How to Impress your Internship Co-ordinators or Hiring Managers

What to do - and what not to do - to impress internship coordinators.

There’s still snow on the ground and already the applications are pouring in. I almost can’t believe it–I’m not ready for summer yet, so why is everybody else?

The people who coordinate summer internships can be easily overwhelmed by the volume of queries they receive. So here, encapsulated for you, are some tips for making yourself a more attractive candidate by making internship coordinators’ lives easier. They just may reward you with the summer situations you seek.

#1. Search the Internet: When you hear of an internship and don’t know much–or anything–about the company sponsoring the position, don’t call the internship coordinator and ask, “So what does your company do?” This is information you should be able to find on your own by doing five minutes of research.

Search the Web, look in back issues of business magazines, or ask a career counselor at your school to direct you to a reference guide. Show that you’re resourceful. A capable and savvy person doesn’t call and say, “Hi, this is Scott Brown and I’d like to be a lawyer someday and, um, are you a law firm?”

#2. Read the listing thoroughly: If you see an interesting internship listing in a school bulletin or on the Web, read it completely before asking questions. Don’t be the applicant who says, “Hi. I saw your listing in Monster and I wanted to know if you offer a salary,” when that information is clearly displayed. Or worse: “Hi, I wanted to know if you have an address?” Yes, I do. Look it up.

#3. Follow directions:  When you apply, send all the requested information. Check your notes carefully to make sure you’ve included references, project ideas and any other application materials listed in the job posting. If you don’t send a complete application, a busy internship director probably won’t make time to call and ask you for the missing information. Frankly, only you care whether you get a job or not. Sifting through cover letters and resumes is time-consuming; employers are happy to find reasons to eliminate applicants. So if your application is missing information, it may be excluded without a second thought.

#4. Write a cover letter: You can use the same cover letter structure for most of your applications, but don’t write a generic letter and simply address it “to whom it may concern.” Show you’re really interested in working for a particular organization by becoming familiar with its goals and products, offering specific examples of how your talents could be used. You don’t have to go into great detail, but dropping in a few careful comments (”…and I’d love to put my HTML skills to work and help redesign your “About” page…”) can set you apart from the undistinguishable competition.

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Tips to Write the Perfect Cover Letter

Cover Letter : A little known fact about cover letters will make you look at them in a different light.

At AskStudent, we covered resume and job interview tips and suggestions before. We talked about how to write the perfect resume and also covered writing the perfect cover letter. This article expands on writing and improving your cover letter.

The truth is out there, and it’s alarming. Of the dozens of cover letters you’ve spent hours perfecting, very few will ever be read. Companies and recruiters don’t have the time to read everything you send them. Instead, they scan a resume for keywords like Java, computer science major or Nobel Prize winner. If the company’s managers like your resume, they might read your cover letter.

You still have to be careful when writing your cover letter. Your resume and cover letter work in tandem on a mission to infiltrate a company and secure a position. Each has a special role: the resume contains the information a company wants to know about you, while the cover letter tells the company what you know about it. Recognizing the cover letter’s role is the trick to writing an effective one.

The cover letter also demonstrates your writing ability, your grammar skills and your determination. Deficiencies or mistakes could result in a quick rejection.

Start by finding out who should receive your letter. Never begin a letter with “To Whom It May Concern.” You can find contact information from the job description or the company’s Web site, but the best way is to call and ask who will make the hiring decision.

Before you write your letter, do some research. Investigate your prospective employer’s Web page, or request an information kit from the shareholder services or marketing department. You can get the skinny from the company’s annual report and its letter to the shareholders. You’ll learn about the company’s position in its industry, who it competes with and how it runs its business.

Start your letter with a brief introduction stating the position you’re applying for and your qualifications. Then change the letter’s focus from you to the company.

Put your research to work. A simple and honest compliment about what you admire about the company is a good way to show what you know. Include a few examples of how you can contribute to the company’s success. (You’re proving you have the resourcefulness and motivation to do your research.)

Writing the cover letter is not a test of what you’ve learned about the company. Don’t feel obligated to include everything you’ve learned. There are many ways to write a good letter. Draft and revise yours until you’re comfortable with it.

