UC Berkeley Career Center Peer Corner

Bearly Accurate – Common Career Conundrums: “Freshmen can’t find internship opportunities"

Oftentimes during my drop-in hours, dejected freshmen come in wondering why their resources are so limited—they’re so enthusiastic and ready to work, yet why can’t they schedule career counseling appointments, why are so many internship opportunities off-limits to them, etc.? I completely understand; when I was a freshman, I remember feeling ready to conquer the world. And I’m here today to tell you that, in fact, freshmen can find internships! Sure, there may be a discrepancy between the number of internships available to lower and upperclassmen, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find one! And I’m speaking from personal experience because I was fortunate enough to find an internship when I was a freshman.

First of all, if you’re already determined to find your dream internship, that’s a great start! Don’t let your energy go to waste—make sure to take advantage of that enthusiasm and take initiative. As a registered Cal student, you have thousands of job listings, employer and industry guides, career fair and employer info session information, and much more at your hands through Callisto! If you haven’t already, go to the Career Center website and register for an account as soon as you can. While you may not be able to score an internship at your dream company right off the bat, there are thousands of wonderful organizations out there looking for all the help they can get. Don’t disregard an internship based on name alone—any internship opportunity, regardless of how big or small the company is, can supply you with excellent transferable skills for your resume, stellar letters of rec, or opportunities for long-term employment!

Have you spotted an organization you’d love to work for but don’t think they currently have an internship program? Don’t be afraid to cold call them! There seems to be a myth that cold calling rarely works, but I’ve heard many success stories at employer and industry panels about determined students who not only launched and created their own internships, but also received offers for full-time employment after finishing. As mentioned before, many organizations welcome any help and recruiters are often impressed by students who take initiative and contact employers. Many student organizations also have internship programs which can be as exciting and informative as off-campus internships. Calapalooza and Cal’s online list of student organizations can help you locate these internships. There are a plethora of internship opportunities out there, even for freshmen, so don’t forget to be open-minded and bold. Best of luck with your internship search!

Blog written by: Catherine Choe, 3rd year History of Art major

 

How to find the right summer program or internship!

So as I am in middle of the second semester of my junior year, I realize it is now time to secure a job or internship for the summer. I also imagine that many of you are in the same boat! While there are endless opportunities, my dilemma is related to finding the right one that is suited to my interests at this point. I want to find a program that will allow me to explore my interest in public health, so I started with the internet which included conducting a Google search and of course utilizing CalJobs.  Networking and attending career fairs are other great internship search strategies that may present some opportunities for you. By conducting my own search, I found that there are many different types of programs ranging from paid to unpaid, local to non local. There are several factors to consider when selecting the right summer program, however, these are choices that each of us must make based on our current needs and goals. If you are fortunate enough to be able to volunteer or pay for your stay in another geographic location, then you may be broadening your search for opportunities. If not, don’t sweat and keep looking locally. Ultimately this process is about finding the best match for YOU. Although my internship search has been time consuming thus far, I have discovered three public health-related programs that I think I will benefit, learn, and grow from. Applying to a variety of different programs and positions will allow you to have a choice and a backup if needed to ensure you can land an excellent internship. With this said, I’ll be finished applying soon, so wish me luck!

For those of you who are seeking assistance with your own internship or job search, you can stop by the Career Center to meet with a Peer Advisor for drop-in counseling. Our hours are from 12-4pm Monday-Thursday, and 12-3pm on Fridays. We look forward to helping you find success!

by Peer: Erica McClanahan: 3rd Year, American Studies

 

The Importance of Taking Initiative

For some people, applying for a job or into a volunteer program can be intimidating.  As undergraduates, we often underestimate our qualifications and abilities to interact in a professional setting.  In addition, application processes can be rather competitive, stimulating a sense of fear that inhibits some of us from even taking a chance to showcase what we have to offer to a valuable employer.

