Black Collegian Career Center

There has been a lot of doom and gloom about the American economy and job opportunities. You only need to turn on the TV, read the headlines, or talk to friends who are eager to tell you how difficult it is to find employment. And we have all gotten numb to headlines about company downsizing, right sizing, layoffs, take-overs, and recession-unemployment numbers. If you’re an undergraduate, you may be wondering right about now whether attending college is worth anything or whether you will ever get a satisfying job after graduation. A college degree makes you considerably more marketable than you would be without one, and even in a tough and competitive marketplace, a college degree gives you more opportunities for growth than not having a degree does. Eventually, sectors of the marketplace will recover. As a student, you must plan for the ups and downs of the marketplace. However, your best line of defense for whatever lies ahead begins with strong academic preparation supported by practical experience.

A Two-Part Plan For Success

Discipline at school translates into discipline at work. For most nationally known companies, strong academic preparation means majors that are relevant to the industry and a “B” or better cumulative average. It’s important to work on getting good grades early in your academic life because grades are calculated on a formula: The more credit you accumulate the more difficult it is to raise your cumulative average. Be committed to high academic performance early by factoring in study time, tutoring, instructor conferences, and study groups. If you’re staying on the straight and narrow path to academic success, that’s great, and it’s a first step in the right direction.

Secondly, consider a hands-on experience as part of your plan. Employers want to see resumes with one or two work-related experiences. Internships demonstrate your willingness to invest in your own future and show employers that you have a proactive plan for career success. More important, they allow you to assess your strengths and weaknesses in work related to your career interests. The practical experience can also provide you with first hand knowledge of the skills employers want and their expectations for career success in the field. Hands-on experience is great way to determine whether you’re on the right career-track.

Getting Started

Practical experience can be acquired in a number of different ways. The most popular means are cooperative education, internship, practicum, and work-study abroad. To find out whether your campus has one of these programs contact the campus career center or your major department.

Finding the right type of practical experience can often be challenging, but doing so is very rewarding. If your academic major has a mandatory internship program, you will probably get assistance from the department. The career center may also post practical experience opportunities for students in the department and on their web site. You can also do your own research by contacting professional organizations and doing an Internet search for nationally known intern programs and corporations. Here are few sites to begin your search:

• AMERICAN SOCIETY OF COMPOSERS, AUTHORS & PUBLISHERS
  http://www.ascap.com
• AMERICAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LEAGUE
  http://www.symphony.com
• CBS RADIO NEWS
  http://www.cbsnewyork.com/jobs
• CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
  http://www.cisco.com/college/intern-co-op_program.shtml
• COLUMBIA RECORDS
  http://www.sony.com
• CONGRESONAL BLACK CAUCUS
  http://www.cbcfinc.org/congressional_internships.html
• CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
  http://www.cns.gov/serve.asp
• DISNEY WORLD
  http://www.wdwcollegeprogram.com
• ESSENCE COMMUNICATION
  http:// www.essence.com
• HACU
  http://www.hacu.net/
• HEWLETT PACKARD
  http://www.usabilitynews.com/news/article967.asp
• HOLLYWOOD PICTURES
  http://www.bvcollegenet.com
• IBM
  http://ibm.com
• INROADS
  http://www.inroads.org/
• JOHNSON & JOHNSON
  http://www.johnsonandjohnson.com/careers/interns.html
• L’OREAL
  http://www.lorealusa.com/Career/college.aspx
• LOS ALAMOS
  http://www.t12.lanl.gov/hom/amasunov
• MERCK
  http://www.merck.com/careers/internships.html
• NASA
  http://university.gsfc.nasa.gov/
• OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY
  http://www.orau.gov/hreatornl/Page.htm
• PEACE CORP
  http://www.peacecorps.gov/gradschool/fellows/index.cfm
• PITTSBURG STEELERS
  http://www.nfl.com/seahawks
• SOUTH STREE SEA PORT
  http://www.tuckertonseaport.org/volunteer-internships.html
• THE KENNEDY CENTER
  http://www.kennedy-center.org/educations/vilarinstitute/internships/
• UNITED NATIONS
  http://www.campusaccess.com
• U. S. OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
  http://www.olympic-usa.org
• WASHINGTON CENTER FOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
  http://www/twc.edu
• WNET
  http://www.thirteen/org/index.php

A Few Tips

• Don’t think money first when you are looking for practical experiences. You’re going to find both paid and non-paid opportunities. Look for experiences that will build your resume and skills. They will pay off in the end.

• Do consider not-for-profit organizations. These are often neglected sources of employment that are always looking for help, and they can provide rewarding internships for any major.

• Revise your resume after each internship. Make sure that you include a clear description of your experience and note any important projects where you have shown leadership. Make leadership a separate heading on your resume so that it stands out. In addition to acquiring specific job skills, you are likely to develop other skills that may not be noticeable to you immediately, e.g., customer service, problem solving, communication and critical thinking skills. These skills are highly regarded by employers. And they are portable to any work place. When you add these skills to your resume be prepared to discuss how you obtained them. If you are developing a career portfolio, include samples.

• Make sure that you develop computer skills. Every industry requires basic word processing and data entry. Spend time inquiring about any software that may be unique to specialized areas, such as art and science.

And One Final Note

Practical experience is what you make it. Make sure that you have clear learning objectives. Discuss them with your employer, career counselor, or academic advisor. Doing so will maximize the experience and ensure that quality learning takes place.

Employer Comments

I.B.M. takes 40% of their regular college hires from the internal pool. I.B.M. believes that you interview once and hire several times. The pool is so rich that companies can afford to hire those candidates who have at least one or two work-related internships,” Bill Lawrence, senior Staffing Program Manager, IBM.

“Interns bring enthusiasm and fresh ideas to our professional teams. Sometimes an intern comes up with an idea that we just hadn’t considered. They are a tremendous benefit to our organization,” Doreen Gynn, Director of Human Resources and Training for North and South America Hapag-Lloyd.

Dr. Jennifer Jones is a contributing writer for THE BLACK COLLEGIAN.