllalso nd yoursel on a clearer path to a ull-time job with the company. On the downside, you may getless experience o the country itsel than i you were working or a oreign rmyoull be more immersedin corporate culture than local culture. A career-services pro says, You can live and work in another

InsIder sCOOPW en I spen a semes er in erning in Greece, ey

ones ly didn know w a o do wi me. t eywere almos afraid o delega e eir work.

intErnational StudEntS

If youre a foreignna ional s udying in

e U.S., your in ern-s ip possibili ies maybe limi ed. Of course,

you will need eproper work permi s.(Informa ion ondifferen ypes ofeduca ional and workvisas is available aJ-1 Visa ExchangeVisitor Program, agovernmen websi e:

p://j1visa.s a e.gov/) Be aware asome employers

ave a policy agains

sponsoring in er-na ional s uden sfor permanen workau oriza ion, so

ose employers are

unlikely o ire in er-na ional s uden s asin erns. If your uni-versi y arranges co-opprograms, you maybe in luck: Becauseco-ops are par of

e curriculum, esc ool mig andle

e ask of ob aininge necessary papers

for foreign s uden s.



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When to run the other Way

I promises quickmoney and lo s ofi . If i sounds oogood o be rueiis.

I s a small organi-za ion you can findin e Yellow Pages.

t e employer adver-ises i s in ern-

s ips on flyers allover campus.

I s a sales-rela edjob and e pay

is based oncommission.

t e employerdoesn inquireabou yourexperience, back-ground, or career

in eres s o see ifyoure a good fi for

e posi ion.

You ge vagueanswers o your

ques ions abou ework youd be doing.

t e offices are ina ques ionableloca ion, suc as aware ouse area or apersons ome.

t e employerdoesn ask you

o comple e a jobapplica ion beforemaking you an offer.

Your ins inc s areelling you o ge

ou as fas as youcan!

No all in erns ips are crea ed equal. Someposi ions a mig look like in erns ipsare really jus par - ime emp jobs available

o almos anyone. t ey may even be unc al-lenging busywork a an employer wouldra er no assign o s aff. You might ge paida is ype of job, bu c ances are slim youllrack up good, resume-building experience.

here are some ips for recognizing s adyin erns ips:

country and still be in a big bubble. But there are ways to escape this trap. Have lunch outside ratherthan in the company ca eteria. Make riends withyour non-American colleagues and invite them out

or drinks a ter work. Join a local club. Te morelocal you can get, the better.

timing the search theres no hArd-And-fAst schedule or theprocess o getting an internship, but you should expectto take the ollowing steps:1. Decide what kind o internship you want and when

youll be able to start.2. Learn about existing opportunities.

3. Put together your application package: resume,cover letter, re erences.4. Chart deadlines or internships o interest: applica-

tion due dates, the start o ormal recruiting.5. Prepare or interviews through research.6. Do interviews and ollow-ups.7. I your initial plans all through, cast a wider net.

Each o these steps takes time. I youre unclear

about your career goals, you might need more timethan i you already know your unctional area and tar-get companies. But be sure to begin the process severalmonths be ore you hope to start an internship. Tismeans that the process o nding a summer internshipshould begin in the all or undergraduates; or graduatestudents, it usually begins be ore the school year starts.



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Getting Hired

3Te Recruiting Process ................ 16

What Employers Want ................ 17

imeline: Landingan Internship............................... 18

Getting Your Act ogether .......... 19

Interviewing 101 ......................... 19



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the recruitingprOcessrulES of EngagEMEnt As you aim or that ideal internship, youll be compet-ing with many other highly quali ed candidates. Hereare some ways you can improve your odds:

use y Bes res eCareer centers are your greatest ally in the recruitingprocess. ake advantage o them. Check with yourcareer center to stay up to date with recruiting events,sign up or newsletters, and visit its career resource siteregularly.

g e i e e eTe number-one complaint among recruiters is studentslack o research. When you show up or an interview, youshould have a pretty good idea o the companys productsand operations. Use the news media, Web sources, andany in ormation your career center can provide.