In my experience, I have found that taking initiative relives the pressures of competitiveness when applying for any type of position.  For example, when I discovered my passion to become a pharmacist, I quickly found the opportunities available to gain hands-on experience in a retail setting.  When I found out that Elephant Pharmacy had an opening for the summer, I applied immediately, but was turned down due to the high volume of applicants.  Although I was stressed and disappointed over this rejection, I continued to visit Elephant Pharmacy throughout the fall semester.  Even though there were no openings at the time, I would drop off an updated copy of my resume and happily speak with the pharmacist, expressing my interest in their volunteer program.  By having this personal interaction, I was able to put a face to my resume.   In addition, I knew a couple of volunteers at Elephant Pharmacy and used my networking skills to ask them more about the program.  I would ask the volunteers for tips about qualities that the pharmacy manager looks for in their candidates, updates for further openings, or even to possibly recommend me to the program and put in a good word for me to the pharmacist.

When the spring semester arrived, I applied once again.  This time, the pharmacist immediately exclaimed, “Hey I remember you, you look really familiar! I think I’ve seen you here before…”  Before I knew it, I landed my volunteer position at Elephant Pharmacy and stayed there throughout the summer.  It was an experience I will never forget, and I was happy to know that my patience, persistence, and initiative paid off in the end!

by Peer: Pam Mendoza: 4th Year, Molecular Cell Biology

Internship Etiquette!

Well some of you are probably thinking that once you have landed the perfect internship, that the hard part is over. Although this may be partly true, you want to shine during your entire internship experience and maintain a positive, professional momentum. When I held my internship at Kaiser Permanente my summer entering Cal, I tried my best to go above and beyond what might have been expected of me. Whenever I was asked to do a task or project, I made sure that I fully understood the task and completed it within a fair amount of time. I also took opportunities to share my ideas and input when I thought my perspective could be valuable or needed. Let’s face it - many employers and professionals may identify us as the “You Tube generation”, and we have unique skills, perspectives, and insights to offer companies!

Here are some tips to help you excel and standout in your internship:

1) Dress for success! If the company you are interning for has a casual dress code, kick it up a notch to standout and to reinforce how serious you are about the position.

2) Avoid Slacking! You want to show that you are just as capable of completing projects and tasks as the regular employees (i.e. opening up the door for a potential job offer in the future!)

3) Be on time! Enough said about that. Nothing is worse that a late and undedicated intern.

4) Ask for extra projects and opportunities to get involved! The best internships are those that allow you to job shadow other professionals, get deeply engaged in the activities of the company, and get a true sense of what employment is like in a given profession. Don’t be afraid to ask for opportunities to get involved with projects and experiences that will enhance your internship experience and professional development!

If you follow these suggestions, along with incorporating your own ideas of what a “perfect intern” looks like, I assure you not to worry; even if it feels like your hard work may go unnoticed, it could very likely pay off in the future when you may be extended a permanent job opportunity! Happy Interning!

For additional assistance, check out http://internships.berkeley.edu

by Peer: Erica McClanahan: 3rd Year, American Studies

Getting the Most out of an Internship

It was my first day on the job at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, setting up for the first home game of the season. I was 18 years old, the youngest intern for the Golden State Warriors Community Relations Internship. I made sure to arrive early in order to make a good impression. If there’s anything important about the business world that stuck with me, it is the rule that arriving on time is actually considered late, while arriving early is actually on time! After getting off BART, I placed my media pass around my neck and walked through the back entrance with confidence. My polo shirt looked fresh and I was looking presentable for any situation. As a curious individual, I quickly had the urge to explore the entire arena and figure out how to get around. Luckily, I had time to spare and I even made a few friends with some of the employees and guards. When my supervisor walked up to our event table, she was glad to see I was ready to go with no hassles or late excuses. Another important key to a successful internship is making a good first impression. The first impression is the one that usually lasts the longest and sticks in people’s minds. 

With any big internship, the new people often must start from the bottom and work their way up. My first set of tasks seemed remedial and included carrying boxes, making runs, and watching the merchandise we were auctioning. After proving myself during the first couple weeks, I was easily completing all the tasks they had given me with ease. My hard work paid off when my supervisor asked me to start doing outreach. This is the time where my true talent was able to shine. It was my job to get fans interested in our auction table and getting them to bid on items. With signed jerseys, team balls, and historical memorabilia, it was an easy sell. My enthusiasm and consistency with bringing new fans to the table really showed my supervisor and the other interns that I was serious and eager for success. The third key step for a great internship experience is to go above and beyond what is asked of you so that it doesn’t start to feel like clockwork. With an unwavering work ethic, it is almost as if you can shape your internship into the unique experience that you desire it to be. A successful work history gives you leverage to ask for new challenges or to get creative with your internship by breaking outside the mold. 

