Entry by Pat Patterson
Regardless if you are at a networking event or a friend’s cookout, you are likely to meet new people, perhaps someone who will lead you to your next internship or job. Whether you will continue to keep in touch with new contacts depends on how favorably they remember you.
A great first impression will increase your chances of continuing a relationship with someone you meet. Especially for those internship and job seekers at career fairs, making a great first impression may determine whether or not a recruiter decides to toss your resume aside or keep it in the pile of potential candidates.
In Kevin Eikenberry’s blog, Leadership and Learning, he provides ten valuable tips on how to make a great first impression:
- Relax. This comes first, especially if the situation is one where you feel you need to make a great first impression. You want the new client, you want the job, you want the date – whatever the situation is, take the pressure off of yourself! Relax and just be yourself. Think about it, you can tell when people are anxious or nervous, right? Does it make you more attracted to them? Your answer is the same as everyone else’s. Relax.
- Smile! Few things are more attractive than a real smile – it doesn’t matter if you are young or old, smiles make a difference. Whether you’ve spent thousands on your pearly whites doesn’t matter. Let people know you are happy to meet them before a word is said. The best way to do that is with a smile. The old line that “smiles increase your face value” is an old line because it’s true.
- Use a good handshake. While I grew up taking this for granted, and have written about it in more detail, this one simply can’t be overlooked. A good handshake says things about you that words never can. Learn to give a great handshake. Practice it. Make it your habit.
- Make eye contact. In most parts of the world, this is incredibly important. Everyone has heard it, everyone “knows” it, but far too many people do it. This actually is good news for you – because when you do make eye contact consistently – you will stand out.
- Be genuine and real. Be . . . yourself. Be . . . natural. After all, you want their impression to be of who you really are not some mask you have created, right? Enough said.
- Be interested, not interesting. This turn of words is very powerful. Often making a great first impression is equated with impressing people. While that is true, most think about impressing people as being about showing what we know, who we know or what we’ve done. You will make a more powerful and lasting impression when you don’t try so hard. Which brings me to . . .
- Ask more, say less. You will show your interest in the other person by asking more questions and talking less. When you ask you are signaling your interest. Asking helps you learn about the other person, and who doesn’t like it when people want to know more about them?
- Be confident. Being confident coupled with being relaxed leads to a projected self-assurance that is both interesting and attractive. Don’t try too hard, and don’t take confidence as your lone tip (notice this doesn’t say over-confident or cocky) – but when coupled with the other ideas on this list you will not only be more confident, but your confidence will work well.
- Be present. Being present means not looking for the next hand to shake, not thinking about your own issues or deciding how to move on. It is about being with the person you are meeting, for however long you are engaged with them in conversation. Many of the other tips on this list will happen naturally when you are truly in the moment with the person.
- Remember it isn’t about you. Make the encounter as much about the other person as possible, and you will make great first impressions most of the time. If you are especially nervous in networking situations or if you are reading these tips before an especially important meeting, remember this tip and apply it. It is all about the other person. As paradoxical as it may seem, making a good impression will come easiest when you focus not on yourself, but on the other person.
Need an example of how to make a great first impression? Next time you meet someone who makes a great first impression on you, note their behavior and why you liked them, and use such information as you make your next acquaintance.
September 3, 2010
Entry by Pat Patterson
Your organization’s brand determines its reputation, which will in turn determine how well your organization will perform. Therefore, it is important to periodically ask yourself if you are effectively doing all you can to take charge of your brand. Even if you are not hiring interns or employees for the fall, consider attending campus career fairs to spread awareness of your organization and its future work opportunities.
Consider these results from NACE’s 2010 Recruiting Benchmarks Survey, citing career fairs as the most effective branding tool:
More than 90 percent of employers taking part in NACE’s 2010 Recruiting Benchmarks Survey cited branding to the campus as very important to their program. In addition, more than 90 percent cited career/job fairs, the corporate web site, and building relationships with key faculty as the tools and activities they use to build their brand. Nearly two-thirds of those using career/job fairs said they were very or extremely effective in helping them meet their branding goals, while approximately 64 percent cited building relationships with faculty as very or extremely effective.
Though used for branding purposes by 95.5 percent of respondents, the corporate web site lagged some in terms of effectiveness, with 56 percent rating it as very or extremely effective.
