Summer Job and Internship Guide

TRINITY COLLEGE ● CAREER SERVICES

SUMMER JOB AND INTERNSHIP GUIDE

Finding a summer job requires many of the same strategies as locating an entry-level position, so the techniques you learn now will be valuable when you begin a job search during your Senior year. Start your summer job or internship search in the fall – some opportunities have November or December deadlines!

PLANNING A SUCCESSFUL SUMMER JOB/INTERNSHIP SEARCH 1. Determine your priorities:  Interests: In what are you interested? Do you want to gain experience in a specific field? Do you want to try something totally new? Where do you want to be geographically--home or away?  Skills: What skills do you possess that could help you get a particular job? Which do you most want to use? Are there certain skills you want to acquire, or others that you wish to improve? What classes do you enjoy? How do you want to incorporate your education into your summer job?  Needs: What financial constraints, if any, do you have? Can you volunteer, or is there a monetary quantity you must earn? Is it financially feasible for you to live away from home, if that is what you desire? Do your future plans require that you obtain certain skills/knowledge before you graduate? 2. Plan Ahead! Get a head start on your summer internship search.  Know when different industries recruit/hire for summer interns. See Career Services’ Recruiting Timeline Guide for more details on application deadlines. 3. Meet with a Career Advisor to determine goals and establish a time-line. 4. Take advantage of the Academic Internship opportunities at Trinity to build experience. Visit the Academic Internships Website for more information: http://www.trincoll.edu/Academics/AcademicInternships/ 5. Research the industry and organization. See back of this Guide and the CSO Online Resources Guide for different ways to conduct research. 6. Network! Don't wait for the internship to come to you.  Remember contacts can include: parents, friends, and professors.  Contact the Career Services Office about networking with Trinity College alumni/ae. 7. Write a resume and cover letter that highlight your experience and skills.  Make sure you investigate the correct contact information for opportunities.  Always use correct spelling and grammar – SPELL CHECK!!!  Don’t wait until 4pm the day the application is due to start your resume and cover letter.  Reference the Career Services Resume and Cover Letter Guides for more information. 8. Don’t bank on just one application - apply to multiple opportunities. 9. Thank your interviewers – even if you don’t want the position or feel like they have not done anything for you. 10. Follow up with the organization!

IDENTIFYING SUMMER JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS Trinity Recruiting - http://trincoll.erecruiting.com Trinity Recruiting is your online resource for full-time, internship and summer jobs. In addition to applying online to positions, all career-related events are listed in the Calendar section. Make sure you keep your profile up-to-date so the Career Services Office can send you information! Your username is your Trinity e-mail address. If you are unsure of your password, click forgot password. If that doesn’t work, contact the Career Services office at career- [email protected].

Internships.com – http://www.internships.com Internships.com is a resource to identify internships opportunities throughout 7 geographic regions - Midwest, Middle Atlantic, New England, Rockies-Plains, Southeast, Southwest, and West. Search by career field or location for an extensive listing of available internships. Select Trinity College and the password is bantam

● ADMISSIONS AND CAREER SERVICES BUILDING ● 300 SUMMIT STREET ● HARTFORD, CT 06106 ● ● 860.297.2080 ● [email protected] ● TRINITY COLLEGE ● CAREER SERVICES

LACN Internships and Jobs – http://trincoll.erecruiting.com Trinity works in collaboration with 28 other select liberal arts colleges to identify internships and full-time opportunities for our students. These opportunities are listed in Trinity Recruiting!!!

Career Resources on the Web - http://www.trincoll.edu/StudentLife/CareerServices/students/JobsWebRes.htm An extensive listing of websites by industry compiled by the Career Services Staff.

RESEARCH Research is essential to provide you with background information on the organization and to prepare you for an interview. See CSO Online Resources Guide for more details!

Spotlight on Careers - www.spotlightoncareers.org Off campus log in - username: lacn, password: holland The Vault - log onto Trinity Recruiting to access the VAULT – http://trincoll.erecruiting.com Access the Vault through Trinity Recruiting – http://trincoll.erecruiting.com. Your username is your Trinity e- mail address. If you are unsure of your password, click forgot password. If that doesn’t work, contact the Career Services office at [email protected]. The link to the Vault will appear on the main page of Trinity Recruiting. Wetfeet.com - http://www.wetfeet.com/cb/schools/toc.asp?dpid=173 . Security to download The WetFeet Insider Guides is set up as username/password. Username – trinityCSO, Password - bantam Facts on File – http://www.factsonfile.com Go to: www.factsonfile.com, Click on Databases (upper right hand corner), Log in: (upper right hand corner), Username: Trinity, Password: careers Then click on Ferguson's Career Guidance Center Career Search – http://online.goinglobal.com/default.aspx To gain access to the site, click under New Users “create an account now” and use the Client Referral Number of trinity04. Make sure you keep this client referral number as you will need it in subsequent log-ins.

COVER LETTERS AND RESUMES Because cover letters and resumes are an extremely important part of any job search (summer, full-time, part-time or internships), we strongly recommend you pick up the CSO Guide to Resumes and Cover Letters or download them from our website. You should also utilize Optimal Resume – a comprehensive, web-based application that will help you to create, present, and manage your resume online. To access Optimal Resume, go to http://trincoll.optimalresume.com and create a profile.

INTERVIEWING Although interviews are not always a requirement for summer employment, they are an excellent way to reiterate your qualifications for the job. Telephone interviews are sometimes arranged instead of a face-to-face interview. Be prepared to explain how your past and present experiences positively relate to the position you are seeking. Make sure you pick up the CSO Interviewing Guide for more information. One effective way to prepare for the interview is to participate in the Practice Interview Program. Watch Trinity Exchange for more details.

THANK YOU AND FOLLOW-UP Do not forget to send a thank-you note as soon as possible! For your convenience, notes can be sent via e-mail, mail or fax! See the CSO Thank you and other Business Letter Guide for more details!

● ADMISSIONS AND CAREER SERVICES BUILDING ● 300 SUMMIT STREET ● HARTFORD, CT 06106 ● ● 860.297.2080 ● [email protected] ●