Lindsay T. is a recent college graduate. She currently writes on behalf of Skyo, an online site that helps college students save money with cheap textbooks and flexible rental options.

By Lindsay Traiman

As most students know, completing an internship during college is a great way to develop skills, build your resume, and explore new industries. Internships, however, can also help you with the job search if you know how to leverage them properly. Whether you are interning right now, have plans to intern this spring, or are looking for a summer position, the following tips will help you use your internship in preparation for the job search.

1. Write down everything you do.

As an intern, make a point of logging all the projects you complete or assist with. After your internship is over, you will want to be able to discuss the specifics of your position in an interview or at a career fair. It is important to know exactly how you added value to the company. You may also learn terms or concepts that you can use later to demonstrate your industry-specific knowledge. Showing an understanding of the industry landscape will make a positive impression during interviews.

2. Update your resume during your internship.

Not only are your tasks fresh in your mind while you’re on the job, but you can ask your supervisor to review your resume for you. He or she will likely be able to improve the language you use in each bullet point and may even provide you with a list of intern duties that you can use. Have several people within the company look your resume over to receive as much feedback as possible.

3. Practice networking

For every interaction you have as an intern, treat it as an opportunity to make a connection. Whether that means attending an industry event hosted by your company or simply meeting a new employee, you have the chance to become a more confident networker with every conversation you have. Exchange information with people you would like to stay in touch with, and add them on LinkedIn. Continue to stay in touch, and you never know what career opportunities may arise for you.

4. Conduct informational interviews.

Arrange to interview people in divisions you would like to learn more about, and prepare a list of questions beforehand. Use these opportunities to find out about different career opportunities, and stay in touch with the people you interview. Not only does this make a good impression at your internship, but it will help you consider jobs you hadn’t thought of before. It can also be a way to learn more about that particular industry.

5. Strengthen your weaknesses.

You probably know some of your weaknesses, and you can also ask for feedback from your supervisor. Once aware of what you need to improve upon, make sure you do just that. Use your internship as a chance to strengthen skills that need work. Not only will you develop a more well-rounded skill set, but you can use this as an interview talking point to show that you are capable of self-assessment and improvement.

Your internship is not just a way to build your resume, but an opportunity for career growth. It is an experience that can make you a more confident interviewee, networker, and future employee. If you play your cards right, you can open doors for yourself that will last long after your internship is over.

Sarah Rawson is an avid blogger and independent researcher. She has recently been researching various online masters in public health courses and reporting her findings to various higher education blogs.

By Sarah Rawson

If you’ve recently completed an educational program in health services, it is most likely you have noticed that there are a number of internship opportunities available, offering a great variety in different sectors and geographical locations. It can be difficult selecting the right one so we have created this guide that will help you choose the perfect Public Health internship for you.

What is an Internship?

It is widely acknowledged that one of the best ways to launch a career in Public Health is to take the internship route, but what does it entail? An internship is a temporary position within an organization in a field of work that you are looking to forge a career in. You may or may not actually get paid for this work as the main purpose of the scheme is to provide you with valuable experience with your chose niche sector and gives you a head start when applying for future salaried positions as you can demonstrate a previous working knowledge in the sector and be able to produce work references to confirm your suitability for the intended role.

Which Types of Organizations offer Internships?

Government Agencies are mainly focused on policy development and research but they do offer Public Health internships and a number of opportunities abroad via Government embassies. Non-Profit Organizations who are focused on educating and providing aid might offer internships that are focused on aid and humanitarian principles. For-Profit Corporations offer internships relating to their production of health products and the health care industry in general. Clinics, Hospitals and Nursing Homes offer internships that give you a firsthand experience in learning how the frontline of public health works and also dealing with administrative aspects as well.

Applying for a Public Health Internship

There are a number of internships that are subject to strong competition for places even when they are not paid positions. You will have to demonstrate that you have the required grades, have an emphasis on Public Health and are willing to learn more about a career in this sector. Applying for an internship is very much the same process as making a standard job application where you will be required to supply a resume, covering letter, references and any relevant letters of recommendation from suitably qualified people. You should also be prepared to be subjected to a background check depending on the position that you are applying for.

