I don’t know about the other peers, but my drop-in hours this week mostly consisted of a variety of questions regarding internships and summer jobs. Many of us are deeply concerned with our careers post-Cal and internships are one direction a student can take to gaining employment after graduation. With our “Internship and Summer Job Fair” just around the corner, it’s important to know a little bit more about what these are and how you can snag yourself a fancy internship (well, maybe not fancy per se, but I’m sure you get the point). Here are some common questions which I heard this past week:
“I hear many things about internships. What are they and how can they help me?”
Simply put, internships are like apprenticeships at a business or company where you learn the mechanics and daily operations of a certain position in which you’ve been majoring or have a general interest. For example, if you become an intern for a financial consulting firm, through working and doing assignment projects you will learn the daily operations of a financial consultant, the dynamics of the work environment, and have the opportunity to meet people working in the field. This last facet is important because you can make a strong impression and build networks with people who may be able to hire you upon graduation.
“I’m a graduating senior; can I still get an internship?”
Yes. Granted, most recruiters will be here looking for juniors going into their final year,but this should
NOT deter you from going to the fair and asking around; you’ll never know about opportunities unless you are actively searching for them. I suggest looking at the visiting companies’ website and poke around their “jobs/career” page to see what else they may be offering. You can see who will be at our fair by logging onto Callisto.
“How can I land an internship?”
Despite what you may think, there is not a single “right” way or method to guarantee an internship; however, every applicant is required to have an UPDATED resume, especially if you plan on going to the internship fair. Remember to look on Callisto for a list of employers and customize your resume to fit their needs. Finally, for those who are wondering, NEVER bring cover letters to job fairs. If you need help with your resume, you can visit our peer advisors or schedule a 15 min. appointment with one of our excellent career counselors.
Here are some final tips to remember: bring several copies of your resume, you never know who might catch your attention; prepare a brief introduction, look here for information on how to work a career fair; dress nicely, while recruiters are here for Berkeley students, dressing in a t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers will not help your case.
Best of luck and remember that we at the career center are always here to help!
Blog written by: Oscar Mestizo
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