What kind of internship could you have as a lowly freshman

[archcommus]

So I'm a college n00b, and I went to a resume writing seminar. They're telling us we should prepare our resume as soon as possible and submit it to their offices for critiquing, and then give it to as many companies as possible at the Career Fair next month to try to snag some interships next summer.

I really can't see this happening. What would a company want with someone right out of freshman year? They can't do anything valuable yet.

 

[MikeMike]

you wont.

but what you WILL do is get your name out there.

they see your progress and track it.

they like your progress and hire you.

 

[ajpa123]

Can you walk, wait in line and order coffee and lunch... ?

You're qualified

 

[IronWing]

You managed to post a message here therefore you have skills desired in an intern.

If you can wear a blue dress, even better.

 

[hjo3]

Originally posted by: ironwing
You managed to post a message here therefore you have skills desired in an intern.

If you can wear a blue dress, even better.

LOL, topical humor.

Well, topical in 1998.

 

[Sukhoi]

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1
you wont.

but what you WILL do is get your name out there.

they see your progress and track it.

they like your progress and hire you.

I don't believe that honestly. People say it, but I've never seen it in practice. When I was a freshmen at the engineering career fair here the companies literally wouldn't speak with most freshmen. They'd just say to leave and come back in a couple years.

Your best bet is to just hit the pavement applying at any place that you think could use you. The larger the company the better because they're more likely to have budget room for interns. All three of my internships were department managers using their own money to pay me rather than having a set intern budget.

 

[archcommus]

But am I wasting my time by even preparing my resume right now and attending that fair as a freshman? I mean, even my RESUME doesn't seem worth compiling yet. All I have is high school and high school job accomplishments.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: archcommus
But am I wasting my time by even preparing my resume right now and attending that fair as a freshman? I mean, even my RESUME doesn't seem worth compiling yet. All I have is high school and high school job accomplishments.

There's nothing wrong with that, I was the same way my first two years in college. What you have to do is start finding out what employers look for, and craft your activities and time management in college towards that end.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: archcommus
But am I wasting my time by even preparing my resume right now and attending that fair as a freshman? I mean, even my RESUME doesn't seem worth compiling yet. All I have is high school and high school job accomplishments.

I'm a freshman, too, and I've kept a running resume since 11th grade. There's more value than you think, if you really made the most of high school (and I don't mean your GPA and crap like that)

 

[EvilYoda]

Just depends on who you know at that point unless you have some spectacular accolades from HS...I was lucky enough to get a great paying internship at OnStar my freshman year

 

[archcommus]

Well, in any case, it just doesn't seem worth it compiling the resume right now and attending the fair and getting my hopes up if any job with any real company just isn't possible next summer, which I'm thinking it's not. So just asking what you all think.

 

[BigJ]

You're not waisting your time, but you will have a very tough time getting an internship as a freshman. Try to make friends with professors in your field of study, and possibly get recommendations or work with them.

 

[archcommus]

As far as what I have to put on it now, hmm, let's see, four months of bussing tables, 9 months of cashiering, 5 months of Geek Squad, 3rd of 241 in high school, 4.01 GPA, NHS, music society treasurer, band crap, couple other things.

All seems useless to those companies.

 

[IronWing]

Originally posted by: archcommus
But am I wasting my time by even preparing my resume right now and attending that fair as a freshman? I mean, even my RESUME doesn't seem worth compiling yet. All I have is high school and high school job accomplishments.

Yes, it is worth doing. Writing resumes is a drag. Getting feedback helps you do it better so when you have more to put on the resume you will do a better job. I hate to pop the intern myth but in my office the only hard and fast rules for interns are that they be breathing and that they have valid drivers' licenses. Any specialized skills or knowledge are a bonus. We usually have eight to ten interns at any one time in an office of ~40 full timers.

 

[Rogue]

I'd say it's worth a try, could turn into something but I've always been an opportunist in the job market and it's paid off for me. If nothing else, you may get an interview and a chance to practice at that. Practicing in the job interview process is extremely important to actually getting the job. A resume is just a way to get the interview and then nail it for the position. I say go for it and hope for an interview. Don't get your hopes up, but don't assume you won't get hired either. Interviewing and NOT getting the job is more important than not interviewing or competing in the market at all.

 

[Albis]

get a job on campus and get more stuff to add to your resume

do research for a professor

 

[zendari]

I managed to find a great paid internship after my freshmen year. What you want to do, though, is start early. I mean really early, November - December. This year I hope to have something locked up by February.

 

[cchen]

I worked for a top 3 defense contractor after freshman year

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: cchen
I worked for a top 3 defense contractor after freshman year

And what were you able to do for them that made them even want you after only one year?

 

[cchen]

IT work. If you have IT skills, its not difficult to find an internship, even as a freshman...

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: archcommus
So I'm a college n00b, and I went to a resume writing seminar. They're telling us we should prepare our resume as soon as possible and submit it to their offices for critiquing, and then give it to as many companies as possible at the Career Fair next month to try to snag some interships next summer.

I really can't see this happening. What would a company want with someone right out of freshman year? They can't do anything valuable yet.

I got a job right out of freshman year interning at compaq writing OS tools for their Tru64 unix on the Alpha systems...

but YMMV. If you know jack then thats the type of internship you will get. I learned C and some structures/searches, and taught myself a bit in 2 semesters, so I was g2g

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: archcommus
As far as what I have to put on it now, hmm, let's see, four months of bussing tables, 9 months of cashiering, 5 months of Geek Squad, 3rd of 241 in high school, 4.01 GPA, NHS, music society treasurer, band crap, couple other things.

All seems useless to those companies.

Wtf? That's better than what most people have. What do you think they expect you to have on your resume? I can't belive you're complaining about 18 months of work, 3rd in your class, BAND, and all that other extra curricular stuff. I know a guy who got into VANDERBILT with similar credentials but NO work, and you're afraid of having an inadequate resume.

 

[habib89]

doesn't hurt to try,

 

[ajayjuneja]

It can work. I had a great job summer of my freshman year

 

[MisterCornell]

You could have the kind where your boss sticks a cigar where the sun don't shine. :Q