The Ways to Get a Summer Internship

Want to do more than hang at the local pool or scoop ice cream this summer? Then a summer internship is a great way to go! Not quite sure how to get going? Here are some tips:

1. Make a list.
Figure out what you want to do – what interests you, what do you want to learn how to do, or what do you think you want to be in 10 years? Write down a few places or lines of work that come to mind. While you’re at it, scribble down a few basic things to narrow your search – what town or area, paid or unpaid, full-time or part-time, for school credit or not.

2. Research.
Look into big companies in your area; most big corporations have internship programs. Stumped? Talk to your school counselor or parents’ friends who have jobs you think are interesting

3. Get creative.
Don’t want to work in a stuffy office while your buds are hitting the beach? No problem. Look into museums, art galleries, publishing houses, nature centers, eco-research centers, whatever.

4. Hit the pavement.
Online research for big companies and orgs is a great starting point, but walk around your city or town to see if any other places spark your interest. Be bold, if something looks interesting, walk in, ask for an application, or leave your info (including a resume) with them. Don’t forget to smile!

5. Don’t give up.
So your dream workplace doesn’t have an internship program? The search isn’t over yet! Look up who you can contact in Human Resources or who the managing director of a certain department might be, and contact him! Let him know that you’re interested in interning and ask if the company has a program or a way for you to help and learn a few things.

6. Make sure you can do it!
Once you have a few places, ask yourself: Got a ride? OK’d it with your parents? Is it realistic for you to get to the internship during the summer? Make sure you can get a ride (or map out your bus/train route), and if you can walk or bike, even better! You don’t want to commit to something and have to pull out at the last minute, so cover your bases.

7. Get that resume in shape.
What’s a resume and how do you make one? Check out Do Something’s How to create a resume and 11 tips for a great resume!

8. Make contact.
If your internship has a formal application program, write out your application and apply, AND do a little digging to find out who might be getting that app. Give HR a call and ask who handles hiring. Send her a written note or an email explaining why you’d like the job and what makes you good at it. A little extra goes a long way.

9. Spread your net.
It’s tempting to put all your efforts into that dream job, but there are ton of people vying for internships, so make sure you look into at least five options and make contact with them so you have plenty of choices!

10. Snagged an interview?
It’s important to dress appropriately and remember a few simple things. Check out Do Something’s 11 ways to ace an interview and 11 Common Interview Questions!

11. Follow-up.
If you talked to someone at a company or had an interview, make sure to thank them and remind them you’re out there and would still love to intern with them.

Common Interview Questions

By rehearsing interview questions, you'll become more familiar with your own qualifications and will be well prepared to demonstrate how you can benefit an employer.
1. Tell me about yourself.
Make a short, organized statement of your education, achievements and goals. Then, briefly describe your qualifications and the contributions you could make to the organization.
2. What is your greatest weakness?
Be honest but also be sure to stress that you've taking steps to correct the problem. For example, say you're a perfectionist who can get bogged down by the details, mention how you've corrected that problem. For example, you now have a list of to-do items ranked by importance.
3. What is your greatest strength?
Discuss skills and experience that make you a qualified applicant for the job. For example: I manage my time well and follow through on all my projects.
4. What motivates you?
Consider in advance what inspires you and come up with some specific examples to share.
5. Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it.
Remember to give concrete examples of difficult situations you've dealt with and discuss how you resolved the conflict..
6. What interests you about this job?
Think about what was listed in the job posting and connect these to your skills. This shows the employer that you know about the job and are qualified.
7. Why are you the best person for the job?
Or they may ask you "Why should we hire you?" or " Why are you the best person for the job?" Give specific examples of why your skills and accomplishments make you the best candidate.
8. What can you do for this company?
This is why you should research the company prior to the interview. Respond by giving examples how the company would benefit from your skills, accomplishments and experience.
9. Why do you want this job?
Be sure to say what you can contribute to the company as well as how it will help you.
10. What are your goals for the next five years / ten years?
Don't discuss irrelevant goals like having a family. You want to connect your answer to the job you are applying for. For example, if the internship is in the field you intend on pursuing, say that.
11. How do you plan to achieve those goals?
Be clear and specific about what you're aiming to accomplish and how. For example, if you intend on continuing your education, interning in the field, etc., mention this!

