Discover Gold through these Keys to Success

Determine Your Goals

Do you want career-related experience?
Do you want to be able to demonstrate your job skills?
Do you want to enhance your qualifications with real-world experience?
Do you want to make your resume stand out from the crowd?

A good internship will allow you to meet multiple goals.

Identify Prospective Employers
Utilize organization directories, chamber of commerce directories, professional associations, the Yellow Pages, and local newspapers to identify potential employers. Be sure to check all summer employment opportunities. They could be potential internship sites. The Career Development Center provides reference books, company listings, and websites for internships and summer jobs.

Develop a Resume to Emphasize Skills, Coursework and Potential
A resume can effectively present your background and distinguish you from other job seekers. What do you have to offer? What skills and abilities do you possess? Think about communication, computer, creative, entrepreneurial, language, leadership, managerial, organizational, and technical skills.

Start Contacting Employers Early
If you seek a career-related position, it is appropriate to contact the manager of a local organization in your area of interest, as well as the Human Resources Department, as early as a semester in advance.

Finding the Right Internship
More employers are using work experiences as screening devices to assess the skills and abilities of prospective employees. Skills learned on the job supplement the skills learned in the classroom. Interns who have proven themselves to a company throughout a semester of successful on-the-job experience will be favored candidates for full-time positions.

Clarify the Following before Accepting an Offer

• What is the name of the individual to whom you will be responsible?

• What are the working hours and how flexible will your schedule be?

• Will you be paid and/or receive academic credit?

• What kinds of day-to-day assignments can you expect to receive?

• Are there any special requirements in connection with the work?

• Where will you be working throughout your experience?

• Will travel be necessary as part of your responsibilities?