Keep it short — no more than one page. Few people have the time to read long letters, unless they’re from friends.

In the last paragraph, tell the company what your next step will be. Include your phone number and ask the recipient to call if he or she has questions. Companies will rarely call immediately, so explain in your letter that you will call to check on your application’s status and arrange an interview. Give the recipient a week to review your application, but make sure you’re getting the attention you want. Always ask to arrange an interview.

You need to maintain momentum or your application will be buried under the dozens of new ones that arrive every day.

It might seem like a great deal of work just for a brief letter, but keep in mind that your efforts aren’t used in the cover letter alone. By learning about the company as you write the cover letter, you’re preparing yourself for the next stage of the hiring process: the interview.

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The best career paths for nerds and the colleges offering them

Online University Lowdown has an excellent article on the 25 best colleges for nerds and some of the cool courses being offered at these colleges.

From colleges with video game design majors to artificial intelligence, to majors in ‘ethical hacking’, colleges around the world are starting to appeal to the nerds in all of us.  This list of 25 courses and programs offered at colleges around the world identifies some of the nerdiest coursework, starting with the most obvious, and winding up with the most obscure…

Note: Most of the courses listed below are full 4 year courses. Also, clicking on the links below will take you straight to the course listing whether at physical universities or online schools. A lowdown according to them …

# 1: Game Software Design and Production at DigiPen Insititute of Technology

# 2: Ethical Hacking at the University of Abertay in Dundee, Scotland and InfoSec Institute

# 3: Open Source Development at University of California Berkeley and online equivalent at University of Illinois

# 4: Cryptography at Stanford University, MIT and University of Washington

# 5: Network Security at the University of Tennessee Knoxville and an online equivalent at The American Intercontinental University

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When to use an Objective Statement or a Summary Statement in a Resume

Questions & Answers - Stating Your Objective

Should I use a Summary instead of an Objective?

In general, use an Objective statement when you:

Are an entry-level job seeker or recent graduate with minimal on-the-job experience.

Are transitioning into a new career field, exiting the military or returning to work following a leave of absence.

Are looking explicitly for a particular position, type of company or specific industry.

Know the exact job title of the job opening you are targeting and have time to tailor your Objective statement to match the job title, working environment and type of company for each position.

Your past work experience is diverse and crosses several different career fields, and you want the reader to understand your career direction clearly.
 

In general, use a Summary statement when you:

Are an experienced job seeker and are looking for a similar career within your field or industry.

Have a skill set that is diverse or widely applicable and you want to be considered for more than one kind of position.

Know that your resume will reside within a resume database and you want to be considered for a wide variety of job openings.

Have valuable experience or specific accomplishments that appear on the second page of your resume but want to highlight up front.

Your Summary contains at least one substantial accomplishment or qualification that supports your career objective.

Your occupation offers career pathways into many diverse career fields or spans several industries (such as Customer Service).
 

Should I tailor my Objective statement for each job?

A resume that is tailored for each individual job opening has the highest probability of success in landing the interview. Consider tailoring your resume for each company in which you are seriously interested. Minor changes to your job objective may not require a re-write of your resume. However, if your job target changes significantly, ensure that the skills, abilities and experience described in your resume demonstrate that you are qualified for the position.

Do I really need an Objective?

The majority of employers prefer to see either an Objective or Summary statement at the top of your resume. However, if you have held several positions within your targeted career field and your qualifications are apparent, then your preferred job target and previous experience will be obvious to the reader.

What if my Objective is stated in the cover letter?

Keep in mind that your cover letter and resume may be separated. If you are including an Objective statement, be sure to include it on both your resume and cover letter.

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Resume Advice: How to Write an Objective Statement

Stating Your Objective

Catch the reader’s attention by stating how you can benefit the company. An Objective statement is one or two sentences that clearly identifies the job title or career field you are seeking and describes the industry or type of company you would prefer. A well-written Objective statement demonstrates why you are qualified for the position and explains how an employer would benefit from hiring you. This statement should be concise, focused and compelling.

When preparing your resume, write your objective statement first. This will help you focus your efforts on writing the remainder of your resume in a way that demonstrates why you are qualified for the position. It will also help potential employers match your skills and abilities with the right job opening. Your Objective statement also helps a company decide who should see your resume and where it should be filed if no immediate position is available.

