Read this at www.uab.edu/newsNewswise — BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Gaining professional experience while still a student is essential for today’s job market, and an internship is the modern-day equivalent of an entry-level position.

But to land that plum opportunity, students must be proactive in their search, aware of the skills needed and able to learn how to gain those skills, says Suzanne Scott-Trammell, M.Ed., GCDF, executive director of Career and Professional Development at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

More than 75 percent of employers prefer candidates with relevant work experience, and at least 65 percent of students who intern receive permanent job offers, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ 2014 Internship and Co-op Survey. Scott-Trammell says internships should be conducted between the sophomore and junior years of college, then again between the junior and senior years, ideally. This gives students two opportunities to gain critical skills and to network in their chosen career fields. The first step, before contacting potential employers, is to develop a personal elevator pitch: Sum up your skills, talents and goals in less than two minutes. “This will help you become comfortable when reaching out to employers, alumni or contacts, so you can clearly and concisely let them know how they can help you.”

Know what skills you lack, and work on learning them. “That will lead to better employment prospects upon graduation. It’s also good to know the leading organizations in your field. Having those on a resume grabs attention.”

Then, create a target list of organizations or professionals in your desired field, and reach out to them. “Set goals on what you need from each person. These meetings are most effective when you talk with them about their career choices and advice they can share.”

Around 80 percent of all jobs are found through networking, which applies for internships even more so, Scott-Trammell says.

Preparation is the key. “You get only one chance to make a great first impression, so make sure it counts and present yourself as a confident, well-spoken student with a firm handshake and good eye contact. That will begin the kind of professional reputation you want to create.” Make sure you follow up after the meeting. “Send a thank-you card or email. Reiterate specific points of interest or topics you discussed. This communicates the type of employee or intern you will be with attention to detail and a professional manner. This also begins a reputation that will be hard to forget, and that’s your goal — to present yourself as the confident, articulate problem-solver you have become.” Whether an intern should be paid or not is a topic often debated, and it often depends on the field and the competition, Scott-Trammell says. But by looking only for a paid internship, you may be limiting yourself.

“There are laws in place to ensure students aren’t being taken advantage of and aren’t acting as a substitute for a permanent employee,” she said. “However, the most important factor to keep in mind is the long-term value of the internship. The time invested in the experience will typically pay out in a quicker and better job offer upon graduation. If you demonstrate you have the skills being sought, you will create a greater demand for yourself and make yourself more employable.” Scott-Trammell urges students and job seekers to remember that “everything you do and that you present on your resume is an indication of the type of employee you will be.

“Employers want employees who are strong critical thinkers, are flexible, take initiative, and have a strong work ethic, meaning that you show up on time, are consistently reliable, are a strong team player and are committed to getting the job done. All of these characteristics can be communicated in the interview and in your resume, and they are the strongest desires of employers.”

About UABKnown for its innovative and interdisciplinary approach to education at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, the University of Alabama at Birmingham is an internationally renowned research university and academic medical center and the state of Alabama’s largest employer, with some 23,000 employees and an economic impact exceeding $5 billion annually on the state. The five pillars of UAB’s mission deliver knowledge that will change your world: the education of students, who are exposed to multidisciplinary learning and a new world of diversity; research, the creation of new knowledge; patient care, the outcome of ‘bench-to-bedside’ translational knowledge; service to the community at home and around the globe, from free clinics in local neighborhoods to the transformational experience of the arts; and the economic development of Birmingham and Alabama. Learn more at www.uab.edu.

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