Category Archives: Career Advice
Former Indiana INTERNnet student user utilizes web site as employer
Allison Becker is the HR Generalist at Becker Landscape in Indianapolis, and she oversees recruiting, hiring, employee issues, insurance claims and benefits. She utilized Indiana INTERNnet’s resources as a student and now uses the web site as an employer.
Indiana INTERNnet: Tell us why you love internships!
Allison Becker: Internships are wonderful because they offer so many new experiences for students that they don’t receive in a school setting. Students learn to adapt and think on their feet. My internships were vital because I got to work with a variety of people from different socioeconomic and geographic areas and learned how they see the world, especially the working world. For me, learning to interact with people is one of the most rewarding things.
IIN: What internships did you complete as a student?
AB: I completed internships with a nursery called CM Hobbs. I was a research aid for a semester …
Interview Tips: Harry Potter Style
1. Research the organization before the interview
Before an interview you should research the organization. No need to spend hours in the Restricted Section at Hogwarts; simply find out what its mission is, who the key staff members are, who its audience is, etc. This shows you are willing to put forth the effort and are interested in the organization. After your research, think of something the organization is doing well. For example, “the company’s presence on social media is great, however I could help increase awareness on Twitter.” Then discuss how your experience would accomplish this task. If you want to take it to the next level, you could look into the challenges the organization faces and brain storm possible improvements.
2. Dress the part
First impressions are a big deal, it can negatively or positively affect the way in …
Experience produces lifetime internship advocate
Over the 17 weeks as a marketing intern for Indiana INTERNnet, I found my stride in helping the small nonprofit achieve its mission of connecting interns and employers throughout the state.
Not surprisingly for an organization that promotes internships, Indiana INTERNnet knows how to provide an excellent experience for its intern. I managed its social media networks, approved employers registering to use its services and generated blogs about internship topics. All of these tasks bolstered my résumé and upped my odds of landing my dream job.
On Facebook and Twitter, I shared materials on interns, internships and job search tactics such as cover letter and résumé writing. I posted Indy-related photos to Instagram and wrote a weekly announcement on LinkedIn. I measured Indiana INTERNnet’s success through web analytics and generated a weekly social media report for the staff. I grew from a clumsy social media novice to a skillful knowledge-sharing …
Research, personal experience reinforce value of internships
The introduction to “State of College Hiring 2015,” opens with a statement that we at Indiana INTERNnet find to be absolute truth.
“Internships help students develop experience, better understand their careers and increase future job prospects and salaries.”
Looksharp surveyed more than 50,000 college students and recent graduates to find trends among work-and-learn experiences. Part of the study’s purpose was to show college students how to set themselves apart from the competition.
To get the “edge” in the job market, Looksharp found that multiple internships, high GPA and online career profiles help increase the chances of graduates landing the right job for them after college. From a personal perspective, I’m hoping these findings prove to be true.
As an intern at Indiana INTERNnet, I’ve been immersed in social media, a key component of many communication jobs. As my internship here creeps closer to its conclusion, I know I’m not a …
Gen Z: Coming to a workplace near you
In recent discussions about generational differences, Millennials dominated the conversation.
However, experts such as Nancy Ahlrichs of FlashPoint say another generation is emerging. Called “Generation Z,” people born between 1990 and 1999 are beginning to enter the workplace. The introduction of Gen Z makes five generations in today’s workforce: Veterans (70 and older), Boomers (Ages 51-69), Generation X (Ages 39-50), Millennials (Ages 26-38) and Generation Z (Ages 16-25).
Ahlrichs says as with Millennials, employers should consider the characteristics and expectations of Gen Z in order to foster high productivity and retain top talent.
Gen Z prefers a teaching-style of leadership rather than following orders without explanation. The preferred communication channels for Gen Z are face-to-face; tweets and texts; Instagram, Vine, Snapchat; and no phone calls/meetings. Interestingly, Gen Z typically does not use Facebook because that’s the social media site used by their parents and grandparents. Gen Z requires feedback on …
Internships increasingly important in post-graduation job search
A new report from Grace College found that unemployment has fallen about 7% for 20- to 24-year-olds. There are many reasons for upcoming college graduates to be optimistic about their job searches, but there are also noteworthy trends that should keep expectations in check and even inspire extra effort. Internships and other work-and-learn opportunities continue to be a step toward work readiness and, in many cases, job offers.
The Class of 2015 has planned ahead for the future. According to Dan Kadlec of Time, 82% of current seniors considered the availability of jobs in their field before choosing a major – a 7% increase from 2014. The Accenture Strategy 2015 U.S. College Graduate Employment Study backs this up: 63% of 2015 grads were encouraged to pursue a STEM degree (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), compared to 52% of grads from 2013 and 2014. Jobs in STEM fields are often high-wage and high-demand, …
Casey Spivey: Making an IMPACT
Casey Spivey was named Intern of the Year at the annual IMPACT Awards luncheon in 2013. Today, she is a full-time employee with the Indiana State Personnel Department – the same organization she worked for as an intern when she earned the award.
Indiana INTERNnet: What have you been up to career-wise since graduation and earning an IMPACT Award?
Casey Spivey: I started my internship with the State of Indiana the day after I graduated from college. Thankfully, the Indiana State Personnel Department (SPD) offered me a Benefits Specialist positon before the conclusion of my internship, so I was able to transition directly into full-time employment with the State! I spent about a year in SPD’s Benefits Division before transferring to a Generalist position supporting the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC). Currently, I manage Human Resources for the Pendleton Correctional Complex, which consists of three IDOC facilities.