Resume Writing Tips

Building a resume takes some effort, but with our tips, you should be able to build the perfect resume in no time.
1. Keep it short - one page.
2. Be neat; make sure that you use bullet points when necessary.
3. Be honest about your skills and work experience.
4. Be concise and use action words (developed, handled, organized, created, etc) and phrases when describing your experience.
5. Ask someone you trust to check over your resume and make sure that they really critique your work.
6. Be sure to include your name, address, phone number, education, and work experience.
7. Employers understand that at you may not have extensive work experience so don’t be afraid to include volunteer experience and babysitting as experience. Emphasize the skills you learned while baby-sitting and/or volunteering, the challenges you overcame, and so on.
8. Be sure to list awards and honors you've received.
9. Don’t forget your interests and activities. Letting a potential employer know your interests will make you stick in their minds and create a character that exists beyond the sheet of paper.
10. Depending on the position, you might need to include a cover letter that states how you found out about the position, the reasons you are interested in the job, why your qualifications fit the position and why you want to work with the company.
11. Follow up by phone a few days after the employer has your resume to make sure everything is in order. Just remember, if the job posting says “No calls please,” don’t call!

How to Create a Resume

Before you rush out to find that perfect internship, you'll need to write your resume. And not just any resume, but the kind that'll separate you from all the people eager to land that dream job.
Make a heading
This should appear at the top and include your name, address, and contact phone number and email address
Objective
What you hope to get out of the experience. This will change based on the kind of job or internship you are applying for.
. Example: I’m interested in becoming a social entrepreneur and I think my skills could greatly benefit from an internship at Do Something.
Education
This information should be at the top and lists your most recent or current school. Include relevant information like GPA or class rank if you have access to these. Don’t forget graduation dates or expected date of graduation. If you are/were an honors student, say so.
Experience / Employment history
List where you worked and a sentence or two about what you did there. Don’t worry if you don’t have any experience at other non-profits or offices. Include experiences like babysitting and volunteering and a sentence about what you learned from these experiences.
Activities
Here you can list your extra-curricular activities. Include how long you have been doing this and how often you do it. For example
. NYC Schools Project (2007-Present)
Bi-weekly tutoring of immigrant students in elementary school.
Other
List awards, honors, summer experiences that add to your skills
Extras
If the internship calls for references (teachers, coaches, etc. that can vouch for your work ethic), don’t list them on the resume. Just write “References available upon request” at the bottom of the resume.
If you have computer skills, like familiarity with Microsoft Office, advanced computer programs, knowledge of HTML code, etc. list these here.
If you speak a foreign language, list it here.
Things to Remember
This is your time to brag! Don’t stretch the truth but if you are proud of your work, make sure to mention everything you did to contribute to your success!

Short and sweet: While this is your time to shine (on paper that is), say what you’d like to say as simply and directly as possible.

Keep your font simple, and not too small – Font sizes of 10 or 12 are the norm.
Avoid using charts, pictures, tables or graphs in your resume - that's just too much!

