The act of applying for an internship is nothing more than the art of bragging about all of your accomplishments. For some, this is easy. If you are a Debbie or Donny Do-It-All, then a one-page resume is simply not enough to highlight your numerous organizations, community service or the amount of starving children in Africa that you have somehow managed to provide with both food and a college education. It would be easier to submit a resume with a single line directing the employer to your newest, best-selling autobiography.
For others, one page is a half a page too much. You didn't volunteer at a soup kitchen, nor do you plan to during this next spring break. The closest you came to a 3.0 this last quarter was on the BAC scale, which happens to correlate negatively with the more sought-after GPA. This is the time to call home and have mom tell you what makes you the world's greatest kid, then repackage those words and slap them onto all that white space that Microsoft Word has supplied for you. This is also a highly valued art, and it rhymes with schmull-schmit.
Spend more time partying than studying? No worries, friend. You were simply networking. Are you able to name a shot by its color? You are a natural chemist in the making. Maybe you are leaning toward a career in the medical field. No one would be completely shocked to find that the one-night stand you had last weekend landed you the inside scoop at Hudson Health Center.
I realize that those are all a little far-fetched, but the point is that in order to score that perfect internship, the key is taking even the not-so-proud moments of your life and seeing the positive in them. While I cannot possibly give any advice that guarantees the position, I can tell you what will give that spot you're craving to someone else.
Let's fast-forward a bit here. You rocked the paperwork part, and you made it to the interview on time. Now, I realize that times have changed and all, and that many employers are looking for that edginess and special something to take their company to the next level. Read my next words carefully, because some things have not changed.
The only ones who get to wear earrings (studs, not hoops) to the interview are girls, and that is the only piercing that should be visible. Having a nose piercing or lip ring will not lose the job for you, but the person who makes the decision may think it's tacky or disrespectful that you didn't dress professionally. Please note that even the least offensive tattoo can still be extremely offensive to the baby boomer in charge of hiring you.
You may be wondering how you can possibly be edgy without all the ink and metal. Set yourself apart from others with a beaming smile, a firm handshake and the confidence in knowing that even if you aren't a superhero in terms of community service and scholarly accomplishments, you still have a lot to offer.
It's a dog-eat-dog world out there, and it can get discouraging when it comes time to hit the play button on that reality remote. Don't freak out about it, though ' just take some time and think about all the things that make you a great person. It is completely OK to think about this while watching the hottest reality show, too. Really, what is a reality show, if not the study of human nature?
Chenee Castruita is a junior journalism major. Send her an e-mail at cc282705@ohiou.edu.
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Chenee Castruita
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Chenee Castruita
