Internship offers edge

There are more than 8,000 students at North Lake College taking credit courses, and you are only one of them. Most students, after two years, will move on to other institutions or start looking for jobs.Those who choose to transfer to a university will have another two years before they hit the market, but sooner or later, we all will have to enter the working world. Thousands of other students will do the same.

There are a few things you can do to make the employer choose your application over those of other candidates. Two of them are: a completed degree and as much experience as possible.You might ask, “How can I gain experience if I can’t find a job?” Here’s how-- an internship.

The NLC Career Center in A-305 assists students with internships at local companies. They can help you along the way, starting with creating the resume, finding the right position, applying and having a successful interview.“Students have ideas about a workplace but they won’t really know about it until they experience it,” said Francyenne Maynard, director of the North Lake Career Center. “Internship is a great way to see the daily life at work in a field that the student wants to choose for his or her future career.”

She also advises that those who are interested in an internship for summer 2004 need to start planning now. Most deadlines are from January through March, but some are as early as November.For your application packet, you will need your GPA, resume and usually a short essay. Volunteering and leadership experience are not necessary, but will definitely help.

“There is a lot of competition, just like with a real job,” said Maynard. Therefore you need to do your best when preparing your application packet.
When you visit the Career Center, take advantage of all the resources in the computer database, binders containing job and internship postings, publications and advice from the career specialists.

For internship preparation, you will find a reference book published by the Princeton Review, The Internship Bible, which is a source for postings and tips.
The Career Center is also in the process of developing a new program based on mentorship. Businesses will offer mentorships to students, providing guidance in college course selection and networking which, according to Maynard, is the most successful way to find a job.

Given the competition in today’s job market, it becomes more and more difficult to start a career, so being successful depends on making the right decisions.
To contact the Career Center, visit A-305 or call 972-273-3140.