One great thing about going to school in New York is that there are a lot of opportunities to start your job search. With millions of multinational companies calling Manhattan home, more and more of them are looking towards colleges and universities for graduates to fill entry-level positions. The problem is, this is one of the most competitive cities in the world, so you have to make yourself known early. How do you do so? Through an internship.
I hope I don’t have to explain what an internship is…but I will anyway. An internship is a way for companies to both obtain more assistance in various tasks and teach students how things work in the field. Through an internship, students can make a lot of new connections, and it’s a great opportunity to fill their resumes.
The interns’ tasks vary depending on where they’re interning and what they’re doing there. They can range from getting copies and coffee, to hands-on work in the field. Most interns are part-time, since they usually have to attend school at the same time. They can be either paid a weekly or monthly stipend, or receive college credit for their work.
So, where do you find an internship? Where DON’T you find an internship? As I said before, several companies in New York are looking for new blood, so be sure to check out sites like LinkedIn, Craigslist, and Monster for listings. One of the best is internships.com, which is catered specifically to this. Most schools also have their own online employment sites. For instance, NYU has the Wasserman Center website.
If you really know what you want to do after graduation, take a look at specific organizations that cater to your interests. Study politics? Look at the UN or State Government sites. Want to write for television? Look at major networks like NBC and CBS, both based in New York! Aspire to be a doctor? Look at some of the hospitals and medical practices here. There’s a bunch of opportunities here. You just have to look!
One of these buildings could be your office!
So, why should you care about internships? Because when companies look for new hires, they usually look in their own company first. For full-time positions in places like the City Government or NBC, there are usually thousands upon thousands of applications from people that just need a job. Companies usually look at their own interns first because they’re familiar with them. They know how capable their own interns are.
Now just remember; it will be hard work. Most internships are unpaid, and if you have to take public transportation, you’ll find yourself in financial trouble pretty quick. You’ll also find yourself overwhelmed and confused on what to do more often than not. Just remember that you just have to get through this, and then you’re one step closer to your dream job!
Then you can celebrate with a pizza and a free milkshake!
Sergio Lopez, Polytechnic Institute of NYU, Graduate Student ’12
View my tumblr here
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