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Internships and Career Exploration. Jean Leverich, LSA Advising Dan Schniedermeier, Career Center. Career Exploration exercise. What career(s) are you considering/interested in learning more about? What experiences would help you gain insights and marketability for that career?
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Internships and Career Exploration Jean Leverich, LSA Advising Dan Schniedermeier, Career Center
Career Exploration exercise • What career(s) are you considering/interested in learning more about? • What experiences would help you gain insights and marketability for that career? • What steps can you take to make them happen?
Informational Interviewing • What is it? • Interviewing for information, not a job! • Why do it? • One of the best ways to learn information about different industries - information that you might only learn from individuals.
What is an Internship? An Internship: a short-term work experience in which you receive training and gain experience in a specific field or career area. An internship can be paid or unpaid and can vary in hours and length. Is your summer job an internship?
An Internship is also … • An opportunity to gain valuable insights and hands-on training in a professional setting. • A chance to explore career paths in a variety of fields. • An opportunity to translate coursework into applied knowledge in the workplace. • Potentially an intrinsic part of your academic and professional training. • An opportunity to develop a network and find a mentor.
Why do an internship? • What are some reasons for doing an internship?
What do you want to explore or learn from your internship experience? • What are your goals for your internship?
Steps to an Internship Develop your internship goals -View postings on Career Center Connector and visit “Majors and Careers” link on TCC website. http://careercenter.umich.edu/students/majors_careers/index.html -From these listings, identify and prioritize preferred industries and/or job tasks!
Steps to an Internship Prepare a resume and learn to write cover letters -Use online resources such as Optimal Resume to develop documents. http://umich.optimalresume.com/ -Research organizations and specific programs to refine interests and tailor cover letters. -Come in for advising on your cover letters and resumes before sending them out to employers or internship providers.
Steps to an Internship Utilize multiple resources to identify internships -Access online postings via Career Center Connector. http://careercenter.umich.edu/students/findingjob/c3student/index.html -Use books from The Career Center library. -Attend Information Sessions and Job Fairs: Public Service Internship Program (Late September) Job Fair (October 5) Study Abroad Fair (October) Health Career Fair (November) Internship/Summer Job Fair (January 16) Multicultural Job Fair (January 17) Work Abroad Month (February) E-Fair (February)
Steps to an Internship Apply for positions from October through May -Follow application instructions carefully and check to make sure all of your materials look as professional as possible. -Maintain accurate records of your contact with organizations you contact and individuals with whom you speak. -Make follow-up calls 1-2 weeks after applying to express interest, check the progress of your application, etc.
Steps to an Internship Interviewing -Learn about interviewing techniques and questions from The Career Center website and take advantage of Interview Stream. -Research organization and specific internship opportunity more in order to create the best fit for you. -Talk with a counselor at The Career Center if you have questions regarding accepting or rejecting offers.
1.Communication Skills - verbal and written 2. Honesty/Integrity 3. Interpersonal Skills - relates well to others 4. Strong work ethic 5. Teamwork Skills 6. Analytical Skills 7. Motivation/initiative 8. Flexibility/Adaptability 9. Computer Skills 10. Detail-Oriented The Top 20 “skills” employers seek in candidates 11. Leadership Skills 12. Organizational Skills 13. Self-Confidence 14. Friendly/Out-going Personality 15. Tactfulness 16. Well Mannered/Polite 17. GPA (3.0 or better) 18. Creativity 19. Entrepreneurial Skills/Risk-Taker 20. Sense of Humor (NACE, 2005)
Transferable Skills • Abilities, aptitudes and qualities developed in one context that can be applied to many other contexts. • Acquired through academic coursework, extra-curricular activities and work experience.
Art & Archaeology Classics Asian Studies French & Italian Geosciences Molecular Biology Philosophy Physics Psychology Religion Sociology TV producer Screenwriter/novelist investment banker Attorney OB/GYN MD HS teacher Journalist Physician U.S. Justice Marketing Bank vice president http://www.princeton.edu/pr/pub/mc/ Major to Career Match
LSA Credit for Internships • Many departments have courses for internship credit for their concentrators. • Talk to concentration advisor • Independent Study
What is an independent study? • A special arrangement made with an instructor to complete academic work not normally offered through traditional classroom instruction.
Arranging an Internship as Independent Study • Find a faculty member to sponsor you. • Determine what academic work you’ll do to get credit. • Get an electronic override from your sponsor or dept staff • Throughout the internship, think about how your experiences relate to independent study. • Keep a journal • Communicate with faculty if you need to modify project
Make the Most of the Internship • Keep a journal of tasks, opps, contacts, projects, etc. • Make a list of skills you acquired and how you developed them • Keep a file of materials for use in a portfolio • Ask people to discuss their job skills • Seek a mentor • Ask to take on responsibilities • Ask to do something that involves the skills you want to develop
Questions to ask yourself during / after experience • What did you learn from your experience? • How did you demonstrate the key skills employers are looking for? • What did I like/dislike about internship, and why? • What do I want to do/learn next?
Resources/Next Steps • UM Career Center • UM-sponsored opportunities • MIW, GIEU, OIP, Ginsberg Center, Office of Student Leadership & Activities, Overseas Opp Office • Alumni Association • For career exploration and informational interviewing • Instructors, Friends, Co-curricular Activities • Maize Pages