by Christine Chen
No more lengthy textbook descriptions! No more complex academic theories! This time it’s hands-on for real. Yes, the keyword is “internships”! This past summer, many of my classmates participated in internships at prestigious corporations such as Fidelity Investments and Chinatrust. I myself interned at Morgan Stanley. In our experience, these short-term opportunities not only can offer you a peek into the real world but may also provide advantages when seeking a permanent position. On top of all that, you get paid! So get off that couch! Seize your own future and find a job! Where to look Once you’ve decided that an internship is what you want, one problem remains to be solved: where can you find a suitable opportunity? There are many places on campus packed with solutions, just waiting to be rummaged through. The first place you should check is your department bulletin board. Often, firms seeking interns with backgrounds in your particular field of study cooperate directly with your department for efficiency. Thus the positions you find here would probably be a better match of your profile. This greatly enhances your chance of acing the interviews and nailing the job. Take me, for instance, I learned of the cooperation established by Morgan Stanley and the NTU School of Management through the Department of Finance office. If your first attempt is of no avail, another place you can inquire is the Student Activities Division in the Office of Student Affairs(學務處生活輔導組). They post announcements of internship opportunities each year toward the end of spring semester. The Career Service Division(畢業輔導組) sometimes has information on internships in private firms also. A few of my friends found jobs in local banks through this channel. Last but not the least, one other effective method is to keep your eyes open while browsing school websites and the BBS. Many potential employers simply log on and post their help wanted ads without notifying the school. I’ve seen ads from Merrill Lynch, IBM, P&G and many more. The jobs are out there but it requires some effort on your part to find the one right for you. Be Prepared By now, assuming you’ve found the perfect job to apply for, there are certain things you need to remember. Usually, you won’t be the only one to notice the postings. Competition can be intense. Thus the more prepared you are, the better are your odds of landing the position. Most of the companies will probably ask for your resume and a cover letter stating your motives and background. Your techniques in promoting yourself and accenting your strengths are essential. Two common errors: first is listing all of your prior experiences without any description highlighting the skills you have learned. Second, applicants often mistake cover letters for a rewritten version of the resume. The purpose of the cover letter is to make a strong argument of why you are the best candidate for the position. So don’t just repeat what they can already extract from your resume. Instead, try a more personal approach; be articulate about your unique characteristics. Then come the face-to-face interviews. I have only one piece of advice: be prepared! Never go to an interview before doing some background investigation. Use the company’s website and gain a general idea of their business operations. Try to guess in advance what sort of questions you’ll be asked and figure out your responses. Then rehearse either with yourself or your friends to ensure that you’re comfortable with the process. This will help you relax at the interview. I had to go through four rounds of interviews for the Morgan Stanley program. The basic elements were questions about my background, my reasons for applying, and my knowledge about the firm. The homework I had done before attending the interview was a great help. Now go ahead and search for the internship you want. But don’t be discouraged if you go through the whole ordeal and still don’t get the job. You just need to keep on trying. The one who is chosen isn’t necessarily more competent than you are; it only means that he/she fits the firm’s desired profile better. I blew my first interview too, but did much better on my second try. Good luck and happy job hunting! #Volume 7 Issue 1 a
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The Taida Student Journal has been active since 1995 with an ever-changing roster of student journalists at NTU. Click the above link to read about the authors Archives
May 2024
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