Helping interns with networking skills
April 26, 2010 at 1:24 pm | Posted in career center, networking | 1 CommentTags: career center, getting an internship, internship, networking
by Jane Finkle
Students often need an extra push to move forward with networking. They know it has some impact on their career development, but for many students networking is a foreign concept that requires learning a new language. As a student becomes proficient in the dialogue of networking, he or she increases the chance of developing a relationship with a professional who is capable of offering insight into a career field, or, who can lead them to a valuable internship. Counseling sessions that focus on networking as an essential skill, provide an ideal opportunity to enliven the student’s communication repertoire, strengthen their preparedness for professional life, and build overall confidence. Career counseling offers students a safe place to practice skills, deal with their fears and learn how to use networking to their advantage.
Writing Skills
In my own counseling sessions, I have been able to assist students in drafting a note or an Email to a professional contact by helping them develop an outline that will explain the nature of their interests. Equally important, I work with the student on generating questions to further support their goals. By the time a student leaves my office, he or she has developed a plan for the initial correspondence to a contact and given a deadline within which to complete the note or letter. Once the letter is completed, the student then sends it to me via email or brings it to my office for feedback. We all know the staying power first impressions have. If the letter to a professional is appropriately and carefully composed, the chance of that professional responding favorably to a student increases substantially. I also view mastering this type of correspondence as a precursor to writing a strong cover letter.
Role Playing
For those students who are anxious about how they will initiate a conversation or approach a professional contact at an event, setting up a short role play can be very effective. Typically, the first question I pose to a student has to do with what they hope to achieve by talking to a professional contact. This thought, in turn, helps the student to formulate and prepare probing and useful questions. At this point, I ask that they imagine that I am the contact person and we engage in role playing ways they might introduce themselves and how they would articulate their goals. For the extremely shy and reserved student who has performance anxiety, I do a short role play using video on the computer. This is a technique that many career counselors use to help students develop interview skills but it can be equally beneficial to students who need extra initial support in order to communicate with professionals in a polished and confident manner.
As I counsel students on perfecting their networking skills in writing and in person, I find this process contributes to helping them mature and understand their own power in securing internships, and best of all, it enhances their confidence as they become more comfortable meeting and communicating with professionals.
Alumni: a rich and natural resource for students seeking internships
April 1, 2010 at 5:26 pm | Posted in alumni, career center, networking | 3 CommentsTags: alumni, career center professionals, finding an internship, intern, internships, networking, summer internship
by Jane Finkle
We all know that building a network is one of the key ways professionals discover work opportunities. Networking is a skill that students can develop and master as they seek out internships. Most college Career Offices maintain an online alumni career network. This dynamic resource helps students to explore their personal career interests with the guidance of alums. Students can also connect with alums who participate in college panels and programs.
I have had many positive experiences working with students who take the initiative to contact alums and find this action often leads them to an exciting internship opportunity. Here are three cases that illustrate the power of alumni in supporting student career development. In each instance the relationship bloomed into internship possibilities. Please note that all three cases are women because of my career counseling experience at a women’s college!
First Case Study – Meeting alumni at career conferences
Susan attended a career conference in New York City, sponsored by her career office and featuring alums in a variety of professions. The alums were volunteers who were intent upon sharing their work experience and answering student questions. Susan was especially impressed by the work of one of the alumna in financial services. She engaged this alum in conversation asking her question about her career. The alumna was so impressed with Susan’s approach and personality, she arranged for Susan to interview for an internship at her firm.
Second Case Study – Alumni networking through college career center
Through her career office, Linda secured an externship (one week job shadowing program) with an alumna working at a high profile women’s magazine. Even though Linda followed this alumna for a week only, she volunteered to help on a project and conducted an informational interview to find out more about the alumna’s career background and accomplishments. The alumna was impressed by Linda’s initiative and genuine interest that she created a summer internship at the magazine for Linda.
Third Case Study – Online alumni career network
Joan was specifically interested in finding a summer internship related to City Planning. I suggested she use our online alumnae career network to see if she could find an alumna in the field to talk with about her summer goals. Joan located an alumna in the city planning field in California. Emailing this alum, Linda included a brief introduction and asked the alumna if she would be willing to talk with her via phone about her career. Joan also invited the alum to offer any suggestions for summer internships. The alumna agreed and provided Joan with substantial information on the best way to find a summer internship related to City Planning and also volunteered to circulate Linda’s resume at her organization.
It has been my experience that many students shy away from approaching or contacting alums. They worry about imposing upon alums or are not sure about the best way to take advantage of alum’s expertise. When they express their angst about connecting with alum, I see it as counseling moment; an opportunity to not only alleviate their fears but also teach and provide guidance. Suggestions such as how to write an appropriate email or make a phone call to the alum are usually helpful, along with aiding them in forming questions that would engage the alum and also provide the student with valuable information.
Alumni are indeed a rich and natural resource for students. They remember their own college experience, both the triumphs and failures and these memories inspire them to reach out and support students from their alma mater. When we teach students to connect with alums during their internship search they experience firsthand the power of networking and sometimes end up with a great summer internship.
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