1. iWork Summer Edition:
Finding Summer
Internships
Sarah Crockett, sarahec@vt.edu
Virginia Tech, Career Services
www.career.vt.edu
540-231-6241 February 28, 2011

2. Experience is
Important
Over 90% of VT grads who
responded to the last
Post-Grad Survey had one
or more career-related
experiences before
graduation.

3. WHAT DID THEY DO?
• 57% summer job • 18% undergrad
research
• 51% paid internship
• 6% co-op
• 45% part-time job
• 11% field study
• 40% volunteer work
• 5% other
• 18% unpaid internship

4. REGRETS?!
Even with all that experience, for
the last six years, a quarter to a third
of the grads said they wished they'd
gotten more!

5. Decide what
you’re looking
for!
Know the career
fields you’re
considering …

6. CAREER FIELDS – THE 411
Majors  Career Fields
To learn more about career fields:
• Post-Graduation Report
• Books in our Career Resource Center
• Department Career Advisors
• Networking – talk to people in the fields you are
considering
• Professional Associations/ Organizations

7. SO WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
• Cooperative • Part-time job
Education/Internship
Program (CEIP) • Volunteer work
• Internship • Clubs or Organizations
• Externship • Study Abroad
• Summer Job • Undergraduate
Research

8. Develop
your
Resume

9. MAKE YOUR RESUME POP!
• Use a readable font
• Be concise
• Experience counts
• Highlight successes
• Include activities

10. NEED RESUME HELP?
• Use the Career Planning Guide
• Visit Career Services website: www.career.vt.edu
• Visit the Career Resource Center at Career Services
• Attend a seminar – Career Services or your College may
sponsor one on resumes
• Have your resume critiqued through Career Services
– Walk-in Advising: 12:00-3:00pm M-F
– Make an Appointment

11. Search for Jobs
Look for advertised
and unadvertised
openings

12. Some advertised
job listings are
easy to find …

13. CHECK OUT THESE RESOURCES
FOR LISTINGS
1. Hard Copy Listings (Career Resource Center)
2. Internet Sources
• Current Employers of VT Co-op/Interns
• Career Services Website
- www.career.vt.edu/WebSites/Index.html
- VT-exclusive Resources
- Career-field Focused Sites
• Government or Federal Internship
3. Hokies4Hire

14. CHECK OUT THESE RESOURCES
FOR LISTINGS
1. Hard Copy Listings (Career Resource Center)
2. Internet Sources
• Current Employers of VT Co-op/Interns
• Career Services Website
- www.career.vt.edu/WebSites/Index.html
- VT-exclusive Resources
- Career-field Focused Sites
• Government or Federal Internship
3. Hokies4Hire

15. Choose some
places to inquire
about unadvertised
opportunities.
Why?
80% of job
openings are never
advertised!

16. And how do
you find
unadvertised
jobs?

17. NETWORK NETWORK NETWORK!
• Personal Contacts • Hokies
– Friends & Family – HokieNation Network
– Former Employers – Alumni Chapters
– Students ahead of you in
your major, classes, or • Career Services Contacts
organizations – Hokies4Hire Employer
Directory
• Professionals/ Employers – On Campus Interviewing
– LinkedIn Employers
– CareerShift
– Job/Career Fairs

18. NETWORKING WITH AN
ELEVATOR PITCH
“Hi, my name is Jane Doe. I’m an English major at
Virginia Tech and I’m pursuing publishing
internships. I’m really active with several
organizations on campus, helping them design their
websites. I’m also a big advocate of social media
and have helped some nonprofit organizations
create their Facebook fan pages.”

19. Start applying and
inquiring about
opportunities
AND
make sure you
follow up!

20. APPLYING FOR JOBS
For ADVERTISED positions:
– Carefully follow instructions given in the ad
For UNADVERTISED positions:
– Send resume and cover letter
– Tell why you are interested in working for the
company and what type of position you are seeking
– State in your letter that you will follow up in a specific
amount of time (two weeks)
**See the Career Planning Guide for examples**

21. FOLLOW UP AFTER APPLYING
Follow up is essential to the job search process!
• Call to confirm your application materials were received
– Offer to supply additional information
– Inquire about the status of your application
• Follow up again at the appropriate time in the future based
on what you learn
• Send brief thank you letters to any information and
assistant you were given
**See the Career Planning Guide for examples**

22. Don’t forget the
final step in the
job search
process …
The Interview!

23. PREPARING FOR THE
INTERVIEW
Make sure that you know three key items
1. Know yourself
- Skills, Strengths, Weaknesses, Resume, etc.
2. Know the company
- Research the company, department, interviewer, etc.
3. Know the interview process
- Be a S.T.A.R. Responder

24. Can you guess
what the #1
Interview/Job
Search Mistake
is?

25. #1 INTERVIEW/JOB SEARCH
MISTAKE
FAILING TO FOLLOW UP! DO IT!
• After initially applying
• After interviewing; write a thank you note
• After your thank you
• Again if needed

26. Questions?
Need More Help?
– Walk-in Advising 12-3pm, M-F
– Appointments: 540-231-6241
– Interview Practice: career.vt.edu
• Interview Stream
• Mock Interview Program
– Sarah Crockett, sarahec@vt.edu