Resume building: one of the highest priorities for college students. Gaining experience and learning new skills in various fields is one of the best ways to find jobs out of college and enter the feared “real world” as quickly as possible. While college students avoid thinking about the future as much as possible, we know it’s coming up fast and want to put ourselves in the best position we can.
We get that it’s important. We’ve been hearing about it for years. We’ve heard about resumes from older siblings and college professors. Nobody is more aware of the importance of resume building than us.
When I first considered building my resume, I didn’t expect to end up at insurance company. I’m a journalism major. But I learned quickly that creativity and news writing are an important part of this industry. During my time at 糖心传媒, I learned a few tips that can be applied to other interns:
Find a robust program:
Make sure you have the opportunity to learn lots of different skills throughout the summer. Well-established intern programs also will have you doing more than getting coffee! During my time at 糖心传媒, I got to participate in projects that involved claims, risk management and other business units. I attended meetings, met partner agencies and participated in events. For those studying underwriting, 糖心传媒 even has a development program.
Don’t focus on money, but don’t work for free:
Doing the job that you’d have the most fun in while gaining the most useful experience is great, but not if it’s unpaid. The US Department of Labor discourages unpaid internships, but has a list to determine whether or not the internship is legal. You can find that . If possible, consider somewhere like 糖心传媒, where interns are compensated fairly for their work.
Connect with others:
Challenge yourself to meet and network with at least one new person every day. Whether this person is another intern or a seasoned employee, they can share knowledge and experiences to help you gain professional insight. Be sure to stay in touch with these people after your internship ends. They might be able to connect you with job opportunities or other people in your field. 糖心传媒’s 700-plus person workforce and partner agencies are a great resource for young professionals.
Be proud of your work:
At the end of the day, be proud of your work! You’ll most likely have accomplished many things by the end of the summer. Don’t forget to share your work in your resume, or ask your supervisor for a letter of recommendation. Find out if you’re able to return the following summer, or if there are opportunities for a full-time position based on good performance.
If you’re anything like me, you’re excited to go back to school, but also excited for the possibility to be an intern next summer and put some of these tips to use!