S f se You cantand shouldnt want toapply to every

internship you come across. Nor should you try to talk to every recruiter who shows up on campus. I yourelooking at a list o twenty ve companies, choose thetop ve. Tat ocus will help you delve into each com-pany and tailor your pitch to the particular opportu-nity. Otherwise, youll be spreading yoursel too thin.

g tI possible, schedule a mock interview at your schools

career center. Some centers will videotape the interview so you can review your per ormance. Get your resumecritiqued and attend interview workshops.

d leDont sit around and wait or recruiters to come to you.Find good contacts at the companypeople with a rolein internship hiring decisionsthrough your alumnidatabase, through LinkedIn, and through whatever per-sonal contacts youve established. Email them, tell themabout yoursel and your quali cations, and explain yourreasons or wanting this internship.

M e c I you know a recruiter will be coming to campus orattending a local career air, initiate contact one week prior. Perhaps the employer has a Facebook page orLinkedIn pro le. Become a riend or an, and sendthe company a message. Let the recruiter know yourelooking orward to meeting. Make yoursel stand out

rom the competition by showing a sincere interest inthe company. Dont orget to double-check your spell-ing. And dont be a Facebook stalker: One message isenough.

Be g SI you get a no at any point, take it grace ully. Sendingthe representative a thank-you note is a good touch.

on-caMpuS rEcruitingTe classic internship recruiting process, in whichstudents work with the companies who scout oncampus, ollows a general pattern.1. Youll start by registering with the career ofce and

completing a pro le that includes at least one ver-sion o your resume.

2. Youll submit your resume to compete or inter-view slots. On many campuses, this is known as the

resume drop.3. I a company has chosen you as a candidate, its rep-

resentatives will interview on campus.4. I you make the cut, the next round o interviews

takes place at corporate ofces.



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what empLOyerswant As An orgAnizAtion screens candidates duringcareer airs and interviews, its looking at three things:ability, possibility, and t:1. A is the sum o your past achievements, your

aptitude, and your skills. Tese are the elements youcan o er an employer right o the bat. Even thoughemployers will not expect a student to have a hugeamount o work experience, your grades will o er anindex o your ambition and your dedication to hard work. Needless to say, all o this should be spelledout on your resume.

2. p is what you might become or theemployeryour potential. Your past projects may o er a key to this; so may your aspirations and anair o motivation. Your grades, o course, are also anindication o what you can o er the company.

3. f is suitability, a knack or adapting to and inter-nalizing the company culture. Can you work withinthe system?

your Skill SEtBesides the general characteristics detailed above,

recruiters are keeping an eye out or speci c skills. Inyour resume, in your interaction with recruiters, and o course during your interview, you should highlight the

ollowing.

c mm S sPrepare a great cover letter or each employer. (Nothing will sink your chances aster than a generic cover letter.)Practice your responses to common interview questions

( ell me about yoursel . Why do you want to work or us? How do you imagine your career path?).

Make your answers concise and in ormative.

i eBe truth ul in all your dealings with the organization.Dont exaggerate your GPA; dont put alse in ormationon your resume. And dont withhold in ormation youllhave to reveal i you get the internship.

pe e S sDraw on your li e experience to demonstrate youcan deal with people e ectively and work on a team.Nobody expects an internship candidate to be able todraw on a wide range o work experiences. But did youhandle small children e ectively as a babysitter? Didyou collaborate on the set design or a school play?

te S sTese vary rom industry to industry. But i youre look-

ing or an internship at an investment bank, you hadbetter be able to demonstrate your aptitude at nancialanalysis. You wont have much o a shot at an I intern-ship i youve never taken a course in computer technol-ogy. And i youre looking or a spot on a magazine, youbetter have the clippings to argue or it.

i e Your behavior during the recruiting process is a key to

demonstrate youre motivated. Dont expect the recruit-ers to hold your hand; show them through your actionsthat youre a sel -starter. You should provide examples,

rom school or previous job experience, where youvolunteered or an important task or proposed a new project.

w EO er examples o how your hard work helped you

accomplish a task. Make sure recruiters know aboutyour nonacademic achievements: Perhaps youre anaccomplished pianist, or a green belt in tae kwondo. Volunteer work is a great indicator o your work ethici youre a Big Brother or Big Sister, dont hide it!



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timeLine: Landing an internship you WAnt to start thinking about your intern-ship well in advanceas much as a year ahead. Heresa rough idea o the various steps youll need to take and when youll need to take them.

S /S mme (t e ye Be e) f Semes e s

Assess your interests; know your skills; set realistic job goals; and develop a plan o action.