Tips for a Successful Interview

Interviewing successfully is probably the most crucial element in securing that dream internship. Here are a few tips to help you succeed:
1. Fit the part.
Your attire should be neat and professional. A button down shirt and khaki pants or skirt would work well. Avoid bright colors and heavy makeup, and take it easy on the perfume.
2. Practice!
Go over how you would respond to. Ask a friend or family member help you out.
3. Do your homework.
Research the company. The more you know about what they do, the better impression you will make on the interviewer. This will show them you're interested.
4. Be prepared.
Know exactly what skills and experience you have that would benefit the company. Your interviewer wants to know how you will contribute to the organization not how you can benefit from working there.
5. Be Polite.
It's important that you be professional and positive.
a. Shake your interviewer's hand firmly but not like a vice.
b. Make eye contact.
c. Don't slouch in your chair.
d. Don't use slang.
e. Never swear!
6. Know Your Schedule.
Walk in knowing your availability. You may even want to have it written down. This makes it easier for an employer to arrange a work schedule.
7. Be on Time.
Arrive a few minutes early. You should get directions and plan how to get there ahead of time. Plan for delays, just in case.
8. Go on Your Own.
If you have to bring someone along (maybe they gave you a ride), ask them to wait outside. You want your interviewer to see that you can speak for yourself.
9. Ask questions.
Usually at the end of an interview, you will be asked if you have any questions. Always ask a question! You can ask about the organization or the job you're interviewing for. Some examples:
a. What skills are you looking for in an intern?
b. How can I make myself a better candidate for the position?
10. The end of the interview is a good time to emphasize how interested you are in the job and why you're so sure you're the perfect candidate.
11. Send a thank you note.
This could clinch the job for you. We’re fans of handwritten notes but if that’s not possible, at least send an email thanking the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you.

Practical Advice for University Study

When you hear about studying at university, you may be thinking of tedious reading, long assignments, and other academic exhaustion. However, university needn’t be that hard, as long as you have prepared well. “Knowing how to study is like knowing how to fish,” once you learn, it will be knowledge for life.

Here are four key skills to successful university study.

I. Time Management
Have a small note book with you all the time so that you can record what you have to do each day of the week. Record all assignment deadlines, including date and time. Also note times for conferences, lectures and times for your private activities (movies, seeing friends, etc). Don’t just write these down and put your note book away. You need to keep it with you for easy reference.

II. Note Taking in Lectures and Tutorials
It would be almost impossible to succeed at university without any note-taking skills as you have lectures/ tutorials to attend, books/ articles to read/ review, conferences to attend and other academic or extracurricular events. Your notes form the basis of most of your work: seminar papers, essays and research projects, as well as revision for examinations.

Your notes need to be neat so you can read them. Use headings and numbered points and highlight or underline for emphasis. Leave spaces (for amendments and additions), use abbreviations (but spell out personal or place names legibly). Accurately note the authors, titles and other reference details (e.g. place and date of publication) of all works consulted, including page numbers where relevant.

You need to use an A4 or large notebook. Prior to the lecture, divide your page into two vertical columns. The left side column should be a third of the page wide and is used later for recall. After the lecture you can write the key words and phrases here.

During the lecture, record your notes in the right-hand column. Try to capture the general ideas. Use abbreviations, symbols, different color – whatever works for you!

Soon after the lecture, read through your notes. Use the left column to jot down any key ideas or words from the lecture. Reread the lecturer’s ideas and record your responses to these in your own words.

III. Taking Notes from Written Material
When reading, you should be constantly asking yourself: What evidence is used to support the argument? Note down what you need to remember. It helps if you have a question or set of ideas to direct your reading (such as a seminar or essay question). You need some ideas of what you are looking for in a reading as this is the basis of active reading.

The following suggestions should be of a help:

· Always make a note of the reference details (author, title, date of publication etc.) and page numbers before you start to read.
· Be discriminating. The content and index pages can help you identify which aspect of the text is most relevant to your question or subject matter.
· Read critically. Think and note down any objections you have to the arguments presented.
· If you own the book or if you are working from a photocopy, highlight and underline key ideas as you read. You can write your own response to these ideas in the margins of the text. (Do not do this if you are reading a library book!)
· Focus on the introduction and conclusion to the text. These often place the text in context and summaries the main arguments.

IV. Staying Motivated
Undergraduate courses usually take four years in Cambodia, so it is easy to get distracted from such a long course of study. It is vital that you stay motivated and committed.

Read a biography of your role model: Ask yourself what you want as a future career, whether it is to be a lawyer, airline pilot, engineer, businessperson, politician, banker or star; get yourself reading about those people whose steps you want to follow. Don’t just read about these people – get yourself thinking about them, to make you mentally motivated.

Ultimately, university is a life-changing experience. It is challenging and demanding, but the success and learning is likely to be the most valuable in your life and open doors that otherwise would remain closed forever.