Insider Tip:  If you are applying for a specific position at a specific company, use the same (or similar) job title as it appears in the job advertisement. If you are applying for a variety of positions, use your Objective statement to target a specific industry or describe a more general career category. 

When to Use an Objective

If you are an experienced professional, consider using a Summary statement instead of an Objective statement (see “Should I use a Summary instead of an Objective” under Questions and Answers on using an Objective Statement in a Resume). However, if you can clearly define the position you are seeking, then an Objective statement is recommended.

Advantages to Using an Objective:

·  Assures the reader that you are focused in a particular career field.

·  Allows hiring managers to match your resume with appropriate jobs quickly.

·  Helps focus your resume to support your qualifications for a specific career.

Disadvantages to Using an Objective:

·  Prevents you from being considered for other positions you may be qualified for.

·  Requires you to spend more time developing a resume that targets each career field.

·  A broadly-stated Objective becomes meaningless and makes you seem unfocused.

How to Write an Objective Statement

When writing your Objective statement, consider how much you want to tailor or customize your resume to match the requirements of the position, as well as how widely you will need to distribute your resume. If you are applying for a targeted position that has been advertised or posted, then write your Objective to include the exact job title and ensure that your preferred type of company or industry matches the description of the company to which you are applying. 

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Resume Writing Advice: Personal Information in a Resume

Personal Information

Your personal contact information is the most important component of your resume. Personal information consists of all the necessary information a prospective employer would need to contact you. Make sure to include your name, address, and telephone number (including area code), at a minimum and preferably an e-mail address. List your personal information as you would like it to appear at the top of your resume. If you would like to include your middle initial or middle name, then include this information following your first name into the first field.

Insider Tip: Try adding your name in ALL CAPS or increasing the font size. This will make your name stand out more and may be more memorable to a potential employer. 

Consider including a Web site address, cellular phone number, pager number, or answering service number as an alternate means of being contacted. If you are currently employed and cannot be contacted at your current workplace, include a home or cellular number as your primary contact number instead. However, if you have a private telephone line with voicemail at your current workplace, then include your work number. Also, in certain instances your current employer will be aware that you are accepting telephone calls from prospective employers. For example, you may be involved in a merger or down-sizing activity where your employer provides outplacement and job search support.

Insider Tip: If you have professional credentials or certifications that are relevant to the position you are applying for or are required by your career, your resume should indicate this. For example, if you are a certified public accountant consider writing your name “Mark Anthony - C.P.A”. However, use your discretion when deciding whether or not to include this information on your resume, as it may be advantageous in some positions and not in others.

Lastly, if your resume is more than one page, do not forget to include your contact information on the second page.

Questions and Answers - Personal Contact Information

Should I include my work number?

If you have a direct telephone number with voicemail at your current job and are able to speak freely during a phone interview, consider including your work number. However, label this number “Work:” so that employers will know to call during the daytime. If you are contacted by a prospective employer while at work and are unable to have a private conversation, then schedule a time to return the phone call.

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Resume Writing Advice: Alternative to the Objective Section of a Resume, Job Target

As an alternative to an Objective section of your resume, use a Job Target section that will call attention to the position you are seeking. A job target also provides a headline of the position you are qualified for without taking up much space on your resume.

Insider Tip: If there are several positions you are qualified for, all with similar names, then include these career fields or names on the same line as follows:

Product Marketing Manager / Brand Manager / Senior Marketing Director

Questions and Answers - Targeting a Specific Job

Should I tailor my Job Target for each position?

A resume that is tailored for each individual job opening has the highest probability of success in landing the interview. Consider targeting your resume for each company that you are seriously interested in. Minor changes to your job objective may not require a re-write of your resume. However, if your job target changes significantly, ensure that the skills, abilities and experience described in your resume demonstrate that you are qualified for the position.

Should I include a Job Target?

The majority of employers prefer to quickly determine whether you are a good fit for the position. If you are applying for jobs that directly match your qualifications, then including a headline that matches your job objective will be enough to get your resume to the right place.
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