Attend cover letter and job search workshops o eredby university career services centers.

Prepare your resume. Check the job listings on your schools career cen-

ter website, pre erably twice a week. New jobs andinternships are listed daily throughout the semester.Note that companies have various deadlines orapplications.

Attend job airs and career symposiums to makeemployer contacts, conduct in ormational inter-views, and to pick up in ormation about the organi-zation. (Note that interviews may take place at job

airs, in which case you should contact employers a

week to a month be ore to submit resumes.) Research potential employers. Set up in ormational

interviews or your breaks. You can nd potentialsources through your schools alumni database orLinkedIn.

Start applying or summer opportunities.

f B e , t s , w e B e Start your networking in earnest. Let your amily,

riends, relatives, ormer teachers and coaches know youre looking or summer opportunities.

Attend on-campus employer in ormation sessions. Identi y and research local employers while home

during the break.

S Semes e Review the Fall Semester items listed above, not-

ing that some companies have earlier deadlines orapplications.

Continue to check the job listings on the career website, pre erably twice a week...new jobs andinternships are listed daily throughout the semester.

Apply or summer jobs or internships. A ter submitting an application, cover letter and

resume, call the employer to be sure your materi-als arrived (allow sufcient time or applications toget to their destinations be ore calling); ask i theemployer needs any urther in ormation rom you.

I the employer isnt coming to campus, schedulean interview over spring break or whenever you canarrange to meet; most employers will want to meet with you be ore o ering you a position.

Always send a thank-you letter a ter each interview.Tis is not only a courtesy, its a con rmation o your sincere interest in the position.

buzz Killers

A resume a spoorly organized ordoesn reflec eskills required for

e posi ion

A generic coverle er. If i usesp rases suc as your company orthis position , eyllsmell a ra .

Poor grooming andsloppy a ire

Subs andardwri en or oralcommunica ionskills: Bad gram-mar and misspell-ings can sink yourc ances.

Bad manners

Lack of en usiasm

Arrogance

timidi y

Remember, e in erviewing process isndesigned jus o find e rig candida es;

i also screens ou e wrong ones. here aresome mis akes a can row you ou of erunning:



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getting yOur act tOgether your self-presentAtion is key to landingan internship. Dont approach the process haphazardly.Trough care ul preparation, you can maximize yourappeal as a candidate and get a leg up on the competi-tion. Here are some tips:

ha wand reviewed andreviewed againthe more eyes, the better. akeadvantage o any relevant workshops o ered by yourcollege career center.

r a .Use newspapers, magazines,and websites. Contact ormer and present employ-ees, especially recent interns and graduates, and seek out in ormation.

p a , a , a .Conduct a mock inter-view and videotape it i possible. Ten review thetape and make notes about the things you did welland the areas youd like to improve. College careercenters will usually o er interview workshops, mock interviews and even video critiques.

g a rom your peers about your conversa-tional style. I you come o sounding cockytoneit down. I you sound halting and unsure o yoursel , work on projecting con dence.

d a .Company employees can giveyou a sense o the dress code, but i anything, youshould err on the side o being too ormal. Te day be ore an interview, lay out the clothes you plan to

wearyou dont want to nd a missing button onyour shirt minutes be ore youre about to leave.

A a w with con dence. Recognizethe attributes that make you a good candidateandown them.

interviewing 101 youve mAde the cut; now is the critical juncture when you nd yoursel ace-to- ace with aninterviewer. O course, youll know enough about thecompanys culture to dress and conduct yoursel likea member o the rm. Here are some other essentialprecepts to bear in mind. (For the speci cs o conduct-ing a great interview, consult one o WetFeets Ace Your Interview guides.)

BE EnthuSiaSticTis is basic. Enthusiasm alone wont land you theinternship. But i you dont seem avid about the pros-pect o getting the job, the employer will quickly passyou overits that simple. And lip service isnt enough. You may say youre enthusiastic about the prospect o working or the company, but i youact apathetic orbored, youre cooked. You should make your enthu-siasm clear through attentive posture, an alert tone o your voice, and a smile that says youre glad to be there.Greet the interviewer warmly. Make eye contact, smile,and o er a rm handshake. You should say somethinglike, Im delighted youre taking the time to meet me,and Im really excited about this position and eager to

learn more about it. Let him know up ront youreglad to have this opportunity. A show o enthusiasm is vital. Inevitably, during the

internship itsel therell be moments when your energy ags, and employers know this. But i youre unenthu-

siastic at the start o the process, it bodes ill or youruture demeanor on the job.

