As the fall is quickly approaching, I’ve been working on a variety of tasks; interning, managing a student organization, preparing for Week of Welcome (WOW for incoming freshmen), and applying to graduate school. Call me crazy, but this is what happens when you’re a senior in college with a major in Communications; the competition is fierce. I’ve been asked how I get my internships, what courses am I taking, and what else I do to keep myself up to date. Regardless how often I change my routine or resume, my answer is always the same: My grades are only a portion of me; you have to get involved and sometimes take risks to make the best first impression. Life only gives you once chance, and where I live, that first impression is all you have.
Living in New York City is absolutely amazing, but for college graduates, it’s much like the Olympics: Who gets one of the three opportunities? There are thousands of students graduating each year so there’s a lot to do before entering corporate America. One of those just so happens to be exactly what I’m doing right now: building my brand.
When I began applying to colleges, I wanted opportunity. Not many colleges allow freshmen to intern their first year, but Pace University is one that does. I began to work with my career counselor, revamp my resume, and prepare for interviews, all of which lead me to my first interview at Seventeen. Though I did not get the internship, I wasn’t going to quit. I began interning for a local business near my school, where I worked in events, public relations, marketing, and sales. How did I land this? By telling the owner my name and putting myself out there. This is fairly similar to branding yourself, which is a way for employers to identify and separate you from others (keeping your social media clean and relevant, as well as being known for your skills).
Since then, I have had other internships, such as the Social Media & Public Relations Intern at Latino U College Access, an organization I was introduced to at Pace’s semi-annual Career Fair. Being a Latino interested in education, I made my way to their booth, spoke with the founder, applied on the spot (with resume in hand), and was offered a position less than a month later. I also became interested in online job searches, including E-Recruiting, a program Pace University utilizes. After Latino U, I became an active user of LinkedIn and Internships.com, where I have become aware of many other opportunities. Just this summer I have three internships:
1) Trend/Event Blogger at Pure Dymonds Events
2) Communications Intern at SHARE-Self-Help for Women with Breast or Ovarian Cancer
3) PR Assistant at The Curvy Health Coach
Think I’m kidding? I wish I was. If it wasn’t because I took risks such as “creeping” through LinkedIn or attending internship events, I wouldn’t have been able to expand my network. And I’ll tell you this: the annual Intern Queen Party in NYC is always a pleasure. But why am I doing all of this? I want to be the one to pave the way for others by doing what those before me may not have done. It takes dedication to multitask on such a large scale, but it takes heart and patience to make your actions stand out.
Watch and learn how an internship landed Juan his first nursing job. For more on transitioning from college, meet Sharon.
Please welcome guest blogger Tamara ‘Lola’ Bonet. Tamara is a senior at Pace University, where she is majoring in Communications, with a double minor in Public Relations and History. She is thrilled to be a part of the CareerFuel team and is eager to work in the fashion/beauty industry; She also enjoys event planning. Connect with her here.
photo credit: onesevenone via photopin cc