CALLING ALL COLLEGE STUDENTS
How to know when the internship is right for you?
As the UGA Fall Career Fair passed by last Wednesday, I feel I have learned soooo much about how to be comfortable moving into adulthood. My experience from the Spring Career Fair compared this one was literally night and day, and here's what I did differently....
1. I changed my major.
This was probably one of the hardest decisions I've ever made. I know us college students change our majors all the time and it's not a big deal, but I never thought I would need to when coming to college. I was so certain math would take me down a path I would thrive and be happy in, so I figured Finance was the closest thing. But if you asked me at any point last semester what I wanted to do with that, I had no idea. I didn't even know what finance was until I took the entry level course and even after that I still had no idea what part I wanted to do for the rest of my life. So obviously, when I was trying to get an internship in that field, I would make up things that I thought sounded cool, but had no actual clue what I was talking about...and I'm assuming employers saw that. Make sure you are studying something you are excited to learn more about.
2. I researched companies ahead of time (not meaning an hour before going).
This year I had around six companies that I knew I wanted to talk to. I looked at their description on their website of what they were offering to see if it was something that would benefit me in the long run, and looked to see what qualities they were looking for. I tended to stay away from the employers who literally had every major listed... In my opinion, it's okay to be picky and not waste your time talking to random companies that aren't offering anything close to what you're looking for. However, it does help to be open-minded. Also be prepared for them question your intention in talking to them; have a purpose or it's really awkward.
3. I was confident.
Steps 1 and 2 helped this a lot. I knew my story, why I was interested in the internship, and why I was a good fit. If you're not there yet, that's fine, but making stuff up on the spot never worked for me. Make sure you sound intelligent when speak, which doesn't mean using big fancy words. To keep it 100% real from my experience, a lot of the recruiters are stand-off'ish so when I found ones that weren't, I let them know how much I appreciated it. They give you a whole different experience and feeling about yourself that make it more enjoyable.
All three of these things led me to find a great company, a great opportunity, and a heck of a lot less stressful senior year. I took way more advantage of social media by stalking their website, LinkedIn, and emailing them throughout the process. The main point I'm trying to make is find an opportunity you know you want, and then everything else comes naturally. Don't pretend to be someone else. Don't pretend to have experience that you don't. Don't settle for a company that doesn't see your value. When you know, you'll know. GOOD LUCK!
Cameron, I really enjoyed reading your perspective on how the Spring Career Fair differed from the Fall Career Fair. I had a similar experience as well. I took it much more seriously this year and put in a lot more effort on the backend. Because of this, I naturally felt more confident (just like you mentioned!). Utilizing social media to learn more about the companies was so helpful & accessible. Good luck on your career endeavors!
ReplyDeleteI loved reading this post. When I transferred schools I also changed my major because I realized I wasn't passionate about what my original major was and now I love talking about the classes I'm taking and the internship I had over summer, I completely agree that finding people you can be 100% makes the experience completely different and makes you feel like you are genuinely wanted by them instead of talking to people who are stand offish, this was a great read and I could not agree with it more
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I'm all kinds of stressed about finding a job for after graduation. UGA provides us with so many incredible opportunities to network in our time here, but unless you do your research and know what you want ahead of time, they won't be as beneficial. I recommend that everyone heed your advice whether they are a senior trying to plan for life after college, or an underclassman just trying to get ahead of the game.
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome post! This was my first time attending the career fair here at UGA and I used all of these steps and a few more to maximize my experience. Also, after attending the career fair, I made a point to connect, via LinkedIn and email, with those I got business cards from to stay in touch with companies I could potentially work for in the future. I think this post is incredibly helpful. Great job.
ReplyDeleteBeing at the career fair last week I loved reading your post and the relevance it offered. Like you, my last appearance at the career fair was nerve wracking and not as successful as I was hoping. I had prepared a long elevator pitch to soon realize how awkward and forced it all sounded at the first booth I went to. This year, like you, I did a lot more preparation and had a game-plan. I think the biggest thing we forget to remember is it is just a simple conversation with an employer, not an interview. This helped me relax and be myself. Great insight into the things you did that made all the difference - I'm glad it went well!
ReplyDeleteCameron,
ReplyDeleteI also attended the career fair last week which leads me to feel very connected to this post's significance. This was my first year at the fair and I felt very uncomfortable approaching employers. I should have better prepared myself with research. I think that confidence is very important to keep in mind, but you can't fake having no knowledge on the company and the positions they offer. I learned the hard way! Next time, I will do my research well in advance. Great post!
I really enjoyed reading this post. I think your newfound approach to the career fair is genuine, and employers can definitely see that. I also think you were spot on with changing your major. It is so important to feel passionate about what you are doing, otherwise it's easy to get lost at these types of events and end not achieving anything that you are truly excited about. Overall, great post. Based on the number of comments you've already received, people love to get an honest opinion on things that are generally not easy to talk about. Majors, careers, etc. are scary to think about so I think it's great that you've opened a conversation about it.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this post. I will be graduating in the fall and I LOVE getting any tips at all on interviewing and finding jobs! For the career fair, I went last year and also researched into the companies, which I think is vital to being successful. I have always been told, especially when interviewing, to research your company and to have questions prepared. This shows that you are truly interested in not just the job but the company and the people. Overall, great read and very relatable to all seniors in this class!
ReplyDeleteReally good post! I completely agree with all the points you made, and I think it is important to be yourself and don't settle for something you don't think you want. Social media has made it so much easier for us to do our research and prepare for these career fairs. Its important for us to make a good impression, and knowing that we did our research and are actually interested makes a huge impact.
ReplyDeleteGood information and a good read. Thanks for sharing. It is always good to read something worth while and something that can help you as one moves forward. I think the points you made were good and can be impactful for those reading this. Very fascinating, indeed.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Career Fairs are always something great to go. I also agree that picking a major can make one anxious. I know I was back and fourth during my first two years in college, but am so glad that I finally chose marketing. I'm also glad that you are starting to find your niche. I also agree with sounding intelligent when speaking with employers. "Winging it" is never a good option!
ReplyDelete-Jill Davis from MARK 4450
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ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this post a lot, thanks for sharing!! I have also been in the same boat trying to prepare as well as I can before going into any situation where I am networking with companies. I think the best thing you can do for yourself now, rather than later, is do your research and find a company that you find has the most in common with your personal work ethic and goals. I had someone tell me similar advice, and when you just keep in mind that they want to find a passionate hard worker as much as you want to BE that hard worker, the conversation and self-promotion comes naturally in a networking setting.
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