Interning: the path to success

You may be overloaded with studying, midterms, finals and other
activities, but doing your research now ““ in anticipation of
the summer ““ is essential for landing a summer job or
internship.

Most indicators suggest the economy and job market are
improving, but it’s still tough out there. If you want to
ensure you can compete effectively for future career positions,
getting a summer job or internship is an important step in the
right direction.

Some students are unsure about the differences between
internships and summer or part-time jobs. Did you know you can
sometimes gain more valuable experience and knowledge in an
internship than in a traditional job? As Mindy Tamburro, recruiting
manager at Deloitte & Touche, stated, “Employers
definitely take internship experience seriously when they see it on
resumes ““ especially in this tough job market. An internship
can only enhance a candidate’s chances.”

And don’t assume the only way you can gain experience and
earn money is with a job.

You can learn a lot about internships with books available in
most bookstores and the Career Lab in the UCLA Career Center.

So let’s get started on your search with a five-step plan
to land that summer experience.

First, T-H-I-N-K. Sit down with a pad of paper and a pen. Draw a
line down the middle. On one side, write down your strengths. On
the other side, write down three things you need to improve.
Let’s stay positive here: focus on your best qualities and
don’t belabor the negatives.

Next, on another sheet of paper, write down what career you
ultimately want to have. For example, do you want to be an
architect, teacher, counselor, nurse, lawyer or engineer? On that
same piece of paper, write down three jobs you wouldn’t mind
having this summer. These jobs should be the types to teach you
important skills for your eventual career. For example, if your
goal is to be a physician, try getting a job in a health care
facility.

Second, build a strategy. You’ll need a blueprint to
follow. The more you organize your plans and thoughts, the better
your outcome will be. You’ll need to create or revise a basic
resume with cover letter and other written correspondence (such as
“thank you” letters). If you need assistance, take
advantage of campus resources like your departmental advising
office or the Career Center.

Third, register for your UCLA online job and internship listing
service, BruinView, at career.ucla.edu. The service is free for
current students and specifically designed to help employers who
want to hire UCLA candidates. You can search for summer and
part-time jobs or internships by type, location and several other
fields. If you register for any non-UCLA sponsored job posting
sites, exercise caution, as the privacy of your personal data may
not secure.

Fourth, break out your networking skills. Here are some
important rules to follow as you communicate with people:

Rule 1: Be diplomatically assertive in your approach.

Rule 2: Don’t oversell yourself.

Rule 3: Energy! Demonstrate enthusiasm and interest in the
work.

Rule 4: Keep your network alive. If you want your plants to
grow, you’ve got to nurture them. The same is true for your
network contacts. Touch base with them from time to time.

Finally, be selective. Don’t randomly send your resume and
cover letter to the first 20 employers you discover. You can be a
valuable asset to an employer, and the experience you have can be
just as valuable for you. One way to ensure this is to apply to
organizations that offer insight into the careers you are pursuing
or considering. The more you know about the jobs you apply for, the
better prepared you will be for the interview.

And once you secure that summer position, you’ll get the
most out of it by being reliable, responsible, flexible and
hard-working ““ traits of a true pro.

As you research and pursue summer jobs and internships,
don’t miss the Internship & Summer Job Fair on Wednesday,
April 14, from 12 to 4 p.m. in the Ackerman Ballroom. Come with
your polished resume and dress professionally. Good luck!

Cynthia Oh is the manager for marketing, publications and
media relations at the UCLA Career Center. Don Spring is the career
librarian at the UCLA Career Center. For more information, e-mail
[email protected].