By Kaitlyn Hedger
How is it that I could feel like I’m completely ahead of the game in my studies and extracurricular activities, yet when I sit down to fill out an internship application I suddenly feel inadequate? In Kaitlyn’s internship utopia, I would receive an application and fill it out with all of my outstanding qualities. I would be hired the day after I turn it in, they’d love me, and I’d be offered a full time job when I graduate. But as we all know, that’s an unachievable reality. Internships are a lot of work to get your foot in the door. I sat down to apply for an event planning internship and was extremely let down when I saw that three out of the five short answer questions were about previous events in which we’d planned. I’m a sophomore in college, how much experience could I possibly have? I was discussing my frustration with a good friend who told me that I should still go for it. She brought up the best point ever: we actually have more experience than we think.
She explained that no, we may not have EXACT experience for the job we’re after, but we’ve got more than we’re thinking. I have planned birthday parties before for my family and friends, yet I completely overlooked those times because I did not think it would count as it was “informal”. I got to thinking how many other events that I have been a part of, and I realize that I actually do have some experience. This applies to resume’s as well. Many people might be nervous about not having enough to put on their resume. Many people overlook babysitting due to that same informal sense. A professor once told me that babysitting is important because someone had trusted you with their most valuable asset—their kids. So, I’m going to leave you with one piece of advice: forget informalities, because even the smallest task matters.
How is it that I could feel like I’m completely ahead of the game in my studies and extracurricular activities, yet when I sit down to fill out an internship application I suddenly feel inadequate? In Kaitlyn’s internship utopia, I would receive an application and fill it out with all of my outstanding qualities. I would be hired the day after I turn it in, they’d love me, and I’d be offered a full time job when I graduate. But as we all know, that’s an unachievable reality. Internships are a lot of work to get your foot in the door. I sat down to apply for an event planning internship and was extremely let down when I saw that three out of the five short answer questions were about previous events in which we’d planned. I’m a sophomore in college, how much experience could I possibly have? I was discussing my frustration with a good friend who told me that I should still go for it. She brought up the best point ever: we actually have more experience than we think.
She explained that no, we may not have EXACT experience for the job we’re after, but we’ve got more than we’re thinking. I have planned birthday parties before for my family and friends, yet I completely overlooked those times because I did not think it would count as it was “informal”. I got to thinking how many other events that I have been a part of, and I realize that I actually do have some experience. This applies to resume’s as well. Many people might be nervous about not having enough to put on their resume. Many people overlook babysitting due to that same informal sense. A professor once told me that babysitting is important because someone had trusted you with their most valuable asset—their kids. So, I’m going to leave you with one piece of advice: forget informalities, because even the smallest task matters.
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