Archive for April, 2011
How a Virtual Internship Can Benefit You!
InternQueen
This is a guest post from Campus Ambassador Melinda Price from Miami University of Ohio.
Since internships are a valued experience for your future employer, it’s pretty much expected you’ll have some experience upon college graduation. However, holding an internship during your college career can be a challenge to work around.
Between classes, extra-curricular activities, office hours, a social life, and sometimes a paid job, when in the world will you have the time to commit to an internship? The answer for some people, including myself, is a virtual or online internship. This type of internship works around your schedule and you can do it on your own time.
For example, I am currently an editorial intern for Pretty Young Professional. The start-up website is aimed at young, professional women who are looking for career and life advice pertaining to subjects related to women. My job in particular for the company is creating content, editing, generating ideas for new topics, social marketing for the site, and I work closely with the founding team. But I do it all from my own college room.
The articles that I edit and write are generally due within a week, but I can do them whenever I find time in my schedule. For the most part, this means I do my internship assignments in morning when I’m not in class, in my breaks between classes, or after I get home from work at night.
A lot of online internship employers are also willing to have some kind of flexibility with deadlines. Since they are hiring college students, your boss will realize that you have a lot on your plate and can give allowances. Also, they don’t care when you work on it, as long as it is done in a timely manner.
Another advantage of an online internship is that all the resources you need are on your computer. Not only is this really convenient because most students today haul their laptops around anyway, but you can work from anywhere with an internet connection.
Since everything is on your computer, it is important to back up your files with a flash drive or other device. It might make for an angry employer if you lose necessary content.
One important thing to note when looking into an online internship is your phone and email etiquette. Since a lot of your contact with your boss, co-workers, and potential clients will be via email and phone, it is important to note that you are being professional in your conversations. Make your voicemail message one that you want employers to hear and your email content worth reading.
Many times, in a virtual internship is a special skill to know the social media language. Candidates for virtual internships (and all jobs) have an advantage when they are fluent in using new media. My advice is to create a Twitter or Facebook, if you don’t have one already, to test the waters so this area will not be your weakness.
Holding a virtual internship does have some requirements, but is a great option for someone who can’t find time to hold a full-time internship but want to gain some experience in their field. This will also signal to future employers that you are familiar with being professional in your communication and have knowledge of the online world.
McGill Arts Grad Climbs From Junior Sales Rep To Sales Manager In Four Years At Xsilva
TalentEgg Incubator
Recent McGill University political science and sociology grad Zack Brown went from Junior Sales Representative to Sales Manager in only four years at Xsilva, a young, innovative Montreal-based…
To view the remainder of the article please visit:
http://www.talentegg.ca/incubator
TalentEgg On Twitter – What’s The Best Perk You’ve Ever Had At A Job?
TalentEgg Incubator
Yesterday, we asked @TalentEgg’s Twitter followers what the best perks they’ve ever had at a job are and – wow! – you guys have some pretty sweet perks.
To view the remainder of the article please visit:
http://www.talentegg.ca/incubator
Financial Crisis: An In-Depth Look At The Causes And Effects Of Student Debt In Canada
TalentEgg Incubator
The cost of higher education doesn’t come cheap. Some say student debt is a hindrance to the intellectual and professional development of Canada’s next generation of workers.
To view the remainder of the article please visit:
http://www.talentegg.ca/incubator
TalentEgg on Twitter – What did you want to be when you grew up?
TalentEgg Incubator
Ah, childhood. The world is your oyster! We thought it would be fun to find out what dream jobs TalentEgg-ers had when they were kids, so we asked our Twitter followers to let us know. What did you…
To view the remainder of the article please visit:
http://www.talentegg.ca/incubator
TalentEgg On Twitter – What Was Your Favourite Summer Job?
TalentEgg Incubator
Right now, thousands of students across Canada are finishing up exams and starting summer jobs. You tend to hear a lot about bad summer jobs, but what about the good ones? We were curious, so…
To view the remainder of the article please visit:
http://www.talentegg.ca/incubator
The art of the follow up!
InternQueen
This is a guest post by our campus ambassador Cari Buchwald from University of Georgia.
Following up after you have applied to an internship is not something that anyone wants to do. Let’s face it: no one wants to come off as an annoying, pushy student who is desperate for an internship. However, follow ups have the ability to make an employer take a second look at your information, causing them to reevaluate you as a candidate and even give you a further opportunity. Here are a few tips for how to use a follow up to show that you are an interested and capable candidate:
1) Remember to Say “Please” and “Thank You”
Being polite is absolutely vital in a follow up. Doing so allows the employer to see you as a mature individual who is appreciative and pleasant to work with.
2) Don’t Beat Around the Bush
The follow up is not the place to give the employer information concerning your capabilities; they already have received your resume and cover letter. This is your time to be honest and straightforward about why you want the position and how strongly you are interested. After all, employers want capable individuals who are highly passionate about the internship.
3) Resume, Resume, Resume
For whatever reason, the employer may have misplaced or lost your information. In the follow up, you should always reattach your resume so that it will be right in front of them when they receive your email. If it is easily accessible to view, they will have no choice but to take a second look at your resume.
4) Don’t Be Discouraged
The follow up does not always guarantee a further opportunity with the company; sometimes they have already selected another candidate or are looking for someone else. However, don’t let this discourage you from writing follow ups. Following up makes you stand out, which is helpful if you are interested in the company and want to apply to future positions.
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