Oh Internships... Where are you?

Oh Internships‌ Where are You? Betsy Bishop Gill University Career Services

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Today’s Agenda • Review the main three methods utilized

by NU students to find internships – Internship Postings – Employer Sourcing/Research – Networking

• Gain awareness of the services, programs and resources available to you for your internships search • Understand how to effectively use the resources available to you 2

Internship Posting Sites UCS posting sites to explore: • CareerCat – Northwestern’s primary internship and job posting site for students and alumni.

Also is the location for on-campus recruiting, information sessions, workshops, and shared postings.

• iNet – same software system as CareerCat. Employers post internships for the colleges in the iNet consortium: Georgetown University, Harvard University, New York University, MIT, University of Pennsylvania, Rice University, Stanford University, Yale University, University of Southern California, and Northwestern University 3

Other Sites  Internships Online: largest  Vault & Wetfeet: An informational resource that contains internship internship site on the web postings  http://www.internships-usa.com/ Access through NU Library  Username: work Other Major Sites:  Password: credit  Internships.com: National  Indeed.com- Google like search for job and international Internship or internship postings • Idealist.org- For Non-Profit/Gov’t listings • GoingGlobal- For International Work  www.internships.com Searches (access at UCS Resource Library/CareerCat)  Select "Northwestern" • MakingtheDifference.org- Federal  Type in "Wildcats" under Gov’t Internships promo code • National Science Foundation•

http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/ Twitterjobsearch.com- search through postings for work on Twitter 4

Making it Worth the Submit Don’t instantly submit Don’t submit if you are not interested Don’t forget to proofread

Know the industry Know the company Identify main skills employer is seeking Target your application materials Follow instructions Follow-up if possible weeks after submitting

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Employer Research/ Sourcing Researching which employers or environment is right for you in order to find employment Involves: • Researching Companies • Creating a list of those to contact • Visiting website for more information • Contact employers directly through email or phone • Arrange for informational interviews

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The Hidden Job Market Posting Sites

20% of jobs are posted publicly

Remaining Opportunities

Benefits of Utilizing the Hidden Job Market: • More Opportunities

• Geographical Focus

• Less Competition

• Expand Network

• Stronger Alignment

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How to Find the Employers CareerSearch: A Database of Company Information

http://v2.careersearch.net.//client Click on “Create an Account” Use the Client Referral Key: NU2004 8

Other Ways to Find Employers Chamber of Commerce

Hoovers

Wikipedia

Also: Google, Wetfeet, Vault, CareerCat, LinkedIn.com, Crain’s Business, Going Global (International), Idealist.org, Professional Associations 9

Letter/Phone Call of Inquiry (1) Introduce yourself Hi, my name is Holly Jacobs. I am currently a student at Northwestern University pursuing a degree in communications.

(2) Identify interest – organization, position, etc…

I came across your organization when I was conducting research on advertising agencies in my hometown. I was very excited to learn of your niche in providing advertising consulting to green organizations

(3) Introduce skills This past year, I served as the promotions director for a campus student organization called Green Initiatives. In this role, I was able to increase awareness of our initiatives in campus residences.

(4) Inquire I was reaching out to you because I wanted to discuss opportunities in your organization for an internship 10 this summer….

Networking • What is it?- Establishing professional or personal connections with others – – – – –

To develop a mutual support system To tap into a hidden employment market To interact with members of your target field To explore career options To market yourself to potential employers

• Networking is consistently one of the #1 ways NU students find internships or jobs!

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Who to Network with…

• LinkedIn & Twitter • Professional Associations • Your Own Network Neighbors

Family

Alumni

Co-Workers

YOU Friends/ Roommates

Attend Session on Networking Next!

Religious Orgs Student/ Professional Orgs

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A Great Way to Start Informational Interviews • An interview YOU conduct with a person who currently does a job you think you might want, or who has specific knowledge about an occupation or career in which you are interested.

• Prepare and Ask Questions • Be Tactful about asking if employment opportunities exist • Be Genuine and show your Passion for the Work they do • Afterwards- send a thank you note/email 13

Next Steps • Start utilizing all three main techniques right away • Make an Appointment with an Internship Specialist or Advisor • Set short term and long term goals for your internship search (pg 20 of the Career Guide offers an Internship Search Timeline) 14

University Career Services Main Office 620 Lincoln Street 847-491-3700 CareerLab Core Reserve Main Library, 2nd Floor North Web www.northwestern.edu/careers Facebook www.facebook.com/northwesternucs Twitter http://twitter.com/northwesternucs LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/groupRegistration?gid=1926036 15