Finding a Public Health Internship

The first starting point in your search should be your University career center. Even if they do not have any suitable vacancies advertised, the career adviser should be able to advise or make a search for you in order to locate a suitable opening. You should also take a pro-active approach by searching online for suitable opportunities and also visiting state and federal agency websites together with targeting known companies within your specialized area of interest. A basic starting point should be sites such as USA Jobs and the U.S Department of Health and Human Services.

Volunteering

As part of your overall strategy to secure the right position you should always consider volunteering as it always looks great on your resume. Taking a volunteering position demonstrates initiative and commitment and could make the difference when being shortlisted for a sought after position. It is highly likely that the volunteer work that you do may not be the ideal work that you are looking for and it may even be a thankless task that you have to perform, but that experience in Public Health could well be the catalyst to launching your full time career in the future.

Search here to see what type of Public Health internships are available now.

Steven Burrell has been writing about education and business solutions for nearly ten years. He believes that student assessment testing results in happier employees in more productive workplaces. Click to read more from Steven.

By Steven Burrell

The beginning of a career is an exciting time. But it is also a scary and nerve wracking time! A time for over preparing and second-guessing, so it can be stressful to be embarking on a new path. Many colleges and local communities try to ease that transition by setting up career fairs. They invite prospective employers to set up booths and send representatives to talk to students. Students, meanwhile, are invited to bring their enthusiasm and open minds.

Going to a career fair can feel overwhelming for students or new graduates. But instead of viewing them with trepidation, attendees should look at career fairs as opportunities. Below are some helpful tips for more successful career fairs:

1. Dress appropriately

Your physical appearance makes your first impression and first impressions, we all know, are very important. So even if you are coming from class or if the career fair is early in the morning, make sure you look polished and professional. Professional doesn’t mean wearing a suit necessarily, but it does mean avoiding jeans with holes in them, tank tops, and sneakers.

2. Bring plenty of copies of your resume.

Not every company will want a resume, but you should be prepared to give out as many as necessary. Bring them in a leather bound portfolio if you can get one. If not, just use a regular folder. Either way, make sure you have plenty of flat, non-folded, clean resumes to hand out to prospective employers.

3. Make sure your resume shines

Even if you don’t have a lot of experience, talk yourself up as much as possible on your resume. Talk about your achievements and skills, but of course, do not lie. Make sure there are no typos – not a single one! – and that the resume is pleasing to the eye. That means enough white space, good alignment, and other design techniques. Look on the internet for examples of good resumes and feel free to copy a lot of the formatting.

4. Be friendly and positive

Even if you do not think you are interested in the company, stay friendly and upbeat. Think of every conversation as a mini-interview and all of them as great practice for real interviews. Even if you do not think you would ever want a particular job, if you are in an interview for it, consider it a great practicing opportunity.

5. Ask a lot of questions.

When you ask a question to a representative of a company, you engage them. When that happens they are more likely to remember you than if the many people they will simply speak to about the company. Learn about the employer and ask the questions you genuinely want to know. Your genuine interest will show through, making you a better candidate.

6. Get business cards and follow up.

Make sure that you take contact information for the people you speak to if you are interested in their companies. Then when you get home email them to follow up. Ask a good question if you can to make the conversation last longer, and to develop a real relationship!

7. Relax and have a good time.

In this economy, it can feel like there is a lot of pressure to find a job and only a few jobs to land. Don’t let this pressure affect your ability to relax and make real connections.

If you walk out of a job fair without a job or any new relationships, the only thing you have lost is time. But if you follow these tips that almost certainly will not happen anyway! So go out and have a good time meeting people.

Chelsea Evans is a recent graduate from Tufts University. She now works in Her Campus‘s Human Resources department. Chelsea and her Her Campus colleagues recently went on a Contiki trip and saw first-hand the benefits of traveling abroad to gain global experience.