If you are not signed up to attend any fall campus career fairs, now is a good time to register. Check out our Events page at www.indianaintern.net to view the upcoming career fairs near you.
September 2, 2010
Entry by Pat Patterson
Before you pack up your materials to begin recruiting interns on college campuses, take some time to strategize how you will market your organization. More importantly, think about the characteristics of your target audience – Millennials, those born between 1977 and 1998. The more you know about Millennials, the more you can tailor your recruiting efforts to entice their interests. Here are some Key Characteristics of Today’s Adolescents:
Self-reliance – They believe that becoming successful is up to them, and they are not depending on others for help. Finding a good job is a priority. They are the young navigators. They must chart their own course and captain their own ship: “It’s up to me to create my own well-being.” They value personal experience and are prone to seek out critical thinkers. They are independent and emotionally and intellectually open. They strongly value individual rights: the right to be left alone, the right to privacy, the right to have and express their own views. They want to be treated fairly.
Empowered adventurers – Research shows that this generation has a confidence that comes from a strong sense of their ability to accomplish things that have been entrusted to them. They think and learn in interactive, nonlinear ways. They are willing to explore, search and navigate.
Love of family – In light of all the troubles in the world in which they live, there seems to be a surprising trend toward relying more on their family as a sanctuary against the difficulties of life. They view their parents as the most important source of guidance and emotional support.
Relationships are paramount – They rely strongly on close personal networks of friends and family. They also have a desire to be connected with others: friends in school, interest groups, and online virtual communities. Peers are important and are not always a “pressure.” There seems to be a significant shift in how this generation responds to peer pressure. When asked, “How pressured do you feel to do the following?” these figures show how many indicated “Not at all” for the listed activities: drink alcohol – 77%; smoke – 77%; take illegal drugs – 84%; have sex – 72%. This is far different from some of the images of adolescent life that we see portrayed in the media today.
Global icons – Brand identification in the consumer market seems to be at an all-time high. It’s important to wear the right jeans, wear the right athletic shoes, and drink the right kind of beverage. The generation is returning to the tried and true dream of all marketers – brand loyalty.
Educational achievement – Their main priority in life is to get a good education, and their core value is personal competence. This generation identifies a good education as the gateway to success.
Diversity is important – This generation values diversity unlike any before them. They have a high tolerance for differently held beliefs. They believe strongly in equal rights. Discrimination against minorities is in the top five issues about which they are very concerned. They know they are growing up in an increasingly multicultural world.
Consumerism – These kids know how to shop. They are not going to be fooled into buying products that don’t meet their needs. They are skeptical of slick marketing promotions. They are working in order to be able to purchase. Eighty percent of the teenagers in the U.S. are working 15 or more hours a week.
Mobility equals freedom – This generation promises to be one of the most mobile ever. They don’t intend to stay at home. They have aspirations to travel, not only around this country, but also around the world. They already travel on the Internet to many places, and now they want to go there in person.
Mediavores – This generation is addicted to media. It is not uncommon for them to be doing their homework, listening to a CD, watching television, and communicating on-line at the same time. They are giving new definition to “multitasking.”
Unabashed fun seekers – After all, this generation is still mostly made up of kids. Kids want to have fun, and this generation is no different. They will not be bored, because there are so many options open to them.
Service-oriented – They have a strong sense of the common good and of collective social and civic responsibility. They are more knowledgeable than any previous generation about social issues. They are very social concerned about the environment, AIDS, drugs, homelessness, crime, and discrimination. They engage in service activities more than any previous generation.
Keep these characteristics in mind when deciding how to market your organization and its work opportunities. In particular, if you plan on sending a recruiter to a career fair in the near future, perhaps your best bet would be to send a millennial (if you have one).
August 31, 2010
Change is in the air for Indiana INTERNnet. We are designing a new website that will position the organization to utilize new media in serving our user database populations. The plan is to unveil the new site in 2011, and here’s what we have in store:
- Email integration to deliver timely, automated communication to INTERNnet users,
- website integration of social media tools,
- higher level of search functions, including filtering mechanisms designed to zero in on search results,
- enhanced matching technologies to provide a robust solution intended to help people discover the best internship match, and
- improved visability of our blog, Indiana INTERNnation, intended to offer ease-of-use for contributing authors.
