The Art of Searching for an Internship
By Ashley Rush
Part I: Deadlines, Application and Resumes…oh my!
Many of the degree programs at St. Petersburg College end with an Internship requirement. As students, when we first enter our program, we put it on the back burner feeling like it is a long ways away. The internship requirement quickly sneaks up on you, and around the semester before your internship requirement, you realize you have a lot of work to do.

Hi, my name is Ashley Rush and I am an IT Security AS student that has recently gone through the beginning processes of obtaining an Internship. My internship will be completed during the spring 2016 term, and it was during the end of the summer session before, I realized I needed to start working on this. The first step for me was to fill out the required form found under the Internship section of the SPC website, or at the address below here.

During this form, it came to my attention that I needed a resumé and this was something I had never done before. I went into college straight from high school and had focused on my academics, knowing I had much catching up to do in my field, as I didn’t have experience in it. This created a new challenge for me, which was learning how to create a resumé that would make me successful. My first attempt was rather weak, with having listed only my educational achievements and what I believed my skills were. With the help of an Internship Coordinator, I understood that I needed to expand upon what I learned during my degree, and that I needed to add some form of experience. To accomplish a more successful resumé, I used the volunteer experience and clubs that I had been in, including high school. This allowed me to show that I did have experience working in groups and being successful in individual work as well. Since I didn’t have experience in my field, I put what class work I had completed successfully that tied into the degree and internship that I was striving for.

If you need help with your resumé, make sure to reach out and find out about the workshops they offer to make you successful. Your resumé needs to be reviewed by the Internship Coordinator. They will help your to accentuate your skill set. Also, if they are working with an employer that is looking for your skillset they can connect you to the employer. Your resume will be sent along with others – so you want to make sure yours stands out from other students in your field. A solid resumé can help you feel confident.

Your resumé should be created through Optimal Resumé under My Career in MySPC, and when you are finished with the resumé, send it to the group: SPC Employment and Internship Office.

If you have any questions regarding Career Services, resumés, or Internships please contact Career Services on a campus near you!