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(0) CommentsGreat Advice (from AU Alumna and Others) in U.S. News & World Report
A recent issue of the U.S. News & World Report focuses on the job search, best careers, challenges for recent grads, etc., and the magazine’s online site boasts a plethora of useful career advice for job seekers and for navigating the working world, in essays, articles, videos, and other forms. The newest edition of the magazine also boasts a new Reporter/Producer in Rebecca Kern, BA SOC ’09, who was recently promoted to this full-time job from a post-grad paid internship, and whose byline appears on substantive articles in the Jobs edition. Way to go, Rebecca!
Minna Scherlinder Morse is discussing. 
I was recently approached by a Master’s student with a similar question–how important is getting an internship, particularly when a student is facing financial hurdles. This is what I wrote him, for what it’s worth:
Dear X:
The goal/s of internships are manifold: to get experience in the field, to broaden your network, and to gauge the kinds of roles and work-atmospheres you like and don’t like in a new career niche.
As someone who needs to work to pay the rent, you’re going to need to do all those things over time, but you won’t likely be able to do the one-stop shopping of a traditional internship.
So here are a few ideas:
If there’s a way to add relevant experience to your job duties, try to do so
Network strategically with much of the free time you have. I don’t know what stage of career planning or transition you’re in, and that will dictate what makes strategic sense now, but think informational interviewing and even (once you have some connection with someone doing what you’re interested in) shadowing for a day or two as ways to gain familiarity with types of work, workplaces, and as a way to broaden your network.
Take on whatever small projects you can fit in between the other demands of your schedule. Again, what kinds of projects make sense will depend on what your goals are, but something to think about.
Is there a way to create a sort-of-internship (i.e. low time commitment per week) with someone doing exactly the kind of work you want to do: i.e., is there anything you can offer in terms of service to a potential mentor in the field, that you can do in your off hours (and only in your off hours), that will help you contribute to a professional project, and gain you access to professionals in the field?
Just produce. With whatever time you have. Just do it. On your own. Then share the results.
Point is–internships aren’t the goal. Products that prove your talent, experience in the field, awareness of the realities of the field, and a beefed-up network…. those are the fruits of internships. But there are other trees in the garden. Go, eat.