Overall, we know we are competing with every other communication channel for the attention of our users and we’re working to make Indiana INTERNnet: The Next Generation a destination site that will offer a dynamic, interactive, and more engaging experience for students and employers alike. If you have suggestions to pass along, drop an email to pnorman@indianachamber.com or ppatterson@indianachamber.com.
Thanks in advance for helping us create our next site designed with you in mind.
August 30, 2010
Entry by Pat Patterson
Just as your mother had advised when you were growing up, it is important to always say please and thank you. More specifically, after your summer internship is over, don’t forget to send a thank you note to your host organization.
The Intern Queen has some great advice for Thank You notes in her blog, I AM INTERN:
If you work for a small company and have been introduced to the president at one time or another, I do think you should send him/her a thank-you note along with another note to your direct supervisor and any other executives that have helped you over the summer. Below are a few quick Thank You note tips:
- Either purchase your own stationary or go the store and pick up professional looking Thank You notes in the card section. Get something basic that says Thank You on the front and is blank inside. You should be filling in the inside – not the card company.
- The inside of the note should thank the employer for the opportunity, reference specific tasks that you enjoyed doing, and mention how you look forward to staying in touch.
- Sign a Thank You note with “Best” or “Sincerely” unless you and your employer are on an “xo” basis. You are only on an “xo” basis with your employer if they have closed a note to you with that in the past.
- If you do purchase your own stationary, make sure to keep it simple and classy. When picking it out, think about if you would use the same stationary in 15 years – is it timeless? If the answer is yes, you are probably picking out the right stationary.
I have heard countless stories of students landing an internship or job offer because they managed to inch ahead of their similarly qualified competitors with a thank you note. Saying thank you to the organization you interned with can have a big impact, as your employer may be more apt to remember you when they start hiring full-time. And remember, thank you notes are not only meant for your previous employers - send follow-up/thank you notes to people you meet at networking events, people who offer you advice, organizations you interview with, etc. The smallest gesture can make the biggest difference in the world.
August 27, 2010
Entry by Pat Patterson
We launched our blog in June, and every so often I will check our Google Analytics account to determine how many people visit our blog and how they find our blog in the first place. Today, I noticed a trend that somewhat surprised me – the majority of traffic to Indiana INTERNnation is directed from our social media marketing, more specifically Facebook.
This made me think - although all organizations and websites are different, if you are not using social media to market your organization, you are missing out on a large, free opportunity to increase your exposure. Specifically, I encourage all organizations to market your internship opportunities or at least links to your opportunities through your social media accounts.
Think about it – Facebook was created for university and college students, a majority of which use Facebook at least once a day. If you want to advertise an internship meant for university and college students, why not post your opportunity in a forum that is likely to be viewed by your target audience?
Also, think about ways to utilize the web virally. Posting your internship opportunities through social media allow students to share or repost your internship via Facebook or Twitter. In addition, if you have an internship posting on your website, include an option for individuals to share the posting via Email, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Google Buzz, etc. (Check out the share option we have at the end of this entry – feel free to share this article 
). The more exposure your internship opportunities have, the more student applications you will receive, and the more selective you can be when choosing your intern.
August 26, 2010
Entry by Pat Patterson
If you have not declared your college major yet, try not to be persuaded to pursue a degree solely based on the current economic conditions. Statistically speaking, in our current economy, students with certain majors have landed more job offers after graduation than students with other degrees. However, it is important to pursue a major that you are interested in, and let your passions guide your career decisions. After all, you are more likely to perform well when you have an interest in what you are studying, and it is uncertain which courses of study may “increase your odds” of landing a job one, two, three, or four years from now.
A recent article in the Chicago Tribune echoes this sentiment:
The key is to think ahead about which jobs would also let you capitalize on your interests. And the earlier you start, the more opportunities you’ll have to build practical experience through an internship or part-time job.
Keep a long-term perspective and remind parents to do the same. Given that college tuition, room and board now runs as much as $50,000 per year, parents may put pressure on college-bound children to pursue degrees in industries with good job growth.
But that kind of thinking can be risky, said Goodman, the college admissions adviser.
“Kids do better when they like what they do,” he said. “No economy lasts forever.”
As the article references, one of the best ways to test out a potential career interest or gain valuable work experience in an area of your interest is through interning. It is important to intern as early and often as you can. Trust me, regardless of your degree, employers will look favorably on your job application if you have work experience related to their job openings.
