Interning: The Path to Success
By Cynthia Oh and Don Spring
Published on 3.8.04 by the UCLA Daily Bruin

You may be overloaded with studying, midterms, finals and other activities, but doing your research now – in anticipation of the summer – is essential for landing a summer job or internship.

Most indicators suggest the economy and job market are improving, but it's still tough out there. If you want to ensure you can compete effectively for future career positions, getting a summer job or internship is an important step in the right direction.

Some students are unsure about the differences between internships and summer or part-time jobs. Did you know you can sometimes gain more valuable experience and knowledge in an internship than in a traditional job? As Mindy Tamburro, recruiting manager at Deloitte & Touche, stated, "Employers definitely take internship experience seriously when they see it on resumes – especially in this tough job market. An internship can only enhance a candidate's chances."

And don't assume the only way you can gain experience and earn money is with a job.

You can learn a lot about internships with books available in most bookstores and the Career Lab in the UCLA Career Center.

So let's get started on your search with a five-step plan to land that summer experience.

First, T-H-I-N-K. Sit down with a pad of paper and a pen. Draw a line down the middle. On one side, write down your strengths. On the other side, write down three things you need to improve. Let's stay positive here: focus on your best qualities and don't belabor the negatives.

Second, build a strategy. You'll need a blueprint to follow. The more you organize your plans and thoughts, the better your outcome will be. You'll need to create or revise a basic resume with cover letter and other written correspondence (such as "thank you" letters). If you need assistance, take advantage of campus resources like your departmental advising office or the Career Center.

Third, register for your UCLA online job and internship listing service, BruinView, at career.ucla.edu. The service is free for current students and specifically designed to help employers who want to hire UCLA candidates. You can search for summer and part-time jobs or internships by type, location and several other fields. If you register for any non-UCLA sponsored job posting sites, exercise caution, as the privacy of your personal data may not secure.

Fourth, break out your networking skills. Here are some important rules to follow as you communicate with people:

Rule 1: Be diplomatically assertive in your approach.

Rule 2: Don't oversell yourself.

Rule 3: Energy! Demonstrate enthusiasm and interest in the work.

Rule 4: Keep your network alive. If you want your plants to grow, you've got to nurture them. The same is true for your network contacts. Touch base with them from time to time.

Finally, be selective. Don't randomly send your resume and cover letter to the first 20 employers you discover. You can be a valuable asset to an employer, and the experience you have can be just as valuable for you. One way to ensure this is to apply to organizations that offer insight into the careers you are pursuing or considering. The more you know about the jobs you apply for, the better prepared you will be for the interview.

And once you secure that summer position, you'll get the most out of it by being reliable, responsible, flexible and hard-working – traits of a true pro.

As you research and pursue summer jobs and internships, don't miss the Internship & Summer Job Fair on Wednesday, April 14, from 12 to 4 p.m. in the Ackerman Ballroom. Come with your polished resume and dress professionally. Good luck!