Jobs, jobs, jobs. This seemed to be the main thing on the minds of Howard University students as they listened attentively to the panelist from The Recording Company as they gave tips about interning at the John H. Johnson School of Communications Job Fair. The panelists Deborra Richardson, Ross Herosian and Shannon Emamali discussed several areas of the internship process including resume tips, how to interview and even suggested ways to keep a good rapport with internship coordinators once the internship has ended.
Richardson started the discussion by saying one of the most important things a student should do before deciding whether or not they want to intern for a company is to do your research. “Talk to people at the company and find out what positions are available,” she said. “Do a Google search of the company to see if they’re company is really what you’re looking for. Think about the things you like.”
Herosian, a recruiter for The Recording Company, said that networking is one of the best ways to obtain an internship. “Sometimes it’s about who you know,” he said. Herosian has hired several interns, and when selecting a candidate, he looks for enthusiasm in a person.
He likes to know that students are passionate and excited to learn more about a particular field of interest.
During the interview, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Recruiters want to know about you, but they also want to know that you’re interested in what they do as well.
Ross continued by pointing out that the latest ways to find jobs are not just through sending a job your resume in hopes that they will call you back, but that Facebook and Twitter also have pages with companies that are looking to recruit. “Don’t limit yourself to one area,” Herosian said.
The panelists also described specific things on a resume that could possibly be a turn-off for employers. Make sure that the resume being submitted is not two pages; try to eliminate some of the unnecessary things like course work and high school achievements.
Recruiters are looking to see that students have a well-written resume with detail oriented skills. It should not be confusing to the employer. One small mistake on a resume could result in not getting that internship or job.
The panelists ended by informing students on how to get the most out of an internship. Get to know more than just the managers at your internship. The more relationships you make, the better.
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