By Chelsea Evans

In today’s competitive job market, college students must take advantage of every opportunity available to make themselves stand out to potential employers. It’s one thing to list expert communicator, detail oriented, and adaptable as skills on a resume, but it’s another to have a plethora of real-life examples to explain how you’ve strengthened and utilized these talents. One of the best ways to gain this real-life experience? Travelling abroad with Contiki!

Contiki organizes over 200 trips across the globe for 18 to 35-year-olds, so you are sure to find one that fits your preferences and schedule. Group travel and exposure to foreign cultures will help you fine-tune your communication and organizational skills, both of which are valued by employers.

Chelsea and her colleagues on their recent Contiki trip

For instance, in my role at Her Campus Media, I am expected to communicate effectively with many different college students. My fellow travelers on my London, Paris, and Amsterdam Contiki trip represented several different countries, but this didn’t stop us from becoming fast friends who were familiar with each others’ cultures and perspectives. This ability to communicate well with people from other backgrounds will surely help me relate to and communicate with college students across the country on a daily basis. Moreover, I now know it’s best to examine situations (work-related or not) from several different angles in order to identify the best plan of action. This is an invaluable problem solving skill.

“Keeping up in a fast-paced work environment will be a piece of cake after learning to navigate a foreign city.”

Employers look for adaptable and flexible employees. There’s no better way to demonstrate these qualities than by recalling the time you travelled to a foreign country and swiftly adapted to the local customs! Keeping up in a fast-paced work environment will be a piece of cake after learning to navigate a foreign city, ordering food and buying stamps in a foreign language, and visiting every tourist attraction all in one day on a Contiki trip.

So what are you waiting for? Have the adventure of a lifetime and boost your resume –learn more & sign up for your Contiki vacation!

Jemima Lopez is a freelance blogger and writer who writes for Zen College Life, the directory of higher education, distance learning, and best online schools. She welcomes your comments at her email.

By Jemima Lopez

After months of submitting applications and not hearing back from anywhere, I finally landed the most educational, hands-on internship I could have ever imagined — and all I had to do was show up.

During the months following my college graduation, I tried desperately to find an internship with a film studio.  Living in Houston my options were limited, but that didn’t stop me from applying to every program I’d ever heard of all across the country.

Feeling rather satisfied with myself for so ambitiously sending out applications, I dutifully waited for the call or email informing me of my acceptance.  But the call never came.

I had nearly given up when I decided that I hadn’t exhausted every possibility.  So I started looking for local programs.  There was very little in the way of film internships around town, but there were a few studios, so I called them and asked if they’d be interested in having me on as a non-paid intern.

Most places admired my enthusiasm and resourcefulness, and though almost all of them said they didn’t have room for an intern, they all remembered my name and said they’d talk to others about my request.

Eventually it paid off, both figuratively and literally.  I soon got a call from a local director who referred me to a gaffer that would be willing to take me on and train me.  Plus, the director said, he’d even pay me (occasionally).  All I had to do was meet the gaffer on the set he was lighting.  Right that moment.

So I bolted out of my room and met him there.  When I introduced myself, he said, “So you’re the young person everybody’s been talking about.” I was stunned.  People were talking about me.  This gaffer knew who I was.

He said he would train me and thus began the best internship I’d ever had.  I met sports and culinary celebrities, learned more about the industry and technology I was using than I could have ever learned in a standard “studio intern” position.  And I did get paid occasionally.

The moral of the story?  Don’t be discouraged when you don’t hear back from internship programs.  In fact, plan not to hear back from them. Be resourceful and aggressive in your search.  Introduce yourself to as many major players as you can, and get your name out there.  Don’t let a piece of paper speak for you.  Get on the phone and start introducing yourself.  Take people to lunch.  Do whatever it takes and the opportunities will find you.

Thanksgiving is a time to strengthen and build on personal relationships

This is a guest post from Jennifer Musika – an attorney with the law firm Walzer & Melcher LLP. She was selected as a Southern California Rising Star for 2010 and 2011. She started her career as an intern for the Legal Aid Society in college.

