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Tips for a Successful Internship

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Tips for a Successful Internship

An internship is the first step to beginning your career. Although they may seem intimidating, if you follow these tips, you can ensure a successful experience!

Treat it as an extended interview.

Dress for the part – If you want to be part of the team, you need to dress like the team. It is always better to be overdressed than underdressed.

Speaking the part – Always remember you are in a professional environment, be aware of the language you use, and how you present yourself. Refrain from using your phone and ensure you are listening – you may believe you are good at multitasking, but you want everyone to know that you value their time.

Acting the part – Be someone who you would like to work with. Ask for feedback and accept constructive criticism from your colleagues.

Take advantage of networking opportunities.

Take the time to learn about and connect with the people you meet over the course of your internship. Everyone you come in contact with will have a unique story and a unique set of skills that you could benefit from. It is important to build your professional network, you never know, they could present you with your first job opportunity.

Maximize your experience.

Internships have an expiration date, so make sure you take advantage of every opportunity that you can. Volunteer for projects that might be out of your comfort zone – you can learn from every experience and make sure throughout your internship to ask questions. No question is a dumb question. Remember to have fun; you are looking for a career that will last the rest of your life.

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3 Ways to Tackle the New Year

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3 Ways to Tackle the New Year 

Ah, the fresh start to the New Year filled with hope and new beginnings. We all wake up the day after the ball drops and there is a new sense of determination and promise for the future. Here are our top 3 tips to keep your spirits high and your ambitions in sight so you can make the best of 2017, even if those post-New Year’s Eve feelings begin to fade away over time.

1.       Get organized – Ok, we know this is on everyone’s to do list, but how many of you can actually cross it off? Take the time to prioritize the most important things in your life, professionally and personally, and then create realistic goals on how you want to accomplish them. If you don’t break down a goal into steps it may seem overwhelming and you may “save it for tomorrow” until the year runs out and it’s still on your to do list. Taking a few minutes every day to create a list of things you want to accomplish for the day will keep you in order, less stressed, and you may even find more time in the day to do something you enjoy!

2.       Be mindful – Did you know that sitting for 5 minutes a day to reflect can help you physically, mentally and emotionally? Sometimes life takes us by storm and it’s easy to get wrapped up in the day to day antics – but as you are crossing off things on your to do list, don’t forget to take care of yourself. The only way you will be able to perform the best at your job, while also enjoying each day, is if you address your needs. Don’t forget to get the support you need in order to be successful!

3.       Celebrate your wins – Big or small, if you accomplish something – celebrate it! Sometimes we get in such a routine that we don’t acknowledge some of our accomplishments. Whether it’s coming up with a new workout routine and sticking to it, or nailing a big presentation in front of the executives at your job, give yourself a pat on the back. Sometimes we have to be our own biggest supporters to stay motivated, and that’s ok.

Throughout this year remember to be realistic and honest with yourself so you can tackle every goal you set your mind to. Never forget that you determine how your life unfolds and at any moment you can change the path you are on if you are determined to do so. Let’s make 2017 the best year yet! 

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Do you know these 5 interviewing tips?

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Do you know these 5 interviewing tips?

We all know how stressful an interview can be. From picking out the perfect outfit, to constantly rehearsing the perfect answers, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. That’s why we spoke to Artie Feinstein, Talent Acquisition Recruiter, about his best interviewing tips to help you prepare before your next pre-interview freak out.

