Share the good news! Help us prove to other students that it's not all bad news! Whether your experience was with full-time or part-time jobs, freelance, or internships, we want to hear about your successes. What worked and what would you recommend to others.
One student will get a $25 Target Gift for sharing.
... and if you still have general career questions for Columbia's career specialist Christie Andersen, please feel free to keep posting those.
Posted by Lisa Danielson | April 7, 2009 1:02 PMI usually ask my supervisor at work or instructors about career advice, because they have already been in the business I want to be in and/or they have some of the tools that I will need to get a good job.
Posted by Caitlynn McWhorter | March 25, 2009 12:57 PMI found my current internship by talking with other students in my department. I was told both negative and positive things which helped me decide where to apply. Networking is key, not just with teachers and advisors but also with your fellow students who will one day be your peers in the working world too.
Posted by Lisa Danielson | March 10, 2009 2:44 PMI can't stress enough how much networking helps. It helps to network with students, with people in your chosen field online, with just about anyone really. You never know if a friend or someone you met randomly might have a job opportunity for you.
Posted by Gali Firstenberg | March 8, 2009 9:11 PMWhen I found the internship I knew I wanted (at a music talent management company) I walked into the office, introduced myself, and said I would like to intern there.
They are based in NYC so I can't intern for them just yet, as I am here and they are there, but now they know who I am for when I do apply. They even set me up with an internship last summer with one of their clients, which was an incredible experience, and that boss is now the most valuable contact I have in the industry.
The best advice I have is (1) be assertive and proactive about getting the job you want; and (2) it's all about who you know -- always stay in touch.
Posted by annette Ostrander | March 4, 2009 8:41 AMBefore the spring semester started I applied for an internship here in the loop. The guy that interviewed me made it sound like it was a sure thing and I was his first pick. I was so exited. When he didn't call me when he had said he would I called him. He said he hadn't decided and still had more interviews but still sounded positive. I ended up not getting picked. I was SO disappointed. While I was waiting on him to get back to me I got a freelance job off of Craig's list. I did some labels for a Dog Cookie Co. The lady liked my work and suddenly had a lot more work for me. Because of my experience with her I learned and am still learning a lot about working with clients, how to price my work, and how to be influential in the decisions that clients make on their design choices. I've probably made about as much money with the jobs that I've done for her than I would have for a whole semester of work at the internship, and all right from the comfort of my apartment.
Internships are great, but don't be discouraged if you don't get exactly what you want. Something else will come along and could possibly be better than you originally wanted.
