searching for an internship or job: best practices
TRANSCRIPT
Utilizing Your University’s
Career Center
Allison Fox
Michigan State University
Your Career Center
Supports you Freshman year
through Graduation
Helps with all things related to your transition from
College to Career
Your Career Center Provides
Advising
Job/internship postings
Employer Connections
Assessments
Guides to set goals
Resources to prepare
Expert info
Each Semester
Update/polish your resume
Meet with your career advisor
Get involved in clubs, civic engagement
Evaluate your current job/internship – big picture?
Attend events
Research organizations, jobs of interest
Year One: Explore, clarify purpose
Meet with Career Center
Staff
Learn your uni’sresources
Organize doc’s
Created LinkedIn Profile
Find a part-time job
Confirm major
Assessment
Get involved outside of class
Hone your communication
skills
Keep your grades up
Attend Events
Year Two: Awareness and Adaption
Elevate Your
Experience
Polish your documents
Informational Interviews
Connect with
faculty
InternshipNetwork
Mock Interview
Build Communication
Skills
Year Three: Prepare for Life After College
Job or Internship, related to your goals
Informational Interviews
Build your home network
Talk to alumni from your college
Build relationships with faculty (references!)
Career Events
High quality internship over summer
Year Four: Confidence and Connections
Leadership in student org’s
Mock Interviews
Update docs
More informational interviews
Career Events
Network Building
Questions to ask your career advisor
What are some of the career paths of alumni?
What are some examples of internships you know of with students in my major?
What should a student in my year/major be doing at this stage?
Tell me about students who get great jobs and internships –what tips can you share?
Networking Like a Pro, U.S. Style
Alan HeadbloomGTRI Conference
Grand Valley State UniversityFebruary 6, 2015
Networking 1: Business Cards
– Name tag
– Handshake
– The first question
Networking 2: Meeting People
Networking 2a: Difficult Names
– Learning about their situation, their life
– Asking about their needs
– Making connections
Networking 3: Giving Them Something
1. They are first. You are second.
2. No deal-and-dash!
3. “This is what I’m looking for.”
4. “Is there anyone you know who…?”
5. “Is there anyone here I should meet?”
Networking 4: Getting What You Need
1. Short email: Same evening (preferably) or the next day
2. Simple greeting / reminder
3. Keep your promises
4. Offer to be of future help
5. Ask for what you need
Networking 5: Following up
“It's supposed to be hard. If it were easy,
everyone would do it.”—Tom Hanks
A League of Their Own
Stretch Yourself
Watch 3 AISO members being interviewed about
their international student experience on
Feel Like You Belong
Shameless Plug
Anne CraftDirector of Marketing &
Communications
LinkedIno Make sure your profile is complete.
o Professional photograph is preferredo Current position, if any. Otherwise list as
“Electrical Engineering Master’s Candidate” or similar title
o All relevant experience and educationo Summary: Make your summary
personal, yet professional. Companies don’t hire employees; people hire people.
LinkedIn cont.o Build your networkoFind others you know in your industry and
send them an invitation to connect. When you send the invitation, include a personal note about how you met, or why you want to connect with them.
o Ask for recommendationsoOnly ask from people you personally know
and who have worked on a project with you or who have supervised you.
LinkedIn cont.o Post an update on your homepage that says
you’re searching for a job or internship opportunity
o Use LinkedIn Jobs, advanced job search, or Boolean logic to search for specific results
GOregistry is a database of international students interested in obtaining internships or jobs through CPT, OPT, or employer sponsored visas.
Play video
Advantages:oEmployers search for YOUoEmployers are pre-screened and have
employment practices in place that allow and encourage them to hire foreign nationals for internship and/or job opportunities during CPT/OPT. Some may also file for H-1B status.
o Job environments are international student friendly
To Learn Morewww.MiGTRI.org
Facebook.com/MiGTRI
@miglobaltalent
Global Talent Retention Initiative of Michigan (GTRI)
Global Talent Retention Initiative of Michigan (GTRI)