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OTHER CAREER STORIES - Job shadows: Learning by exploring - Young grasshopper, Brian, seeks tips for the dog-eat-dog world of A & E journalism Internships: Learning by doing Daytona Danielsen Editor-in-Chief An internship is a funny thing. In many cases, students pay to do work they otherwise would be paid for. Yet, internships are a valuable learning experience and offer beneficial resources. Why intern? Internships can provide work experience similar to the work you'll be doing in your career. They can give you a taste of the field and help you determine if it is right for you. During her internship at KCPQ, Daytona learned many reporting skills. Here she practices with Keith, a photographer. Photo courtesy of Daytona Danielsen Classes teach the theories and knowledge you may need, but an internship is a place to apply what you learned. You will probably have the chance to find mentors in your field. You will learn what they do and what you need to do to prepare for a job in the field. That said, here's where to start. Applying for internships There are various ways to find an internship. An introductory step is to visit the career center. The counselors can guide you. Think about places you would like to intern, particularly ones that are relevant to your field of interest. Check their Web sites for internship information, or call and ask them if they offer internships. You can also check general career Web sites. Many offer links to employment information. The next step is to prepare a cover letter and resume. If you do not already have one, have a career counselor help you determine what skills and experience to include. Even if you do not have much experience, you may be able to put together a substantial resume. After that, keep updating it as you gain experience. For example, during the middle of my senior year at Seattle Pacific University I started looking for an internship. I had little work experience so I worried that my resume would be sparse. But a career counselor at the university helped me to construct one that I was happy with. Although I did not have much work experience, I had been actively involved in extracurricular activities, including the college radio station. Tailor each resume to the internship you're applying for. Do not just create a generic one and send it everywhere. Be specific. When your cover letter and resume are complete, start sending them to the places you would like to intern. I applied to the local TV and radio stations and got an interview with 92.5 FM. They did not choose me, but they passed my paperwork on to WARM 106.9 FM, their sister station. At the end of that interview, the internship was mine. 14 WAYS TO LOOK FOR A JOB Not many people realize it, but the job hunt is one of the most studied phenomena of our time. It is amazing what we know about it. Acquainting yourself with this research can pay rich dividends to any job hunter, especially if your job hunt is running into trouble. Here is an illustration. Most job hunters think there are basically only three ways to go about their job hunt: resumes, ads and agencies. Actually, there are 14. The figures in parentheses below are the "effectiveness rate," or how often each method "pays off" for job hunters who use that method. 1) Using the Internet to look for job postings or to post one's own resume. (1%) 2) Mailing out resumes to employers at random. (7%) 3) Answering ads in professional or trade journals appropriate to your field. (7%) 4) Answering local newspaper ads. (5-24% depending on salary demands) 5) Going to private employment agencies or search firms. (5-24% depending on salary demands) 6) Going to places where employers come to pick out workers, such as union hiring halls. (8%) 7) Taking a Civil Service exam. (12%) 8) Asking a former teacher or professor for job leads. (12%) 9) Going to the state/federal employment service office. (14%) 10) Asking family members, friends or professionals you know for job leads. (33%) 11) Knocking on the door of any employer, factory or office that interests you, whether they are known to have a vacancy or not. (47%) 12) By yourself, using the phone book's Yellow Pages to identify fields that interest you, then calling employers in those fields to see if they're hiring for the kind of work you can do. (69%) 13) In a group with other job hunters, using the phone book's Yellow Pages as above. (84%) 14) Doing what is called "the creative approach to job hunting or career change": doing homework on yourself to figure out what your favorite and best skills are, then doing face-to-face interviewing, for information only, at organizations in your field; following up by using your personal contacts to get in to see, at each organization that has interested you, the person who actually has the power to hire you (not necessarily the human resources department). (86%) Reprinted by permission from www.JobHuntersBible.com, a supplement to the book, "What Color is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers" by Richard N. Bolles (Ten Speed Press). Shortly after, I received a call from Jake, the executive producer of the morning show on KISS 106.1 FM. I had some radio experience at the college radio station, and he wanted me to be a production intern. Interviewing So, your resume strikes the interest of the company. Next is the interview. Clearly state your reason for wanting the internship, what you want to do as a career, and what you want to get out of the internship. Like I said, I didn't get that 92.5 FM position. The people who interviewed me later said they chose people who clearly identified radio or promotions as a career goal. Several months later I interviewed at KOMO TV. I didn't get the internship, but I went back to the man I interviewed with for advice. He couldn't give me specific comments about my interview, but told me what he looks for in applicants. The one that stuck with me was to clearly identify why I want the internship and what I want to get out of it. He told me that the purpose of an internship is not for the company's benefit, but for the intern's. Sure, interns often do grunt work, but the real purpose is for students to learn. When I interviewed at Q13 last June, I stated my goals with confidence, and soon the internship was mine. Patience Remember that you're after a coveted position. Sure, interns are usually not paid for their work, but depending on the field, internships are in high demand. Don't get discouraged if you don't get an internship right away. Keep applying. And, remember to apply early! I waited until mid-way through my senior year of college. It worked out well for me, but I wish I had started earlier. At the internship Talk to professionals and people in various positions. Ask about their job, what they did to get where they are, and what you need to do to prepare for your future career. Talk to as many people as you can. They each have different perspectives. Collect advice and tips. For me, Q13 reporter Lowell Deo was a tremendous help. I accompanied him on assignment several times and he involved me in the news-gathering process. He encouraged me to practice reporting while I was with him and coached me. He also gave me tips for my job search. Take initiative and be as active as you can. Go beyond your assigned tasks and experience as much as you can. Make the most of it. After all, it is not a job; it is training. This is where you can apply your classroom knowledge and gain experience. A good internship will teach you more than you could have learned in class. Even if your tasks are dull and simple, you're learning just by being there and absorbing the workplace. Internships can lead to more opportunities. I met Q13 sports anchor Brent Ringenbach during my internship at KISS when he was a guest. I told him about my career goals and asked him how I could get into the industry. He gave me this tip: get an internship at a television station. He gave me the number of someone to talk to at the station, and by the time I called, he had already told her about me. Networking works, even on the internship level. Beyond the internship You already have an in. You've interned. Talk with people until you start hearing the same things repeatedly. Seek out more training. Take the advice you received into consideration. Now, it's time to update that resume! © 2003 Shoreline Community College™