IIN: How …
Avoid ‘spooky’ behavior in the workplace
As you know, this time of year brings the chance to transform into someone or something else. To maintain course on the education and career front, however, there are some “spooky” behaviors that do not translate well in the workplace.
You’ve nailed the interview and landed the internship that will be vital to your education and future career. Now, it’s time to avoid turning the opportunity into a horror story. Based on Universal Studios’ classic monsters, these are the kinds of interns you don’t want to be.
The Invisible Man intern: Being present is not enough. While on the job, strive to impress. One way to do this is by not displaying the bad temperament of the H. G. Wells character. Accept assignments with enthusiasm and offer your assistance regularly. Smiling while exchanging greetings with those you encounter in the workplace is also a good idea.
The Frankenstein …
Jeff Papa (IBJ Interview Issue)
This clip is from the Indianapolis Business Journal: The Interview Issue.
Jeff Papa estimates he’s been to 45 countries in the last 25 years—for either teaching, volunteerism or vacations. He helped create an orphanage in Nepal. And last year, he went to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba to be an observer for prisoner hearings.
But international work isn’t his full-time job—even though he might like it to be.
Instead, the 46-year-old works as chief of staff for the Indiana Senate, a position he’s held since 2007. And this past June, he became Zionsville’s first mayor.
IBJ: What got you into working with government initially?
Jeff Papa: I accidentally did an internship with the [Indiana] Senate.
IBJ: How did you accidentally do an internship with the Senate?
Jeff Papa: I was a Rose-Hulman [Institute of Technology] student, and I was going out of town for the weekend with my friend …
First generation college student trailblazing career path
Firdas Abamislimova is a senior at IUPUI’s Kelley School of Business. She is studying Management, HR and International Studies.
My name is Firdas, and I am the first member of my family to go to college!
My family moved to the United States 10 years ago when I was only 13 years old. At the time, I already knew that going to college would be a given for me. My parents gave up all their life savings and their loved ones in order to move to the land of opportunities. You see, my parents never had the opportunity to go to college, so they have always dreamed about being able to give the opportunity to their children. Where I am from, going to college was a dream that came true only for the wealthy. Finding a job upon graduation was for those of true Russian ethnicity. Why, you may …
Yes, college is still worth it
The answer to the question, “Is college worth it?” is a no-brainer for this grad. I answer with an emphatic, “Yes!”
The question is a central theme of the recently released Gallup-Purdue Index 2015 Report. The report surveyed more than 29,000 U.S. college graduates. One of the questions asked graduates how certain experiences in college influenced well-being and workplace engagement after graduation. A finding of particular interest to us here at Indiana INTERNnet pertained to the value of internships:
“If recent graduates strongly agree that they had any of three experiential learning opportunities — an internship related to their studies, active involvement in extracurricular activities or a project that took a semester or more to complete — their odds that they strongly agree that their education was worth the cost increase by 1.5 times.” – Gallup-Purdue Index 2015 Report
We are pleased but not exactly surprised by this figure. The …
Studies show internships matter
Did you know that employers nationwide offered full-time positions to their interns nearly 65% of the time in 2013? And 79% of the interns accepted the offer.
I find these figures from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) fascinating because they are a testament to the value of internships. Many employers now treat internships as an extended job interview of sorts – training the next generation of talent in order to build their workforce. A 2015 survey by NACE confirms this trend. The report reveals about 70% of employers indicated that seeking full-time, entry-level employees is a main function of their internship programs.
An additional benefit to internships is the return on investment. A study cited by Purdue University Calumet showed that in 2012, college students with internship experience made on average 15% more money than those who did not complete an internship. More coin in the pocket …
Lessons abound outside of school
In school, I learned about the Revolutionary War, the Pythagorean Theorem and racial injustice from “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
All this knowledge is useful in certain settings, but one has to admit there is an array of valuable skills acquired mostly from experiences outside of school.
For example, I had to figure out on my own how to properly manage finances. I recall on more than one occasion rotating Ramen noodles and peanut butter sandwiches for daily meals because I valued the latest video game over nutrition. One thing is for sure, scraping by certainly builds character.
As for professional skills, another example of life education is learning the role of government, especially at the local levels. My initial introduction came in the form of a speeding ticket. As I entered the courtroom as a teenager, I recall being as nervous as a small bird with a hungry-cat neighbor. The …
Non-traditional review of The Intern
Admittedly, when I first considered applying to work with Indiana INTERNnet, I thought I was a bit aged to take on an internship.
That is until I watched the trailer for the upcoming movie “The Intern.” I am nowhere near 70, the age of the intern character played by one of my favorite actors, Robert De Niro. But I did wonder how I would compete against traditional college students. It goes to show that no matter your age, if you’re willing to learn, you can find opportunities.
I call this a non-traditional movie review for two reasons. First, non-traditional (a 37-year-old parent who works while attending college) is the type of student I am, and second, I’ve yet to see the movie, which is set for release Sept. 25. Based on the trailer, however, I expect to experience more than a few laughs and maybe even learn a life lesson …
Indiana INTERNnet Summer Intern Reflects on Growth
“Do what you are afraid of.”
These are the words of Caryl Auslander, VP of Education and Workforce Development Policy at the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. When she said this, she didn’t know I accepted this internship at Indiana INTERNnet for that very reason.
Prior to joining this team to help increase talent retention, I was a student plagued by writer’s block, and I had very little social media experience. I decided I wanted to face this head-on.
I was that guy, probably like your parents, who used Facebook just to see who wished me a happy birthday once a year. As far as I was concerned, hashtags were never the character displayed in front of a word to loop a post into a larger conversation. It was always just the number/pound sign to me.
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“This kind of growth could not be found in …