Uncertain what types of jobs may coincide with your interests or uncertain what types of jobs you may be able to land with your major? Stop by your school’s career services office and see where other individuals with your major or intended major are now – I am sure some of the results will surprise you. Of course, don’t forget that you can find internships for free using www.indianaintern.net!
August 25, 2010
Entry by Courtney Sampson, Marketing and Communications Intern, Indiana State Fair
Let it be known to all! Here’s my new slogan…maybe I’ll suggest it to the “Head Fred” of the Indiana State Fair. Probably not. Anyway, here it goes – The 2010 Great Indiana State Fair – Making Memories Happen.
OK – but really, this one-line slogan sums up my entire summer! There’s been no shortage of things to do around here; I can’t say I’m surprised, though. The Indiana State Fair draws more than 900,000 visitors over 17 days. Here’s a taste of my favorite fair memories:
10 – Riding The Blizzard with my co-worker, Kris Karol…AFTER he ate 2 pieces of fried chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, and water. Good thing he didn’t drink Pepsi. It might have put ‘em over the edge. Oh yeah, and he sat on the outside, so I got to slam into him on every corner!
9 – Paying $12.50 to eat a healthy salad and small Diet Pepsi, and being OK with spending a pretty penny because I skipped my daily fried delicacy.
8 – Riding So Slow Joe in the Rodeo Donkey Race. Giddy up! (Nope, not kidding.)
7 – Falling off So Slow Joe…breaking my flip flop (yes, I rode them for a brief moment)…getting a bruise on my beeehind from hitting the ground!
6 – An every-other-day quest to find the State Fair’s best chicken tender. Lo-and-behold, on Day 16, I finally found it at “The Fry Basket,” which is known for selling the Deep-Fried PB&J. Who would’ve thought I’d find the perfect, moist, crispy, seasoned-just-right piece ‘o chicken at the Fry Basket? But I did.
5 – Thanks to Fair Board Director, Lynette Walter, I touched Keith Urban. ‘Nuff said.
4 – Thanks to my co-worker, Michelle, I met Sugarland! Jennifer Nettles’ stylist (or maybe just Jen) chose a great outfit!
3 – I met Governor Mitch Daniels and Indiana’s First Lady, Cheri Daniels. I even worked out in a pig costume at the First Lady’s Heartland Walk for Health. And man, it was smokin’ hot inside “Porkchop.”
2 – Hanging out with the Indiana State Fair Queen several days proved to be some of my favorite times. She forced me to eat GOAT MEAT, and I still like her. In fact, my wave is almost as good…but not quite. Guess that’s why she’s got the title!
Eatin’ the goat meat!
1 – I sure did meet many folks out here, but none of them compare to Liz Bowman, an 83-year-old Indianapolis resident who hasn’t missed one day of the Indiana State Fair in 62 years. Yep, you read that right! She started coming to the fair at age 21, and she hasn’t stopped. I’ve only met Liz a few times, and I feel like I’ve known her for decades. In my moments with Liz, I was reminded that determination and will power, along with a positive spirit, a great family, and a passion for life will keep you happy. Thanks, Indiana State Fair, for a summertime of fun, and thanks, Liz, for teaching me lessons for life.
August 24, 2010
Entry by Pat Patterson
Looking to hire fall interns? You can use Indiana INTERNnet www.indianaintern.net for free to post internship opportunities in Indiana.
1. What are the advantages of using Indiana INTERNnet for my intern search?
Indiana INTERNnet is a free statewide system with students from 436 high schools and 84 colleges and universities throughout Indiana (the numbers continue to grow). With such a large number of students with diverse interests seeking internships through our database, your organization will gain greater exposure and gain a larger pool of qualified candidates to ensure you will acquire the best talent for your needs.
Indiana INTERNnet makes it easier to search for students. When seeking a specific type of student, employers can search for matches by utilizing any combination or all of the following fields: geographic preference, minimum GPA, job category, industry, and University. Employers may also post an unlimited number of internships.
Aside from acting as a search mechanism, Indiana INTERNnet has information and educational resources to assist your organization in creating and measuring the success of your internship program.