  1. Smile – This may seem as a very simple thing, and even second nature, but when you are nervous you might not realize the look you have on your face. Try to always have a smile on and be friendly to others in the office. Many recruiters or hiring managers ask around to see if you were nice to other employees, and if you’d be a good fit for the organization.  Don’t forget to smile and greet the receptionist as well.
  2. Know the company – Preparation is everything. Whether it’s reading about the company on their website, or going through recent news articles, learn as much as you can. Having the basic knowledge on the organization is good, but if you can go into detail on any of their recent headlines you will really be able to impress the recruiter and hiring manager, and it will help you stand out from the other potential candidates.
  3. Practice – This simple task can take you from stumbling, stuttering and giving a blank stare, to relaxed and prepared. Sometimes our nerves get the best of us, and it’s important to know that hiring managers and recruiters understand. Sometimes all you need to do is take a deep breath and re-organize your thoughts. By practicing different interview questions you will have responses ready – and remember, if you happen to miss something don’t sweat it! No one knows what you had planned anyway, so continue to talk as if you said everything you wanted.
  4. Be confident – Besides standing up straight, having a firm handshake, and keeping eye contact, be confident in your accomplishments too. Take pride in projects you managed in your last job, or activities completed in school. If you can relate them back to the job you are applying for say them loud and proud, and explain why they will help you succeed if you get the position.
  5. Ask questions – Make sure you come prepared with questions on the position, but write down any questions throughout the interview as well. Sometimes people think it’s not appropriate to ask questions, but this is a common misconception. The interviewer wants to know that you have been listening and are truly interested in the position and company. In addition, don’t be the person who only asks a question about salary and time off – you will learn about that all in good time. 

Artie’s two best pieces of advice:

“The most important thing you can do is relax – when you’re relaxed you can think clearly and answer the questions more effectively. The interviewing process is give and take, meaning you have to show me how you will be able to positively affect the company, while I need to show you why you want to work here.”

“If you think you don’t need to prepare, you’re wrong. There is nothing you shouldn’t do to learn about the company, the industry, their competitors, the interviewer, etc. All is important to know.”

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The 10 Resume Tips You’ve Been Searching For

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We’ve all been there – a blank screen with a blinking cursor taunting us with the words we can’t think of and the inevitable question playing in our heads, “How can I possibly summarize who I am and what I have done on one page?” That question is the one thing that is holding you back from your dream job. Well, take a deep breath and clear your head! Here are 10 of our best resume tips:

  1. Keep it to a page – You want your message to be clear and concise. Your resume should not have every work experience you’ve ever had listed on it. Show the most important information to keep the recruiter interested. 
  2. Keeping it general – Include your relevant work or volunteer history that relates to the position. This could lead you to have 4 or 5 different resumes, but it will help the recruiter identify your skills and experience for the position. Remember, a recruiter only spends 10 seconds per resume – you want to be the one that stands out!
  3. Including a photo – As some may find this unique, our recruiters find it distracting. No matter what type of photo it is, professional or not, it shouldn’t be in your resume. You want the recruiters to pay attention to the experiences that make you qualified for the position, so the less distractions, the better.
  4. Alignment and grammar – Yes, recruiters look to see if your titles and dates line up properly, but most importantly that your spelling and grammar are correct. Don’t be afraid to edit your resume and always remember to double check it.
  5. Informal writing – There is absolutely no reason to abrev anything on your resume (see what we did there?) First and foremost, it’s unprofessional, and the translation or meaning of the word could be lost, causing the recruiter to become confused and lose interest quickly. 
  6. Attachments – The story is way too common: you have an email open to send a cool new workout to your friend, and another email with your resume to send to a recruiter, and you just so happen to mix up the attachments. Always make sure your email is professional and contains the correct attachments before pressing send.
  7. An outside audience – “Hey mom do you mind taking a look at this for me?” No matter who it is, your mom, a friend, or your mentor, find someone who will take the time to go through your resume with a fine tooth comb.
  8. Honesty is the best policy – We all want to look like a superstar, but there’s no reason to stretch the truth to get a job. Take pride in what you have already accomplished and focus on those areas and how they make you qualified for the position.
  9. Take it down a notch – Once again, you want to make your message clear and keep it at an easy reading level. You never know who might receive your resume first, a recruiter, assistant or executive director – you want it to be readable, relevant and understandable for all of them. Contrary to popular belief, industry jargon is the last thing recruiters want to see.
  10. Forgetting to add a resume objective – This is an opportunity for you to be specific on what you are looking for, and it won’t be overlooked by the recruiters. Even if the position you apply for doesn’t work out, they have your resume on file and can use this tip to pair you with another job opportunity.

Remember, you will have time during the interview to show who you are and explain the work you have done, but for now keep it short and interesting.  We know it’s difficult to put yourself on paper, but these tips and tricks will help tailor it to be ready for the next time you shake someone’s hand and pass your resume across the table to them.

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