Get an Internship and Make the Most of It: Practical Information for High School and Community College Students

Too often students automatically think that an internship is not for them. They seem to believe that internships are just for those students who are in AP or engineering and science programs or for students who know exactly what career they want to pursue. They don’t take internship opportunities offered by their school or college or seek an internship on their own. Internships offer all students a way to find direction for their future. An internship will help them gain experience in the real world, find a career area that they like — or don’t like — get focused on a possible college major, and build those skills critical for success in a career and higher education. This book is a resource for all high school and community college students who want to find, get, and make the most out of an internship. The book gives students a “heads up” on how to: • Use community, school, and college resources to help secure an internship • Get their act together by writing a compelling resume, cover email and elevator speech • Show the skills and attitudes every organization wants to see during the interview • Prepare for an interview by anticipating the typical interview questions • Know what the interviewer is looking for and what to say and do to make the best impression • Take on value added projects once the internship gets going • Deal with the ups and downs • Use the internship experience in their future Get an Internship and Make the Most of It: Practical Information for High School and Community College Students can be a help to every high school and community college student. It follows four students as they find, interview for and complete their internships. If you’re thinking about doing an internship or are well on the way to starting one, this book is for you.

Table of Contents:
CONTENTS Acknowledgments Introduction 1 Find an Internship 2 Things You Need to Have 3 Get Ready for the Interview 4 Interview Like a Pro 5 Get off to a Good Start 6 Get the Most Out of Your Internship 7 Things Just Aren’t Working Out 8 Finish Strong 9 Wind Down and Say Goodbye 10 New Beginnings About the Authors

About the Author :
Joan E. McLachlan launched her career with internships almost thirty years ago in New York City and has been working with students and school internship programs ever since. She is the coauthor of Internships for Today’s World: A Practical Guide For High Schools and Community Collegesandis the director of Internship Quest, LLC, a company that provides consulting services and materials for quality internship programs. Patricia F. Hess has over 25 years of experience in recruitment and management training and has interviewed candidates for first line positions and internships for global organizations. She is associate director of Internship Quest, LLC (internshipquest.com) where she develops seminars and learning experiences to help students learn the behaviors, soft skills, and positive work attitudes and habits needed for successful employment. She is coauthor of Internships for Today’s World: A Practical Guide For High Schools And Community Colleges.

Review :
This book is jam-packed with important information that would really help a young person to feel less anxious about the internship process thereby making them more successful! I really wish that I had something like this when I was going through my different internships… Each individual chapter is extremely clear, thorough, and appealing. It is really spelled out for the reader, which is great. And it should be required reading starting in Junior year of high school! This book is awesome! It really gives students guidance as to what they can expect and gain in an internship. It is the written 'mentor' that students are looking for as they embark on their internship. This book contains some very good, realistic tips for young people. Getting a job is becoming more competitive every day. I think, by serving an internship, the student has a definite 'edge' over other students. Internships allow students to experience their career choice in a more relaxed, non-threatening way. Internships give students authentic work experiences that complement their educational experiences. Using Jessica, Luis, Michelle and Alex in examples… personalizes the information and makes it easier to understand. Seniors would come back from their internships energized. For many it was the chance to be of service. For others it was an 'aha' moment: 'I never thought about working in this area but I really liked it. Now I know what I want to major in at college.' For just about every student it fostered an appreciation of what it was like to be working in what they called 'the real world.' Because the internship at our school was for seniors and came near the end of the senior year it got them out of the building at a time when they were ready to be out. The senior project was the perfect antidote to senior slump. Joan McLachlan and Patricia Hess have written a most welcome guide for high school and college students who wish to engage in meaningful internship experiences. Starting with the ABC's of finding a suitable placement, this book offers a step-by-step approach to successful interviewing, as well as developing efficient work habits and realistic expectations of the workplace site. It is chock full of information and encouragement for all types of students, those who are ready to take the plunge and those who are less confident. It is indeed an indispensable primer for getting the most out of internships.