ExudE confidEncEo inspire an employers con dence in your abili-

ties, youve got to demonstrate con dence in yoursel .During the nerve-wracking course o a job interview,this may be easier said than done. But bear in mind thebasics o con dent body language: Make requent eyecontact with your interviewer. Speak up, but not too

ast. Dont dget. Sit upright, but not rigidly.



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Most o all, come prepared to state your strengths.Give concrete examples o how youve put them touse. Dont overstate your accomplishments, but dontdownplay them either. Keep sel -deprecating humorto a minimum: It may be ne when youre with your

riends, but this is neither the time nor place or it.I remaining con dent is a struggle or you, give

yoursel a pep talk be ore the interview. Better yet, enlistan enthusiastic riend to give you one. Or, practice tech-niques or managing your nerves such as deep breathingand visualizing success. I youre at ease, the interviewer will be too.

know your liMitSSome people spend the night be ore an interview bon-ing up on company acts and gures as though cram-ming or the test o their lives. But interviews arent oralexams; they are an exchange between two people, whomay soon be coworkers, about shared pro essional inter-ests. Youdoneed to know something about the industry

and the organization, but youre not expected to know it alljust enough to ask your interviewer in ormedquestions, to understand the questions your interviewerasks, and to give reasonable answers. Your commonsense should prepare you to give sound answers to any questions that may arise about how you would handlea speci c problem during your internship. Te details will emerge later, when you become part o the team.

Like any other conversation, an interview requires

give and take, so dont expect to dominate it. Give yourinterviewer a chance to contribute to the conversation.

QuEStionS and anSwErSTe old saying, Teres no such thing as a bad ques-tion, does not pertain to the interview process. Whenyou ask the right questions in an interview, it shows

youre paying attention and youre truly interested inthe job and the company. But o er questions care ully.You can kill yoursel with a question i it shows a lack o knowledge about the company, says an internshiphiring supervisor. Dont ask questions you could haveanswered yoursel by spending a ew minutes on theemployers website.

A good question may resemble one o these: How does this internship t into the larger

organization? What are some o the critical challenges in this

department? What management style can I expect? Can you describe the per ormance review process?

But as you research the company, other relevantquestions may spring to mind. I the opportunity pres-ents itsel , be sure to ask them.

rapport iS vitalOnce recruiters are done interviewing a round o candi-dates, the rst thing they will ask each other is, Whatdid you think? Teyll share their gut reactions. A can-didate is either a t or he isnt. Even i youre a leadingcontender or the position on paper, your chances o

getting an o er are slim i youve ailed to build rapport with the interviewer.Teres no oolproo way o turning your interviewer

into an ally. But here are some tactics that can put youin a good light:

When responding to a question, give a brie over-view o the points you want to cover and clear them with the interviewer. For example: I did a schoolprojects integrating aspects o nance, marketing

and operations. Would you like to hear the details? Appropriate humor (in small doses!) is a good thing. I you arent sure o the meaning o a question, ask

clari ying questions. Mean what you say. I you seem insincere, itll be an

immediate turno . Make sure you close the interview. Reiterate your

TIP>

Be aware you may ave e oppor uni y o askjus wo or ree ques ions, so c oose wisely.



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W en e in erview is over, send a ank-youno e wi in 24 ours. Email is okay; snailmail is even be er. Include oug ful com-

men s abou e session. W en relevan ,refer o some personal fac e in erviewermen ioned: Good luck s opping for a newvan, or howd you do a racque ball?

interest in the position and ask or the interviewersbusiness card. Give a riendly closing handshake as well.



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Navigating

Your Internship

4Hitting the Ground Running ...... 24

Acting Like a Pro ........................ 25

Making the Mosto Your Internship ......................27

imeline: Your Internship ........... 29



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hitting thegrOund running your internship is a short-term proposition.Most likely, the summer will be over be ore you evenknow it. Tats why you have to make every day count.

Te process should start even be ore you show upat the ofce. Heres where the research you did to pre-pare or the interview really pays o . Your contact withinsiders will have started you on the road toward under-standing how the company and the industry work. Eachindustry has its own lingo; by now you should havestarted picking some o this up. You should know thetechnical jargon youll need in your new job, any recentdevelopments in the company, and the names and unc-tions o the companys top brass. Your new colleagues will see this as an encouraging sign o your interest.

