| Advice on Finding a Job/Internship | |
- Don't be afraid to aim high. Just by putting themselves out there and taking risks, some Belmont students have been able to intern at "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "The Daily Show," CBS, MTV, political campaigns, and so much more. Professors and advisers are very good about encouraging their students to go for gold, but they also help students to be realistic and apply for the ones that are more within their reach.
- Don't sell yourself short. Know your strengths and be confident when you go into interviews—if you can market yourself, companies are much more likely to hire you.
- Don't wait until the last minute to do internships. Many majors require students to do internships as a part of the program, so get talking with your adviser early about them. Nobody expects you to have completed a bunch as a freshman, but it would be good to start thinking about where you want to do an internship.
- For good measure, post your resume on the career services website, where employers can see it. In general, post your resume wherever you can, including your own blog or website.
- If you're looking for an on-campus job, go to the work-study fair at the beginning of the year and dress up! It's usually right after the freshman service project, so most students come in sweaty and messy. Go home, shower, change, and bring copies of your resume—you'll stand out above the crowd.
- Remember that your professors and academic advisers are there for you. They want to know how the search is going and help you wherever they can. Again, don't be creeped out that they genuinely care about the details in your life. Use that to your advantage—let them help you.
- Take advantage of the convocations Belmont offers to prepare students for the job market. The Office of Career Services will host events throughout the year, from writing a killer resume to practicing interviews.
- Talk to other students who have interned at places you are looking at and get "inside information" about what the company wants from an intern and how to prepare yourself. Sometimes, with the smaller companies, the employer will ask outgoing interns if they know anyone who could replace them.
|