The Inside Job

You Do Not Need an Internship to Succeed

By Liz Wolgemuth

Posted: July 25, 2008

There's been quite a bit of lamenting lately about the import placed on internship experience.

This needs some clarifying:

You don't actually need to have a fancy internship on your résumé. Really. You need something that gets a hiring manager's attention. That's what internships do—they open doors and allow you to put great corporate or creative names on your résumé—and they ultimately get you attention.

Other things that can also get you this kind of attention:

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josiah salandy of NY @ Sep 03, 2008 17:02:38 PM

wow...Liz, you should def. read this...

Well put Fatesrider...straight to the point!

Consulting_guru of OH @ Jul 28, 2008 23:41:25 PM

Are you KIDDING me?

The trick is to have something on your resume that gets you noticed? Actually, that's not the case. The trick is to GET NOTICED regardless of your resume. Qualifications don't mean squat if your resume is buried in a pile of other resumes. Here are some better tips that don't take a lot of money or time to 'get noticed'.

Present your resume in PERSON. Talk to the people at the job for which you're applying. Find out who the person reviewing your resume is and address your cover letter to them as specific individuals. Dress appropriately and professionally. Shave, wear deodorant and be neatly groomed. LOOK like you want the job, and not like you're just waiting for a bus. FOLLOW UP with a note, card, e-mail or other means of keeping your name in their mind. Be discrete, to the point, pleasant, tactful and BRIEF.

Your resume only indicates your skill level and experience. It doesn't measure your enthusiasm or dedication and often times, that's what will tip the scale toward you over a better 'qualified' candidate.

Fatesrider of CA @ Jul 26, 2008 14:36:10 PM

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The Inside Job

The Inside Job

You're taking a break from your job-hunting and job-hopping ways and have decided to stay put in your current position. Liz Wolgemuth’s careers blog will show you how to make the very best of your job, each day.

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