Even though I was the youngest intern, my confidence, timeliness, and hard work set me apart from the rest of the interns. Just following these simple steps allowed me to create a good rapport with many advisors and managers – the individuals that had the potential to hire me in the future, or to connect me further with the Golden State Warriors or with the sports world in general. My last, but probably most important step into getting the most out of your internship is networking. All of your hard work won’t mean anything unless you leverage it and use the experience to create strong connections. Be assertive; introduce yourself with your first and last name, your school, and which department you are interning for. Employers and supervisors like to see these kinds of professional gestures, which will help to open new doors and future opportunities. When you meet influential figures within the company, ask for a business card and make sure to follow up with an email.

Here is a review of the key steps to getting the most out of your internship:

1. Timeliness/ Make a good first impression   
2. Explore opportunities and meet new people outside of your department
3. Go above and beyond what is asked and get creative 
4. Be assertive and network/Make important connections

by Peer:

Charlie Fyffe: 2nd Year, Undeclared

 

Dilemmas, Dilemmas!!!: How an internship can help you find your purpose

As I mentioned in my last blog entry, going into my first internship at Kaiser I was "absolutely sure" that I wanted to be a pharmacist. Now looking back on my experience, I'm so lucky to have had this internship, otherwise I wouldn't have found out what where my true passions lie.

My previous plan had been that I would go to Cal, major in some type of science and then become a pharmacist! Yay! Boy, was this an eye opening learning experience for me! While at my internship, I had the chance to interview doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and public health educators. While interviewing the pharmacist there, I realized that being a pharmacist was not a good fit for me. Through my internship I realized that a great deal of the work pharmacists are responsible for involved independent and isolated activities, such as counting and organzing prescriptions, and checking to make sure that the right medicine is given to each patient. Overall, I realized that pharmacy wouldn't allow me to interact with people as much as I actually would like, a value that is very critical to my career happiness and success. I am an extroverted person who loves working with people, so it was here that I decided that pharmacy was not the best fit for me. I would much rather love to have that one-on-one interaction with people everyday, which I why I made the switch to the field of public health.

I believe that public health will allow me to work with people as well as use the counseling skills that I have gained from being a peer advisor here at the Career Center. So, in the same way that my internship helped me to find my purpose and clarify my interests and goals, having a unique internship experience of your own can help you to find your purpose too!

by Peer: Erica McClanahan: 3rd Year, American Studies

Mentorship: An essential component of an Internship

So you're looking for an internship? You might be wondering why you need one. Well, my experience with internships has been pretty awesome. My eyes lit up as I saw the application for the Kaiser Summer Youth Program available here in the East Bay. I was so excited to apply for it. I was thinking of going into Pharmacy and I was motivated to find more out about it. When I was accepted into the position, I was ecstatic to be getting paid to learn about the healthcare field. This was everything a girl could ask for!

I began going to this program everyday and working with a registered nurse who mentored me, which is a necessary component of an internship. She made sure that I learned about everything I wanted to know related to health care, such as the stress of being a doctor and the dynamics of the clinical setting. I also had the opportunity to conduct informational interviews with clinic staff, and I was positively challenged in my work setting.

I can't express how important mentorship is when having an internship because it plays a great deal into, first, networking! The mentor may be able to help you out in the future if you maintain a good relationship with them. Also I still talk to her this day and she advises me on what to do regarding school as well as my personal life. She was really a person that I could call my mentor and this was one of the reasons why I am so glad I took the opportunity to do this internship. In addition I learned that the clinic staff is a team that works together to ensure the patient's optimal care and that the hospital setting can be very stressful, yet rewarding. 

Looking for assistance with your own internship search?  Then please visit http://internships.berkeley.edu, and also drop in to see a Peer Advisor at the Career Center! No appointment needed - we are here to help you Monday-Thursday from 12-4, and Friday from 1-4. Good luck!

by Peer: Erica McClanahan: 3rd Year, American Studies