Founder’s Message:
This is the time of year students are engaged in their summer internships, and we are recruiting coaches and getting ready for the next cohort of FirstGen Ahead students. It is a time of building capacity and setting the stage for the future. Our website is up and running, thanks to Selina Li, who designed it, and Carolyn Brandes, who has updated the content based on beta tester feedback. First-generation rising college juniors and people interested in voluntarily coaching can now apply online. Anyone interested in knowing more about what participating in FirstGen Ahead is like from a student and coach perspective is encouraged to register for a Zoom panel discussion on the topic, which takes place on July 29th from 1-2pm ET and is hosted by Encore Boston Network. This summer we also congratulated our first cohort of graduates, we are continuing to support our second cohort of students who will be entering their senior year of college, and we are eager to welcome new Steppingstone alums and other students to our third cohort. We are proud of our students, and we are so thankful for all the coaches who volunteer their expertise, generously sharing their time, and are willing to utilize their personal and professional networks to create opportunities for FirstGen Ahead students. In this time of learning and preparation, we have continued gratitude for everyone’s contributions as our first-generation students transition from college to career.
Susan Gershenfeld, PhD
|
|
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value." – Albert Einstein
|
|
How Do I Conclude an Internship?
If this summer is the first opportunity to experience an internship in a field or career you might want to pursue, you may be wondering what to do as it comes to an end. Of course, you’ll want to exceed expectations until the very end and not leave any loose ends. One concrete example of how to do this is creating a manual of your job responsibilities and listing the outcomes and status of each responsibility. This is not only helpful to you, but to your employer.
Additionally, take the time to reflect on your internship. What did you like and what didn’t you like about the experience? What have you accomplished that addressed an organizational need? How have you grown during this experience? What did you learn about yourself? What are your career goals and could these goals be aligned with a permanent position with the organization? Alternatively, did you learn that this is not the path for you (which is just as important an outcome)? Knowing the answers to these types of questions will help you in conversations with others and will help you personally as you think about the next steps in aligning your skills and interests with potential career paths.
Do make sure to schedule an exit conversation with your supervisor and ask for a review. During the conversation, express thanks for the opportunity to intern. State what you specifically appreciate about your relationship with your supervisor. Perhaps it was that they provided autonomy or they gave you specific feedback that led to improvements. Providing an example or two of what you appreciated is likely to be helpful and leave them with the impression that you were truly invested in your internship experience. When getting feedback from your supervisor during the review, use your active listening skills to make sure they know you have heard what they said to you. For example, if the feedback is in an area you need to improve, you can reply “Thank you for this feedback. I am going to make sure I further work on improving X and Y by doing Z in the coming months.” Be sure to take notes when you are given feedback. If you’d like to explore working at the organization after graduating from college, this conversation is also an opportunity to approach the topic if it hasn’t already been discussed (see related article below).
Express your appreciation to others with whom you have worked or interacted during the internship. Similar to your conversation with your supervisor, provide specific examples of what you appreciated about those interactions.
Finally, keep in touch. Not just with your supervisor, but with colleagues. Connect with them on LinkedIn and respond to their posts. Create a Google Alert on the organization. This will allow you to communicate by email not only with updates on your professional and personal life but on organizational news that illustrate you are continuing to pay attention.
Image Source: https://www.mbastatementofpurpose.com/best-statement-of-purpose-for-internship-services/
|
|
Converting an Internship Into a Full-Time Position
Given that over half of interns are offered a full-time job after the internship ends, it’s important to view your internship as if it is an extended job interview. During the internship, the employer observes your competencies, including not only what you accomplish, but how you work with your colleagues. You may be privy to employment opportunities at different points in time during your internship and when it is coming to a close. Irrespective of this timing, you should take the initiative of expressing your interest in obtaining full-time employment. This article provides you with a general framework that you can use to make it clear that you’d like to transition from being an intern to becoming a full-time employee when your internship is coming to a close.
A few weeks before your internship ends, schedule an exit conversation with your supervisor and ask for a review (see related article above). It is during this meeting that you can explain your interest in working for the organization if they have full-time openings after you graduate from college. Describe what you enjoyed doing most as an intern and your accomplishments. Also, speak to how you hope to use specific skills to continue contributing to the organization as a full-time employee. Linking your skills and how you hope to contribute based on their “pain points” (areas where they need help), illustrates a deeper understanding and organizational awareness. Finally, mention your relevant career goals and how you believe you could achieve them with the organization.
Be prepared to hear a “Thank you for your interest in continuing to work with us” and “We don’t have any job openings in the near future” response. If this is the case, simply reiterate your interest and let your supervisor know that you would appreciate being considered if a future opportunity arises. At the conclusion of this discussion, offer to assist them while you’re back in school, even if it means volunteering some of your time.
Showing initiative, being appreciative, and keeping the door open will leave a strong impression and can point the way to a full-time offer after you’ve completed your college degree.
Image Source: http://www.prssalb.com/blog/how-to-turn-your-internship-into-a-part-or-full-time-job
|
|
Key Attributes Employers Seek on
Students' Resumes
The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) surveys employers to understand what they focus on when reviewing candidates’ resumes. NACE’s Job Outlook 2021 survey found that nearly 8 out of 10 employers look for problem-solving skills and the ability to work as part of a team as the most important attributes.
Knowing this, how can you communicate these attributes through your resume?
Use the Experience section of your resume to illustrate problem-solving skills. You wouldn’t list “problem-solving” skills but would list skills that showcase how you have solved problems through your experience. For example, analysis (once you identified a problem you want to solve, you need to analyze it and determine what course of action to take to solve the problem), evaluation (to be a good problem solver, you need to be capable of evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of pursuing a particular solution to a problem), and decision-making (once you or in working with others have identified solutions, you need to make a decision and implement a course of action) are relevant problem-solving skills to include on your resume.
Being able to effectively work with others is an essential skill employers seek in their candidates for a vast majority of positions. But how do you convey on a resume that you listen to other members of the team, taking into account everyone’s ideas and sharing responsibility? These are all process skills that can lead to better outcomes. In the Experience section of your resume, include specific examples of actions you took as a team and what the successful outcome was. For example, “Collaborated with three other fundraisers to exceed our $10,000 goal” or “Coordinated between two departments to deliver DEI training materials ahead of schedule.” With both of these examples, the emphasis is on outcomes accomplished in conjunction with others. It is during a group interview where teamwork skills can be better assessed, but you first need to get past the initial resume screening.
Image Source: https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/top-10-skills-to-list-on-your-resume/
|
|
Did You Know?
Employers responding to NACE’s Job Outlook 2021 Spring Update indicate that internship experience is the most influential factor they consider when deciding between two otherwise equally qualified job candidates. But what if you don’t have any experience? NACE’s 2021 Internship & Co-op Survey Report states that when deciding between equally qualified candidates for internship and co-ops, employers are more likely to choose those who hold or have held leadership positions and those enrolled in compatible majors.
|
|
How Would You Answer This Question?
"What leadership experience do you have?" What can you tell a prospective employer about your leadership experience that would demonstrate your interest and aptitude for the position?
|
|
 |
July 25, 7-8pm. Student Session. Dr. Susan Gershenfeld, facilitator. A Zoom link will be sent in advance of the session.
August 8, 4-5pm. Coach Session. Dr. Lois Benishek, facilitator. A Zoom link will be sent in advance of the session
August 20, 6-8:30pm. Anaya Tipnis Foundation – Annual Fundraising Gala. FirstGen Ahead supports the important and related work of the Anaya Tipnis Foundation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
