If you’ve ever searched for a job online then you know there are many things employers look for. If you have experience in a specific job industry, then you might have an advantage when marketing yourself—depending on what the employer is looking for. But, what happens if you’re a recent graduate with limited work experience? Or, if you’re transitioning into a new career field that’s different from the field you have experience in? What do you do? Even many entry level positions ask for at least some experience before coming into a position. So, now you’re faced with this dilemma; how do you successfully secure a job that’s asking for years of experience if you don’t have that experience? The answer—An internship.
When you hear the word “internship” you might think of making copies, stapling papers and other undesirable office tasks that everyone else in the office is too busy to do, so they give them to the intern. That’s not true at all. Yes, sometimes there may be things you have to do in an internship that may not be so groundbreaking, but an internship is not meant to keep you busy, it’s an opportunity for you to gain skills and experiences in your desired career field so that you can market yourself easier when you begin job searching.
The best part about participating in an internship opportunity is that you have the ability to create an ideal experience by requesting to learn about specific areas within the company. Remember, the goal of your internship is to learn as much as possible that will directly relate to the future job you’ll be going after. Let’s take a look at a sample internship opportunity at Goodwill.
This internship description states, “The goal is for the intern to gain knowledge and skills necessary to provide case management services to adults with disabilities in a supported work environment.” So, if you’re an individual looking to become a Case Manager in the future, or if you’re looking to work in a field assisting individuals with disabilities, then this is the perfect experience for you.
Your internship experience will be one of the most valuable experiences you’ll ever have because it sets the foundation for your career. It’s not often that you get the opportunity to shadow a manager and learn about the day-to-day responsibilities of that individual before you even sit down for an interview. Having this behind-the-scenes perspective will help you tremendously as you begin your job search in your specific career field.
At Goodwill you will:
Goodwill has an excellent internship program that’s meant to help you gain professional competencies, help propel your career and secure a position in competitive job markets.
To get started with your internship journey you want to first:
- Look at job descriptions for the positions you want to obtain in the future.
- Make a list of the similarities within the job descriptions that you’re looking at so you can identify what skills and experiences you need to successfully obtain a position.
- Make a list of all of your strengths and make a list of your challenges or areas you would like to improve.
- Look for internship opportunities where you can utilize your strengths, as well as an experience where you can focus on developing the areas you need to improve.
- Evaluate your internship experience when it has come to an end. What did you enjoy about your experience? What did you dislike? Can you see yourself working in this field as a career?
These steps are important to follow as you complete your internship. When you’re intentional with your experience, you save a lot of time and are able to customize your internship as much as you can so it relates to the career field and job opportunity that you will pursue in the future.
When you’re ready to start your internship with Goodwill email Internship@goodwillsew.comto find out what opportunity is right for you. For more information on Goodwill internships check out their Internship Brochure.
