Career Advice | Get a Head Start in Nursing
How to go after the internship you need to prepare for a great career
This is an exciting time in your life. You're away at college, studying hard
and looking forward to a successful career. But books alone won't get you there.
Many experts agree that internships and externships are the best way to learn
the ropes of a profession prior to graduation day. So how do you go about
getting that star opportunity that will jump-start your career? These tips will
help you enhance your education with the best on-the-job learning: an
internship/externship that's right for you.
- Start early!
This is not the time to procrastinate. So you're only a sophomore - who cares? If you are willing to work and ready to learn, many employers will jump at the chance to hire an ambitious student. Start the process now, and you'll be able to intern or extern with more than one organization during your college career. This extra real-world experience not only looks great on your resume, it gives you the chance to check out different work environments.
- Network
There are plenty of ways to get involved in the professional community as a student, and getting your name out there can make you an attractive student candidate. Join student chapters of professional groups and health care organizations. They often provide networking opportunities with leaders in the professional community, and offer valuable information about internships and externships (sometimes exclusively for student members of these groups!) When an organization looks for students, they know that the best will be involved in groups such as these. Visit the following links for more information:
- Ready, aim, contact!
Do you know where you want to go? If there is a hospital or organization out there that really interests you, use this opportunity to go exploring! Instead of waiting for your first job to learn about a specific career or company, hunt down an opportunity now. Don't be afraid to contact an organization just because they haven't publicly advertised for an intern or extern. The interest and motivation you display by contacting them may be just what they are looking for in a student!
- Use the resources at your fingertips.
In addition to your own research and networking activities, don't forget to see what your campus career center has to offer. Your college or university most likely has a career center where you can find more information about available internships, externships and other opportunities. Another good place to look? Online! The Internet has a variety of Web sites dedicated to intern and extern opportunities, and many online job boards post these positions as well as information about starting your career.
These tips should help you as you begin your hunt for an internship or externship, which will be key in finding out more about the ins and outs of the profession that interests you. Working "in the trenches" is the perfect accompaniment to learning about a career in the classroom. It's a hands-on, honest look at where you are going with your own career, and provides a great "preview" of what you can achieve after graduation.