By Jennifer Musika

The family law community is very close knit, and most of the practitioners are familiar with each other. If you have an interest in a particular industry, this can be to your advantage. Each of the attorneys I worked for during law school either recommended me for or referred me to my next job. In fact, at the end of my internship in Boston, when I told my firm I was moving to LA, they gave me several people to contact. I was hired by one of those contacts, and I have worked at this firm for over three years. I have seen countless examples of the importance of relationships during the internship process, job interviewing process and every day interactions in my career.

Understandably, it can be intimidating as a student to approach your boss or manager during your internship, but forming relationships now may lead to new opportunities and pay off much further down the road.

Your boss’s career could be a peek into your future.

Law school is a huge investment, in many senses, and it is wise to be sure before you make the choice to apply and enroll. I worked for the Legal Aid Society during the summer before my senior year of college. Not only did I enjoy the work I was doing, but I also observed the attorneys, talked to them about what they liked and didn’t like about working in the field, and really thought about the skills and responsibilities I would need for a position like theirs. They were a valuable resource and ultimately helped me decide to pursue a legal career. The relationships I built were the key to success.

So this holiday season, as you eat turkey with friends and family, and celebrate what is meaningful to you, take some time to reflect on relationships – old and new – and know that the effort you put in today will certainly pay off in the long run. Good luck to all in their internship search, and happy holidays.

Make sure to keep building relationships & have a Happy Thanksgiving! You can follow Jennifer Musika on Twitter @caldivorce.

Amanda Gallucci (@agalluch) is a junior at Providence College in Rhode Island, studying English and Business. She has held marketing internships at the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and Planned Television Arts in New York City.

By Amanda Gallucci

Chances are if you’re on this site you realize the importance of having an internship, but most students don’t have the time or flexibility to have an internship every semester. It’s important to realize that you can find your passion, hone your skills, and gain experience elsewhere—even on your own campus!

Getting involved in sports, clubs, and organizations is crucial for college students, and might be the most convenient way to build your résumé and boost your confidence without venturing too far. Some choices are obvious, like if you’re interested in journalism, you should join the school paper. Other fields might not have their own exclusive organizations, but you can still hold roles that relate to what you want to do. Business majors can easily work on the marketing, social media, or finance campaigns in whichever clubs interest them. If you want to work with kids, there are probably opportunities to volunteer at local after school programs. Cultural clubs can show you are ready to work with international organizations.

Take the time to explore the different options your school offers, and then become an active member in the ones that sound best. “Active” doesn’t just mean showing up to meetings. If a group asks for volunteers to work at events or hang posters, take every chance you can to connect with more people and gain experience. For example, I’m on the marketing committee of my school’s Student Alumni Association. At the bare minimum, I have to attend weekly meetings and write on the group’s Facebook wall. However, since I know networking will come in handy when I’m looking for a job next year, I go to as many of the club’s optional events as possible so that I can meet alumni from my school. I also volunteered to be on a planning committee for Homecoming Weekend because I am interested in event planning as a career.

“Most employers are looking to hire well-rounded people… Clubs and organizations have much more to offer than you may think.”

On the other hand, don’t make the mistake of only joining the activities that sound like they will look best to a future employer, although those never hurt. Definitely choose what interests you and figure out what you are learning from it afterwards. The most important thing to remember is to be able to describe what is valuable about the experience you are getting. Don’t be afraid to put intramural sports on your résumé—they can show you are a good team player, or leader if you are captain. I choreograph for my school’s dance club. That doesn’t directly relate to the marketing position I hope to land one day, but it does show that I’m creative, organized, and able to teach others.

Creativity, organization & the ability to teach others

Most employers are looking to hire well-rounded people who will add personality and background to their workplace community. GPAs and internships are always going to be important, but don’t forget to make the most of all aspects of your college experience. Clubs and organizations have much more to offer than you may think.

Which on campus clubs & organizations are you involved with?