BEforE you Start Your search is over once youve accepted the intern-shipbut your work has just begun. Find out to whom you will be reporting. Contact that person wellbe ore you show up at work. Find out what projectsshe has in mind or you. I the answer is vague, try toelicit details as politely and diplomatically as you can.

Explain that you put a high priority on doing good work and you need to prepare as thoroughly as pos-sible. You also can request being assigned to a particu-lar area or particular type o project. But dont appeartoo demanding because these conversations with yourboss will set the tone o uture dialogue. Youll also get asense o your bosss managerial stylewhether detached

and ormal, or laid-back and approachable. It helps toknow what lies ahead.

Say youre entering a marketing internship. You may pre er to gain exposure to pricing and promotionalstrategies or existing o erings on the one hand, orto the researching, planning, and structuring o new o erings on the other. Discuss your pre erences withthe appropriate people be ore you start. Te discussionmay help you shape the internship to suit your personalcareer goals.

You may have certain amount o exibility in deter-mining the scheduling o your internship. For instance,in the interest o accommodating di erent schoolschedules, the employer will o ten give you a choice o start date. Consider this care ully. You may have hoped

or a nice vacation a ter exams. But this can throw yourinternship o course. Ideally, youll start at the sametime as, or even be ore, the other interns. I you show up a ter everyone else has started, youll have to catchup. Youll miss orientation sessions, possibly even thechance to work on choice projects.

I youre planning to take a vacation later in thesummer, get a sense o how much wiggle room youhave. Some employers will not even consider you orthe job unless they are sure to get a summerlong com-

mitment rom you. Others may grant the permissionbut resent the time you take away rom your intern-ship. Teyve committed time and resources to mak-ing your internship productive and they want to getmaximum bene t out o it

InsIder sCOOPSo many people ink an in erns ip is all abou

e final projec e grea climax a e end ofyour ree mon s. I ink i s so muc more abou

e firs wo weeks. t a s w en you es ablisyourself wi your eam. Based on your firsimpression, people are going o decide w e er o

ake e ime o suppor you in your in erns ip.Assistant Brand Manager

TIP>

If a all possible, before you begin your in ern-s ip, speak wi e professionals w ose

eam youll be joining. Ask abou eir careersand professional in eres s, ongoing projec s,and c allenges. Also ask for advice. t e knowl-edge will be usefuland so will e rapporyouve s ar ed o build.



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Your employer will usually make sure you haveall the proper resources when you show up or yourinternship: a workstation, a company email address,voicemail. But these details can sometimes all betweenthe cracks. Dont be a raid to sort out in advance; it willsave valuable time during that precious rst week.

acting Like a prO remember, your internship is basically along-term interview. Tat means you need to show thecompany youd be a worthwhile candidate or a ull-time position. I your supervisors want you to developcertain skills and areas o expertise, apply yoursel dili-gently to the task. And at all times remain pro essional

in your demeanor and your approach to the job.Intern supervisors check in with me requently during the summer as to whos standing out, says amotion picture company executive. I a supervisormentions an intern is reliable, honest, driven, humble,enthusiastic, and intelligent, thats a huge plus or me. When I remember an intern and have heard numerouspositive comments like that, thats someone I keep my eye on.

Here are some key ways you can present yoursel as a worthy member o the team:

Be t meIt sounds simple, but punctuality speaks volumes aboutyour pro essionalism.

S p s eNo one wants to work with a grouch. I you maintain apositive, can-do attitude during your internship, youllshow yoursel as someone who coworkers will want tosee againin a ull-time position.

Be M esNo need to point out your every accomplishment.Rest assured your managers are watching; they know about it already. A so t sell is the best tactic or prov-ing your worth to the company. Dont aggressively tout your abilities and accomplishments to your man-ager; let her discover them or hersel . And that trick o shooting o an email to her when working into the wee hours? Oldest one in the book. Dont use it morethan twice.

a l e f -t meNever think o yoursel as a temp. Dont blow o anassignment just because you think you wont nishbe ore your summer stint ends. I you have any interestin getting hired ull t ime, act like youre in the game orthe long haul.

