Prof. John DeSpagna
Campus News
What am I going to do after college? How am I going to get a job? How do I know if I will like the job? It is very easy to answer all these questions. Sign up for an internship and you may be able to answer all these questions and get a head start on the path to a successful career.
One of the questions you need to address is what career path you are going to pursue? Listen to your intuition, write out a list of things you like to do and try to correlate this to a career. Don’t think about money but what do you have a passion for. A first step in this pursuit is to try an internship. You can meet with your college internship representative and go over the options available. Mention the area you are interested in and the college will make an attempt to find you an internship that is right for you. The college will probably have a list of organizations they have internship opportunities with or you can come up an organization you would like to intern with. Remember; try to pick an area that you are interested in for your career.
Once you start your internship, be on time and show energy and enthusiasm for the position. You will also be gaining very valuable experience in this organization. There is no substitute for experience and this is something employers look for. When you go on job interviews, many employers will ask you about the internship you participated in during college.
A skill that you should always try to enhance is networking. When you are at your internship, you will be meeting people. Talk to them and ask them about career opportunities in your field. They can answer your questions and let you know about job openings and people you can talk to in the field. Many people get a job by networking and you need to network to open up more doors.
Another benefit of an internship is that you can earn three credits toward your college degree. Check into the degree requirements of the program you are in. Contact the internship coordinator at your college and see if the internship will fit into your degree.
While you are participating in your internship, you will hopefully have a positive experience. Just as important, you may learn that this is something that you do not like. Life is full of many experiences and the internship should be another learning experience for you.
When contacting your internship coordinator, ask them if they know of any paid internships. Some internships do offer this opportunity and you should inquire about same.
A number of the major financial firms in New York City offer internships during the summer. It is very competitive to obtain these internships and you have to apply months in advance. These internships can offer you great experience and also an opportunity to work away from home during the summer.
Another benefit of an internship is that you can obtain a job after graduating from college. Organizations are always looking for talent and people who will help them achieve their goals. An organization is as good as their people and they need good people to be successful. Put your best foot forward and you may be able to obtain a job at the organization you have an internship with.
College is whatever you make out of it. I heard from one of my past students recently. The student mentioned she signed up for internship, was paid for the internship, received a job offer from the organization she had an internship with and now they are giving tuition reimbursement for her MBA degree. Internships can really help you on your path to success in your career.
John DeSpagna is Chair of the Accounting and Business Administration Department at Nassau Community College in Garden City, N.Y.
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