Deborah Shane (@DeborahShane) is an author, media host, speaker and business and career brand specialist. She writes for  several national business, career and marketing blogs and websites including smallbiztrends.com, careerealism.com, MBAHighway.com, Personalbrandingblog.com and blogher.com. Her new book Career Transition-make the shift is available on amazon.com and all major book sellers. Visit www.deborahshane.com to connect with her.

By Deborah Shane

Iam one of the biggest fans of and work regularly with Gen Y. I love your spunk, spirit, capabilities and point of view. You have taught me so much and are changing and impacting so many aspects of marketing, business and consumerism. You are the future torch bearers and are making your presence known more and more now.

Having said that, I do believe that you are relying way too much on and substituting the technologies you have grown up with for more interpersonal activities that are much better suited for finding jobs today.

It’s really not your fault. That’s the world you have grown up in. I am a Boomer and grew up in the world of meeting people in person, face to face and phone conversations to build relationships and trust. I have had to get much more tech and social media savvy and integrated to stay on top of my game and the business world that I continue to live and interact in.

“70-80 percent of jobs are in the hidden job market and not posted on job sites and can only be accessed through networking.”

I came across an amazing statistic for a national Telecall, I did for Tory Johnson’s Virtual Job Club. According to NACE, The National Association of Colleges and Employers, who survey their subscribers regularly and recently reported that 70-80 percent of jobs are in the hidden job market and not posted on job sites and can only be accessed through networking. People know people and it’s that word of mouth that is finding people jobs and career opportunities now. As card carrying Gen Y’s, you can and should take advantage of this more. Virtual connecting should be a bridge to taking relationships offline, not take the place of them. I suggest less text and tech talking and more face to face.

Here are some benefits you can reap by networking face to face to find those hidden job opportunities:

* Develop your interpersonal skillsets also referred to as people skills or communication skills. They include listening, having an interactive conversation, learning how to relate personally. You just can’t get better at that with a smart phone.

* Practice and learn the art of chit chat by engaging in small talk about things you enjoy and like that can have commonality with others. Your ability to chit chat allows someone to gain greater insight into you.

*Realize the power of eye contact, humor and authenticity in personal versus virtual connecting. There is nothing like real-time live energy of being with people. It is the only way to get a true sense of someone’s vibe, spirit and personality.

*The ability to make a more lasting and memorable impression because of the way someone makes you feel and how you make them feel.

As I look ahead to passing the torch to Gen Y, I see an amazing generation of inspired young people who are already making a significant mark on our world! Your preparedness for the technological world combined with better interpersonal skills will make you one of the most coveted and dynamic demographics of our time.

Alisha Miranda (@makeshiftalisha) is a self-starter juggling a career that’s part traveler, part social media consultant. With a passion for connecting young professionals in a growing world of entrepreneurial opportunities, she hopes to continue being an ambassador for the DIY career-making community. Learn more about Alisha’s work at flavors.me/alishainthebiz.

By Alisha Miranda

As a mid-20s freelancer always on the hunt for bigger and better gigs, I’ve learned that the old ways of job hunting are dwindling, and it’s about developing a voice on social networks, especially Twitter, to advance your next career move – whether it’s getting started with an internship or landing a major account at a reputable company.

Using Twitter as a job hunting tool means you can connect with like-minded professionals, create your own voice and online brand, participate, engage, and learn, pay it forward and become a thought leader in your industry.

Here are ways I’ve used Twitter to successfully land jobs:

1. Research and join relevant Twitter chats

There are over 250 Twitter chats thankfully curated here for you to browse according to your professional interests. Set aside an hour a day to follow the chat streams of your choice, introduce yourself in the chat and share your responses. I recommend creating a separate stream on a Twitter dashboard like Echofon or Hootsuite to make your life easier if you’re going to follow multiple chats.

Pro Tip:

Twitter chats are a great way to extend your networking skills by simply talking with other users. Remember to follow the guidelines the chat moderator has specified and have fun!

