Until Feb. 5, Lauren Holliday will check/edit resumes for anyone who gets 5 people to like Freelanship on Facebook. We pitch at Demo Day on Feb. 06, and we’re trying to get all the validation we can before then.
Please sign up at http://freelanship.com/ if you are interested in verified project-based internships.
As finals come to an end, I am sure you are counting down the days to a well-deserved break. While it is important to enjoy the little time you get off, it is also vital to set goals for the next year.
If you plan to graduate this time next year then I highly suggest creating a strategic career plan. I read that you should give yourself a year to land a “career;” therefore, I began my job search at the beginning of 2012 because I anticipated graduating this month.
It took me about six months to wind up where I am now – happily working full-time as a director of marketing. Here are the steps I took to land my career.
1. Go to Career Services.
Do not go to the Experiential Learning Center because they will set you up with more Co-ops and internships. Make an appointment at Career Services, and say you want to go over:
-Resume
-Cover letter
-References
-Interview (What to wear, FAQ, what to bring, etc.)
-Portfolio
2. Network.
Have you dreamed about working for a certain company? If you have then began networking where the decision makers of that company network. Make yourself known in the community. You can do this by:
-Attending local MeetUps, clubs or events
-Attending free webinars & events
-Cold emailing and/or calling (Of course, do not be annoying with this)
3. Clean up your online presence.
Establish your presence on LinkedIn. Begin making connections, getting endorsed for skills and asking for references. Also, make sure a Google search of your name does not lead to any negative photos or posts.
Additionally, remember, if you give employers the email you use to login into Facebook then they will find you regardless of the fact you set your name up as “Hollaur.”
4. Prepare your pitch.
Landing a job or an internship is no different than making a sale. In this transaction, you are the seller and the employer is the purchaser. What are you selling? Well, yourself of course!
Tips:
-What’s your tagline?
I.E. Lauren Holliday is a journalist with a marketing mindset.
-What are you known for?
I.E. I am known for my motivation, passion and determination to succeed.
-In 10 seconds, how will I capture this employer’s attention?
I.E. Think of creative ways to send your resume and cover letter. Make it stand out from the inundation of black-and-white pdf files (YAWN).
Click here to download Freelanship’s “Branding yourself checklist.”
If you need more experience and do not have time or the money for a full-semester internship then sign up for http://freelanship.com so we can let you know when we launch.
Deadlines suck.
The worst part about it is, as college students, we have 50 different deadlines for 50 different people, who do not care that you already have another one or two or three deadlines on that same day.
Unfortunately, I do not think they will be going out of style anytime soon so we have to adapt and get better at meeting them. Here is a list of tips and tricks to help you get organized and never (or rarely) miss a deadline again.
Do a mindsweep.
Write down everything you have to do. Don’t filter the list or try to organize it yet. Just write it all down, and then organize it later.
Create categories, such as “Phone, Internet, Work, School and Email.” Put the activities that you can do on your phone under phone. Write down the activities you can only do at work under work and so on and so forth.
Plan ahead.
At the beginning of each semester, collect your syllabi, get a huge calendar that you can hang on your wall in plain view, and in red ink, mark every deadline on that calendar. If it is a long deadline, such as a project or paper deadline, write reminders such as “Two weeks until portfolio is due.”
Use templates & online resources.
Here are some of my favorites.
Also, don’t overlook the power of Google calendars. It is a lifesaver!
One last tip: Sign up for project-based internships at http://freelanship.com because you don’t have the time or the money for full-semester internship! =)
It’s a catch-22: you need experience to gain experience. One obvious way to gain experience is to undertake a paid or unpaid internship, which may lead to one of the following problems:
Now, what do you do? You get creative, and think outside the box. If you have a thick portfolio of proven, real-world experience, it makes no difference if it was from a three-month, unpaid internship or if it was from volunteering or freelancing.
While I did participate in two internships, I gained a lot of additional experiences in non-traditional ways – not to mention, I networked with a lot more people than any one internship allowed me to. Here is a list of creative ways to gain experience and make connections.
Craigslist
Go to Craigslist under the jobs’ tab and browse for experiences under marketing, pr, ad; nonprofit sector; admin/office; art/media/design; and ETC. I have found some valuable experiences that paid from Craigslist. Also, check under gigs.
Volunteer
A few weekends ago, I was a project-manager for an event called GiveCamp Orlando. I dedicated one weekend of my time to a non-profit organization, and now I have one more valuable project under my belt. P.S.: I think volunteer opportunities look better than unpaid internships because it shows that you chose to give your time for no cost.
Freelance (For those with valid experience)
For those of you with proven work experience, visit websites such as scriptlance.com, odesk.com or formspring.com.
Ask for it
Email someone who has a lot to teach, and ask them if you could shadow them for a day or a week.
Free classes
Overflow the skills section of your resume by utilizing free resources, such as iTunesU, webinars and free classes around campus. At UCF, I know Technology Commons hosts Adobe PhotoShop classes and the local Orange County Library teaches free classes on topics such as Microsoft Access and How to make a video game.
Parents
If your parents own a business or have a job that could provide you with some experience then do it. For example, my father owns a dry cleaner – how could I possibly utilize his business to add pieces to my portfolio? I could, and I did. Since I wanted a job in marketing, I created his businesses profiles on social media platforms and registered it with local search engines.
Freelanships – project-based internships
Freelanships will be here soon. Get excited!
Weigh your internship options. Ask yourself: what portfolio pieces will I walk away with after this experience?
hi. i’m eighteen and i’m thinking about applying to work at walt disney world for a summer job.
i would consider the college program, though i’d prefer to do something during my summer break rather than the school year
i am also seriously considering majoring in (hotel) management to help…
http://orlandoweekly.com/news/working-it-demystifying-the-world-of-college-internships-1.1365225
Read what this Disney intern did before applying.
(Source: freelanship.com)
I’m thinking about sending an email and my resume to a contact I know for a company based in Illinois (fairly close to Chicago) to see if I can get a summer internship. Tips and suggestions are welcome.
Check out our resume & cover letter how to. Also, highly suggest a paid internship.
(Source: freelanship.com)
Freelanship is not replacing internships. We're transforming them.
http://freelanship.com
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