S y p e

Youre a hot shot at a top university. But one unin-ormed jerk has the audacity to ask you to send a ax.Dont say thats not in my job descriptionbecausenow it is. No matter how menial the task, show how pro essional you can be. Photocopying and ling may not be glamorous chores, but theyre essential ones. Andi you do a sloppy job copying a stack o documents, who will trust you with bigger assignments?

Be SShow yoursel as somebody your colleagues can lean on.Go out o your way to help others. Stay late and o erassistance when others at the company are overloaded with work. Remember, its never too early to act likeyoure already an indispensable part o the team.

InsIder sCOOPt e repor ing manager w o oversees in erns

rea s em like regular employees. Were lookingo see ow muc direc ion ey need, eir

ini ia ive, and quali y of eir work. We c eck oneir progress roug ou e summer. Our goal

is o be able o make a iring decision before eydepar .



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M s e e teDelve as deep as time allows into the company and theindustry. Look or relevant in ormation in the news andin trade magazines.

as Q es s You might have a 3.9 GPA, but you still dont know it alland, guess what? You arent expected to. Mostmanagers would rather answer your questions whenyou get the assignment than have to ll in the gaps a teryou turn it in. I you dont understand how to go aboutan assignment, ask your supervisor or clari cation.Find out what resources are available to you. But useyour discretion; gure out the right people to questionand the right time or doing it. Dont corner a seniorvice president at a cocktail party and start asking aboutthe speci cs o work ow.

d Be a S ze

Sure, youll run into annoying brownnosers who spendmore time schmoozing the higher-ups than working.Even more galling, the tactic can sometimes work. Telesson? Although getting the job done is o paramountimportance, dont underestimate the importance o building important social connections.

S e uIts airly sa e to assume the employer knows about

your hope or a ull-time job o er. But dont take it orgranted. I youve decided you want to come back a tergraduation, let everyone knowyour boss, your col-leagues, and the support sta ers who o ten have the earo the big guns.

intErning kryptonitEBecause interns are usually new to the corporate world,theyre sometimes prone to make mistakes a sea-soned pro essional would avoid. Some bad moves candestroy your chances aster than kryptonite can disableSuperman. Heres a list o 11 ways to obliterate your jobprospects with a single blunder:

i e u e e i e e You have a right to a social li e. As long as youre o drinking age, youre ree to head to a bar with yourcoworkers or some happy hour cheer. But whereveralcohol and work mix, proceed with caution. Know your drinking limits and stay well within them. Loud,lewd behavior will nix your chances at the company.

l se l s Your more experienced colleagues may like to dish thedirt. But its best to turn a dea ear to gossip. Youre new on the scene and cant a ord to get caught up in thecross re o ofce politics.

d e m-we As bad as it is to get caught nodding o in class, itseven worse on the job. Doodling or daydreaming dur-

ing meetings will attract negative attention right o thebat. I you have to be brought back to reality duringmeetings, theres no way youll be brought back.

InsIder sCOOPt e ree mos impor an a ribu es in ge ing or

keeping a job are a i ude, a i ude, a i ude.

False Friends

I mig soundars , i mig sound

Machiavellian, bute as u e in ern

never befriends efirs people o seek

im ou . t eres aig probabili y

eyre in need ofins an allies.

S ay cordial andprofessional, buno c ummy. If youfind yourself elunc pal of a guyw o is known forbadmou ing ebrass, you becomeguil y by associa ion.



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a es gDont complainnot about the company, not aboutyour assignments, not about the ca eteria ood. A posi-tive outlook could make or break you in managementseyes.

imReligion, politics and sex are not sa e subjects or the workplace. Yes, as you develop personal ties with col-leagues, these issues may come up. But in any group set-ting, these topics should stay o the table. Oh, and thatrisqu email you got rom your reprobate uncle? Keepit to yoursel .

f s Se se

I the other women are wearing closed-toe heels every day, leave the wedge sandals in the closet. And eveni you see your supervisors taking business casual tonew levels, dont break out the muscle shirts. In busi-ness dress, it always makes sense to err on the side o caution.

d d s s You may be used to treating your iPhone or BlackBerry

as an appendage. But while youre on the job, use it only to get your work done. When your supervisor is hover-ing over your desk, its not the time to send texts to yourgirl riend. And those iPhone games? You can play them when you get home.

t M i m Yes, you should let your supervisor know what youre upto. But she doesnt need minute-to-minute updates. I youre running out or a cup o co ee, theres no need tointerrupt her activities to announce it.

