As frequent readers of THE BLACK COLLEGIAN may know, our site and magazine have many times cited an organization, INROADS, that is dedicated to helping talented underrepresented minorities find and make use of internship opportunities in their career development.A non-profit organization, INROADS trains and develops talented young people, including high school students, through workshops, internships, and other programs.We recently got in touch with INROADS, and invited them to share with us some of their insights into how students could make the best use of internships as a step in their career-building. The following, based on release material and other information, provides good tips.Top 10 Secrets of Interns Who Get Full Time JobsAs the saying goes, “You can’t get a job without experience, and you can’t get experience without getting a job.” However, the adage doesn’t apply to INROADS Interns. INROADS Interns are getting the experience they need and when they graduate, they even get the job. We’ve uncovered the Top 10 Secrets to landing a full-time permanent job.
While securing an internship is a major accomplishment, there is a list of characteristics that must accompany this on-the-job training experience. They are skills that every employer looks for in a college graduate.
An excellent resume is a must. It's the first meeting between you and a prospective employer. The resume is you on paper; therefore, it must be perfect. That means, of course, free of grammatical and spelling errors, but equally important, your resume has to tell potential employers why they should hire you. INROADS Interns work one-on-one with INROADS staff members to perfect their resumes and they attend resume writing workshops as part of their year-round training.
Excellent communication skills. Regardless of your major, or industry, you will interact with co-workers, management, executives, and vendors. It is critical that you know how to write effectively, speak articulately, and how to give presentations. INROADS Interns do this everyday in their jobs. INROADS Interns work closely with a team of mid-level and senior managers. Additionally, they work on company projects that include executives and managers from cross functional areas.
Becoming a team member. Teamwork has become an essential element for the success and survival of a business, and for employees. More and more, corporations form teams to solve real work issues and improve real work processes. Therefore, it is imperative that all new hires be able to learn the corporate culture quickly and be able to add to the productivity of their assigned team(s). INROADS Interns participate in community service projects that require them to give respect, provide support, and to stay focused on the team goal, recognizing there is no ‘I’ in team.
Forming a strategic outlook. Employers look for professionals who think strategically. They want employees who know how to set personal and departmental goals that are in accord with the corporation’s overall goals. INROADS staff members work closely with the Interns and our Corporate Clients to set aggressive goals for their internship that are aligned with the company’s strategic goals.
Training is essential to performance. It is not enough to just show up for work. You must show up armed with the knowledge and skill set to make positive, lasting impressions. Each summer all INROADS Interns attend Leadership Development Institute sessions that provide exciting, interactive and challenging leadership simulations to prepare them to handle even the most challenging situations with professionalism and grace.
Problem solving and critical thinking. Successful corporations hire employees who, when in a position to make decisions that can cost or make the company millions of dollars, will exercise critical thinking and problem solving skills. INROADS Interns spend time in training sessions, where they learn how to apply the critical thinking process and solve problems in real business simulations.
Community service is as important as the work. Most companies have made giving back to the communities in which they live and work a priority. It is important for them to make the world a better place and they want employees who feel the same way. Community service is part of the INROADS mission, and each Intern looks forward to participating in both group and individual community service projects and roles.
Confidence is key. Confidence cannot be confused with arrogance. When one is confident, he or she has a quiet self assurance and poise that is perceived by co-workers and makes others feel at ease. INROADS Interns receive a solid foundation of education, industry specific training, and practical hands-on experience. This cornerstone gives them confidence in their abilities and themselves, and it shows.
Corporate Etiquette is crucial. Your people skills play a huge role in helping you reach your professional goals, determine if you will be hired or not, retained or not, passed over or promoted. Beginning with your first contact with a potential employer, you are being judged on how you handle yourself and others. These are called soft skills, but they are just as important as knowing the fundamentals of your industry. INROADS Interns receive both one-on-one and group training, so they know how to effectively carry themselves the moment they meet their potential employer. In addition, their experience in real life corporate situations provide unprecedented training.
Networking makes you more attractive. Networking is more than collecting and passing out business cards. When done effectively, you can build relationships for personal, professional, and corporate success and growth. INROADS Interns consistently and routinely have the opportunity to network with corporate executives, industry leaders, and other INROADS Alumni.
“INROADS has been a tremendous advocate in helping me reach my corporate goals. INROADS is a wonderful program with thorough trainings, interactive mentors, and much guidance. My experience with INROADS has been pleasant every step of the way. Going through the INROADS process, I’ve been able to learn so much more about the corporate world and relationships in the corporate environment. My INROADS experience has made me a better person in and out of the office,” says Brenden Younger, who is a junior at the University of Massachusetts Boston and an INROADS Intern at Liberty Mutual.
Armand Quenum is a mechanical engineering major at North Carolina State University and an INROADS Intern at United Technologies Corporation. “I believe my INROADS experience has put me ahead of many of my peers because of the exposure I’ve had to the corporate world,” says Quenum.
“Throughout our 37-year history, INROADS has perfected the science of the internship. We do this by learning our clients’ businesses and industries and using that information to give our student interns superior training and industry specific skills, says Charles Cornelius, INROADS President and CEO.” Students who are looking for that competitive edge, should visit
http://www.inroads.org/ and apply.
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Also of InterestINTERNS WANTED! Opportunities in Washington, DCNew article at THE BLACK COLLEGIAN Online
The National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education coordinates 10-week summer assignments that help students get a foot in the door with some of the top agencies in the nation’s capital
Other readings about internships and INROADS can be found at THE BLACK COLLEGIAN Online.
