Education for Free

Imagine spending the summer in a foreign country, working and being immersed in another country’s culture. A nonprofit group called “European Study Abroad” is working at bringing Americans to Europe to experience internships in cities like Dublin and London. This year, they brought 24 students over, but they’re looking at expanding the internships program further. Since the American job market is so competitive right now, students are relieved to see how other people live. More information can be found on this program at www.eusa-edu.com.

There are many different kinds of internships for those who will work for free, but some wonder if the paying types have gone extinct. “We used to pay, but we’re not doing that anymore,” explained Tom Triozzi, senior VP of BellAtlantic. “We ask them to work for free for a great work experience.” In this economy, even the competition for unpaid student intern positions has become so fierce that the NY Times reported some students are actually paying for their unpaid internship positions! “It’s kind of crazy,” said David Gaston, director of the University of Kansas career center. “The demand for internships in the past 5, 10 years has opened up this huge market.” One student’s parents paid $8,000 to get him an unpaid internship at Ford Models this summer, which was an opportunity, his parents say, he wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.

The company they used is called “University of Dreams,” which specializes in making students’ intern dreams come true. “Students don’t have problems finding internships, students have problems getting internships,” explained Eric Normington, the company’s chief marketing officer. “We can secure those exclusive positions.” The ,000 program promises guaranteed internship placement for the summer, eight weeks of housing, five meals a week, New York City tours and seminars. This year, the company placed 1,600 student interns in 13 cities world-wide. The student intern program is beneficial for employers because they get qualified prospects who show up ready to give the job their best shot because they’ve invested in the opportunity.

Yet the news is not all gloomy, experts suggest. Target, for instance, has held onto their paid internship programs to help them find the best and the brightest workers. “We get a lot of great talent,” comments Target recruiter Victor Rota. “Seventy to eighty percent of them come back to work for us, so the return on the investment is there.” Additionally, the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that companies that do offer paid internships are increasing the hourly wage by 5% on average, which takes the national average to .13/hour.

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Our whole lives seem so planned out for much of our youth. We know that we are signed up for school until 12th grade and then we will fill out college scholarship applications and forms for college loans. We’ll study our hardest all four years and apply for internship opportunities our junior and senior years. Then we graduate and it suddenly seems as though the rug has been pulled out from beneath us. The real world looms ahead of us and there seem to be a million different paths to take. Do we have all the necessary skills and tools? What does a job seeker need to survive in this brave new world?

First, do you have the education? You may not need a college education to get a job as a truck driver, sales rep, cosmetologist, pipe fitter, paramedic or electrician, yet to be a competitive job seeker you will need some form of training. There are a number of jobs you can obtain after six months or less of vocational school training. For instance, you could be a plastic technology worker, an electrician, a plumber, a welder or a carpenter. You can get a certificate in computer applications, data entry or information technology. You can take a gardener training course or a baking and confectionary course. Along with internship programs, these brief courses can be obtained at a fraction of the price of a four-year college program and will be just as effective at getting you hired in a specialized trade.

Next, you need to ask yourself if you have experience. What matters most to an employer examining a job seeker’s record is that the individual knows what it’s like to work on a team, as well as individually. They want you to have a track record of interacting with clients, accomplishing tasks and working under pressure. It seems like a catch-22, doesn’t it? “How do I get experience if I have no experience,” you may ask? Internship opportunities are an ideal place to start. Many are unpaid and offer only college credit, but if you’re looking in the accounting, consulting, insurance, consumer goods, hospitality, engineering or science fields, then you’ll likely find a paid internship to help you acquire the skills you need. Typically, when you finish your interning, the company will ask you to stay and all your problems will be solved! For a list of the best internships, check out Business Week’s list of “Top 50 Internships.”

Education and experience are the two most important identifiers of a promising job seeker. However, job seekers must also be able to present themselves in a marketable way. They must convey that they are competent communicators, hard workers who are willing to go over and beyond for their companies, and are intelligent individuals. Much of this is done through a resume, which shows (in bullet point format) the quantifiable strengths you can bring to the company, with regard to sales volume, dollar signs, company savings or leadership numbers. Some of this is also demonstrated through a cover letter, which is your first chance to impress a prospective boss. You’ll want to use language from the job description to tailor your letter to their needs and suggest why you’re the candidate for the job. If you need help, you can find college assistance in the campus career center or community assistance at a job placement center.

Sarah Lomas is a foremost expert in the yeast infection cure. She has had extensive experience and conducted countless experiments in finding yeast infection medications. She is also a highly acclaimed writer in the yeast infection field and you can find out more at Remedyforyeastinfection.com.

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