S e i s sTe mens washroom? Not a good place to engage yourboss in work chatter. Be assured he wants to nish hisbusiness in there be ore attending to the business outside.

u B s essIts okay to leave be ore other colleagues. But as youstroll out the door, never cheerily say, Dont work toohardor youll be branded as the kind o person whosays things like that.

g awolChronic lateness or absence is a certain job-prospectkiller. I an unavoidable con ict arises, let your supervisorknow. Its best to pick up the phone and ask; i its a sticky situation, he may see an email or a voicemail message asa weasel tactic. And i you call in sick, make sure he canthear the ight announcements in the background.

making the mOstOf yOur internship An internship presents a great opportunity

or learning and career advancement. Its your respon-sibility to maximize it. Learn your way around theorganization and amiliarize yoursel with day-to-day operations. Master the companys communications

systems and any so tware programs youll need todo your job. You want to integrate yoursel into theofces operations as quickly and thoroughly as possi-ble. When you need help with a task, ask the seasonedsta ers. Teyll appreciate your e orts to become amember o the team.

InsIder sCOOPAn in ern was old o alp abe ize a bunc of files,and e oug i was e easies ing. he was

ex messaging e w ole ime and ended up pu -ing five or six ings in e wrong order. he ended

up ge ing fired. Even if i s small, you may be doingmore impor an ings an you ink. And many

imes o er peoples jobs are dependen on e jobse in ern does.



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Dont stop at questions. alk to everyone you can.Be sensitive to peoples availabilitythese are busy pro essionals and they may have more importantthings to do than chat. But you should be makingas many connections as you can with colleagues andsupervisors; your internship is a prime networkingopportunity.

Te role you play in your new team is crucial

in your e ort to make the internship worthwhile.Understand how your skills and background cansupport the team, says an internship supervisor witha major consulting rm. Look at what other peopleare doing on projects, and gure out how you cancontribute.

Its up to you to get the ull value o your intern-ship. I you nd you arent doing the work youexpected to do, let your supervisor know. Be dip-lomatic and dont whine. You cant indicate yourebored with your present project but you may be ableto get reassigned to more suitable work.

At some point in the processusually hal way through, then again at the endyou will probably gothrough an evaluation process. Tis is a great oppor-tunity or personal growth. Listen care ully and withan open mind. Dont be de ensive. I they tell you

about areas where your skills and work habits can beimproved, take heedthese people know what theyretalking about. But theyre also likely to discuss yourstrengths, which are use ul to bear in mind whenyoure pitching your services in your next job hunt.

Te evaluation process is a two-way street: Whilethe company is sizing you up, youll be guring out i

you like the work and the work environment. Haveyou ound the qualities that attracted you to theemployer in the rst place? Is the company a good t

or your style, your values, and your goals? Be ore youproceed orward to a ull-time job, be sure you have

ound a com ortable t.

Signing out Your exit interview may serve two purposes. It willprobably be your last chance to get a personal evalu-ation. But the company team also will probably elicityour eedback about your experience. Te in orma-tion will help the team as it plans uture internships.Be open and honest, but ocus on the positive. By nomeans should you turn this into a gripe session. Makeconstructive suggestions, and dont burn any bridges.

When the summer is over, you might be inclinedto submerge yoursel into the current business o your li eespecially i youre cramming to ul llyour school requirements. But you shouldnt let goo the connections you made during your internship.I you havent already done so, send thank-you notesimmediately to the key people on your team. In themonths ahead, keep in touch. Dont be a pest aboutit, but periodically update them about your activi-ties. Send them articles you think might be o inter-est. Nurturing this network can give you an insidetrack on job opportunities within the company.

Use LinkedIn aggressively. Add your new con-tacts, and get a supervisor to recommend you there.Follow up with your ellow interns, check on theirplans, and maintain the conversations you startedabout your ideal job.

InsIder sCOOPt ere are defini ely imes you feel undervaluedand unapprecia ed as an in ern, and youre going obe upse and youre going o be s uck doing crappy

ings, bu i s all par of e experience. A e endof e day, everybody s ar s somew ere.

TIP>

If your employer doesn ave even s plannedfor yourself and your fellow in erns, ake eini ia ive yourse

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Getting Your Ideal Internship