Alisha uses Hootsuite, a free social media engagement tool

2. Create private lists to follow

I have six separate feeds on my Twitter dashboard to segment my reading on a daily basis. Why? Because there are certain groups of users I want to follow more closely. Twitter updates fly by every second, so you never know what information you’re missing out on. Divide your Twitter stream as reading lists with targeted groups of people you want to better connect with (i.e. publications, companies, sites). Bookmark their posts with the star button to mark as a favorite, and follow-up with and watch for job leads in these lists you create.

Pro Tip:

Easily grab the attention of influencers by simply retweeting their posts, commenting on their sites, or giving them a #FollowFriday mention.

3. Start your own “Hire Me” campaign

When I decided to become a freelancer full-time, I created my own press kit that would easily outline my services, skillset and rates to share online. From there I began a #hireme campaign on Twitter where I would tweet out a link to my press kit at least once a week with the #hireme tag and using it during high traffic times of the week to gain attention in my fields. Think of positively marketing yourself with the #hireme tag in a way that makes people realize they NEED to hire you based on your talents and posts.

Pro Tip:

Create a one-pager of your work experience including your strengths and specialties, the industries you’ve worked, and the kind of projects you want to lead. Keep as a reference sheet for when promoting yourself online.

Most importantly in the job hunt, remain optimistic and proactive!

Antoine D. Moss, Ph.D. is a former intern for Congress, the FBI and NASA who recently turned his internship into a full-time job at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. He also speaks publicly as a motivator and empowers students to become the CEO of their dreams across the country. Dr. Moss’s new book, Learn to Intern CEO Style, chronicles his internship experiences and strategies for turning ambition into reality.

By Antoine D. Moss

To get a job in 2011 you need to have the “Big Three”…
1) Have a college degree
2) Demonstrate through real-world experiences that you have the ability to add value by being innovative and multi-talented and
3) Have connections

The Secrets to Acquiring “The Big Three”

1)      Develop a plan – Each semester (or year) you should develop a specific career plan that will help you target your career goals while you are still a student—stick to your plan.

2)      Intern, intern, intern – Employers want students who have already gotten their hands dirty in the real-world. Therefore you must complete as many internships as you can. Be sure to develop a customized internship plan to achieve your goals while you are interning.

3)      Take advantage of your career services counselors – Acquaint yourself with your career services department. They will be very resourceful to you and will guide you with your career decisions and development.

4)      Build a powerful resume – Develop a resume that’s loaded with solid, substantive experience that highlights your skills, strengths, and student involvement. Be sure to edit to perfection!

5)      Achieve and maintain at least a 3.0 GPA – A high GPA conveys to employers that you took college seriously.

6)      Take a diverse set of classes – Employers want students who have a diverse set of skills and knowledge, so learn as much as you can.

7)      Become involved in student organizations – Stay involved in on-campus activities and acquire leadership positions because this will help you gain confidence and respect by your peers and employers.

8)      Volunteer regularly – Volunteering shows employers that you enjoy giving back and it will also help you hone your skills as well.

9)      Develop effective communication, vocabulary, and writing skills – Employers look for individuals who are very, very strong in these areas. From your interview and writing samples, recruiters will immediately know if you have these indispensible traits —they make a huge difference in the workforce! Be sure to take several writing and public speaking courses.

10)  Gain professional exposure – Gaining professional exposure helps you build your network of connections. You can quickly acquire professional exposure by attending networking and professional social activities. Conducting informational interviews are also effective. Get some business cards made and don’t be shy at handing them out!

11)  Social media presence – Clean up your social media profiles. Employers know that we are all human and love having fun, but convey that you like to have clean fun. Don’t post unprofessional comments and pictures because they can haunt you later in your job quest.

12)  Find a mentor – Having a mentor to help you navigate your career success is huge. Find a professional or professor who will be willing to offer you guidance as you develop yourself as a professional—you can even have a virtual mentor.

…and always remember that you are the CEO of your dreams!

Antoine has previously written for Eye of the Intern, read For Best Results, Customize Your Internship.