Have you noticed the leaves turning from green to red, yellow and brown â as if the cooler weather wasnât enough of a clue that the seasons are changing? So, you reach for that college-branded hoodie from the back of your closet and head to the nearest coffee shop for that pumpkin spice latte. As you sit there in your black rimmed glasses and faded jeans, you browse your Twitter feed and wonder how the summer flew by.
Maybe you spent it lounging on the lake, or taking orders at the neighborhood fast food joint. Maybe you were working your way through online quizzes for that one math class, or watching all 4 seasons of Arrested Development. Or maybe, just maybe â you were gaining some experience at an internship (I can only hope).
As you take a sip of that heavenly java concoction, the smile that filled your face is replaced by a quizzical look. You know you want do something during the school year to get off your dorm couch and get some cash in your digital wallet, but youâre not sure if one of those jobsites is going to cut it. After all, they seem overwhelming with all of their nation-wide postings that sometimes donât pan out. I know exactly how you feel. I was right where you are (minus the black rimmed glasses, though). So, hereâs what I did:
Career Development Center | If you donât know where this is located, I encourage you to find it. Mine was on the second floor of Decker Hall. I set up an appointment with a Career Development Professional to help me out. Not only did she give me some tips on how to improve my rĂ©sumĂ©, but also directed me to the universityâs jobsite and other local resources (such as Indiana INTERNnet). Now youâve got some support from people who have helped thousands before you. And, when your roommate asks where you found that internship or part-time job, you can show off your knowledge and help them find their own.
Faculty | You knowâŠthe people who teach your classes. Yes, them â they are actually connected to employers in town and can refer you to them. Even if youâre not acing their class, theyâll appreciate your initiative in acquiring hands-on experience in your field. They may even have a research project they need some help with, and there you are â all bright-eyed and eager to soak up the knowledge and embrace the opportunity.
Local internship/job website | Indiana INTERNnet (IIN) can serve as a powerful resource in addition to your face-to-face networking. I would knowâŠthe website led me to my current internship with IIN. I applied for this opportunity and was hired within a month.  Iâm now doing marketing work in downtown Indianapolis. There are more than 1,000 internship postings right here in Indiana! Chances are good youâll find something that will really help you along your career path.
Now, go ahead. Take another sip of that sweet, nutmeg-infused elixir. And get ready to fall into internships.