2. How do I begin my Indiana INTERNnet account?
On the home page (www.indianaintern.net), click on the “new user” tab of the login box on the right side of your screen. You will be required to select a participation category, and should select “employer.” In order to ensure your company is not already registered, the system will request that you enter your organization name in a text box. If the system finds your organization is already registered with Indiana INTERNnet, it will prompt you to contact the webmaster to add you to your organization’s account. If the system does not find your organization registered with Indiana INTERNnet, it will prompt you to move forward with your registration. Upon reading and accepting the terms and conditions, you will be asked to complete a short registration form. Upon submitting this form, you will receive your username and computer-generated password in your Email inbox within one business day.
3. What types of internships can I post?
Indiana INTERNnet allows any high-quality internship position. The nature of high-quality is determined by the duties outlined in the employer’s internship description, and the employer’s commitment to enhancing the student’s learning experience. If you are unsure of the quality of your positions, Indiana INTERNnet will assist you in evaluating the tasks and duties.
In addition, employers can post all types of high-quality internships: paid or unpaid; credit or not-for-credit; traditional, short-term, or project based. However employers cannot post full-time or part-time positions. If you are trying to fill full-time or part-time positions, Indiana INTERNnet recommends you consider offering an internship as a “pre-recruiting” tool for full-time and replacement for part-time positions.
4. Do I need to provide compensation to interns?
Payment is not required, but is strongly recommended and preferred. You may also gain a greater pool of interested candidates by providing some form of compensation. Your internship team should refer to the Department of Labor’s six-prong test to determine if the internship warrants compensation.
5. How does the system work?
Indiana INTERNnet is a high-tech and high-touch system for Indiana employers seeking interns. The high-tech portion allows employers to enter company descriptions, multiple users, internship description and requirements for the internship. When an employer’s needs match the student’s interests, the employer can view the resume and the student can view the internship description. Additionally, Indiana INTERNnet offers high-touch services that enable you to receive personal consultation and the same services offered within the high-tech services.
Each employer seeking an intern can search for matches by utilizing any combination or all of the following fields: geographic preference, minimum GPA, job category, industry, and University. The employer creates and executes a search, then views the result. The employer can then save the search for future use, save specific records found in the search for future use (specific interns in which they are interested), and/or contact the intern via email. The same matching system is used for the high-touch methodology.
When a match is made online, the employer can save the match for future use or can immediately contact a student via email. If a position is accepted, the employer should close out the internship by indicating a filled position in the employer workspace.
August 23, 2010
Entry by Pat Patterson
Now that career fairs are approaching, it is important to have clear, detailed descriptions of the internship opportunities that you have to offer. Your internship description should include a brief overview of your organization, the intern responsibilities/duties, desired candidate skills, and any additional logistical details.
The following is an example of an internship description:
Marketing/Communications Intern*
Indiana INTERNnet is a business-education partnership between the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Indiana higher education institutions and high schools, and Indiana-based employers to promote the quality and quantity of internship opportunities statewide. Indiana INTERNnet serves as the state’s online matching system connecting students and employers for internship opportunities. For more information about Indiana INTERNnet, visit www.indianaintern.net.
Indiana INTERNnet is currently offering one paid internship opportunity to assist current staff members with internship activities.
Intern Responsibilities:
• Follow up with employers who have posted internships in the past to collect internship metrics and provide follow up survey results and reports.
• Research various events at which Indiana INTERNnet might consider participation and/or a booth exhibition.
• Participate in regional team efforts, recruiting employers to post internship opportunities through Indiana INTERNnet.
• Exhibit journalistic skills by contributing to the monthly INTERNnetwork newsletter articles.
• Contact local Chambers of Commerce and industry associations throughout the state to develop collaborative efforts including local website presence, speaking engagements, newsletter article submissions, and local event involvement.
• Follow up with non-active employers to encourage them to resume usage of Indiana INTERNnet to fulfill their internship needs.
• Miscellaneous projects as assigned.
Desired Skills:
Excellent organizational skills
Time management
Ability to prioritization multiple projects
Effective oral and written communication
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Online research skills
Ability to work well on an individual and collaborative basis
Attention to detail
Internship Details:
• Office location is downtown Indianapolis; parking is at the expense of the intern
• Internship hours are Monday – Friday; 9:00am – 5:00pm.
• This is a paid internship.
*Note: this internship posting is an example and is not currently available.
August 20, 2010
Previous page
