Anatomy of an Internship

March 12th, 2008

Those who intern during college are more likely to find entry-level jobs within the first six months after graduation. As the nation edges towards a possible recession, internships give students a competitive edge over other’s with the same educational background. With more students participating in such programs, the length of time of the internship chosen and the notoriety of the company interned with will become more important.

For the most part, extended internship programs look better on a resume because they denote more experience. Employers often assume that an extra four weeks spent as an intern can translate into a more prepared worker. Individuals who take on longer internships are also often seen as more dedicated to their own career’s sine they chose to spend more time getting training, that was more than likely unpaid.

Nevertheless, even average length internships can be impressive if the company conducting the program is notable. For the most part, resumes are like advertisement; name recognition matters. Those who are able to land highly coveted internships with industry leading companies will continue to be viewed favorably over those who interned with lesser known businesses.

In order to land more competitive internships, it’s best to being searching six months or more ahead of time. Don’t limit yourself to announcements posted on the internet or made known to campus recruiting efforts, network socially to find out about programs in your area. If you’re unable to find information about a company you’d like to intern with, don’t assume they don’t have a program; that the time to contact them to find out for yourself.

Texas Job Search

February 27th, 2008

San Antonio, Texas is a great choice if you’re looking to make a career change or relocate to a new city. With its stable business sectors such as healthcare and government, San Antonio enjoys continual stability and growth of the economy and the job market. The stablility of the military and technology businesses located in this bustling city also make it attractive for singles and families alike.

Fortunately for San Antonio, they did not experience the housing bubble that plagued most U.S. cities over the past years, and the downturn in the housing market did not affect them significantly. This makes it a great place to find jobs in Texas and the perfect place to buy a new home!

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Online Job Hunt

February 21st, 2008

Searching for a job via the internet but don’t know where to start?

Using the internet to find a job is one of the fastest growing ways to find a job and the opportunities to find a job online are increasing day by day. The internet is easily accessible and is open to you 24 hours a day. So managing your time to post your resume, evaluate open jobs, update your profile, network, and apply for jobs is even easier than ever before.

With the expansive growth of internet job searches, competition can sometimes be tough. That’s why it is important that you distinguish yourself from the competition by creating a comprehensive resume or profile which showcases your talents, experience, skills, and accomplishments. Be thorough, yet concise, in preparing your resume.

There are many credible websites to support you in your online job hunt. Evaluate the different job boards where resumes can be posted to determine which ones best meet your needs. Some sites focus more on hiring in specific industries such as technology, healthcare, or sales. Simply posting your resume on every site or board on the internet does not necessarily increase your chances of obtaining a job. It’s how your profile is written that makes a difference.

Remember that your resume is also open to thousands of people once you post it on the internet. Protecting your personal information becomes critical since using your personal email address or including your phone number increases your exposure to the public. The most popular sites, such as Monster.com, utilize strict privacy and information sharing policies. This helps to protect your personal information.

Posting your resume is only the beginning of your job search via the internet. Be proactive in your search and continue networking and contacting potential employers directly, either by email or phone, to optimize your chances of finding the perfect job.

Cheezhead Gets Snowball in Face

December 23rd, 2007


More from Cheezhead.

Job Prospects Abound in Austin

December 13th, 2007

Which major Texas city was ranked by Money Magazine as number 2 on the “10 Best Big Cities to Live In” in 2006? Austin, Texas has survived through its share of the economic down-turn as a result of the recession that hit the technology sector in the early part of the decade, and has rightfully earned its place in the number 2 spot on the top 10 list of best big cities in which to live in America.

For several years prior to the decline in jobs in the technology sector, Austin had become known as a major center for high technology. Unfortunately, the recession in the technology industry did not spare the Austin market and it resulted in a loss of jobs in Austin, Texas.

But, once again, Austin is making its way to the top as a major player among big cities with a renewed focus on the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries, in addition to its technology expertise.

The University of Texas at Austin is recognized for its world-class programs in bioengineering, nanotechnology, bioinformatics, and pharmaceutical research. This outstanding educational institution is well-known for the enviable number of students receiving their doctoral degrees in science and engineering. The University produces its share of well educated and highly skilled individuals to support the growth of Austin jobs. And even more are needed.

Austin is home to a very educated, talented, and youthful population. The region attracts a diverse population of students and residents with its promise of continued future economic and job growth, and a promising future for young families and singles.

One of the highly desirable characteristics of Austin to young and old alike is its wireless technology – Austin is nationally recognized as a leader in wireless accessibility and high technology. Almost everywhere you travel around the city, you are able to access the wireless network. A highly sophisticated network of telecommunications makes it a great beta site for testing new and advanced technology.

There are over 150,000 people employed in the information technology, financial, and professional/business services industries. These business sectors offer high paying jobs and benefits for highly skilled, trained individuals.

Some of the largest employers in Austin include Dell, Inc., Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., IBM, and the Federal Government. The economic outlook and projected job growth for these and similar companies in the region are promising over the next several years. Austin has successfully re-engineered its job market to meet the demands of the 21st century.

Capitalizing on the local educational system and shifting its focus to the biomedical and pharmaceutical industry in addition to technology, is promising to be lucrative for this Texas city. Recognition as one of the most-wired and technologically advanced cities in the U.S. is a major draw for young people seeking challenges and opportunities in the field of technology.

Austin resident’s are known for their strong will, determination, and drive for success. This is evidenced through their re-creation and re-invention of a major city that survived the “technology recession” and lived to become an even greater area of opportunity as a result of its entrepreneurial and forward-thinking leaders.

searching internships

October 22nd, 2007

Between job experience and social networking, an internship search can seriously effect one’s ability to find employment after graduation. These opportunities exist in abundance. The problem is, so do the number of applicants. When applying for internships, one needs a game plan.

For starters, it’s imperative to begin the search for possible internships three months before these programs are scheduled to start. This allows for time to weed through the sheer number of possibilities. Picking several different companies to apply to will help increase the likelihood of being chosen for at least one program.

For many who are still in college, deciding what to put on their resume can be difficult. Since many of these individuals lack past work experience, focusing on academic achievements should be balanced with club participation. Past awards should be included as should any leadership experience of volunteer work. For these individuals, letters of recommendation are extremely important. Those from past professors, academic advisors, and heads of volunteer organizations are the most effective.

Those who do have some work experience often feel that the skills they learned during their employment will not pertain to the internships they are applying to. Many wonder how a summer spent at a local fast food haven can translate into skills and intern manager might value, but it can. Any position can help one build character, increase interpersonal and communication skills, and show that one’s level of motivation as an employee.

Although a good resume may get a foot into door of an internship program, the interview process is when decisions are made. Many individuals make the mistake of considering many of the questions, such as “tell me about yourself”, as merely conversation starters. Instead, it is important to remember that all answers are being judged. Understanding what traits managers value in interns, and later employees, can make all the difference. By tailoring one’s responses to demonstrate one’s teamwork skills, leadership abilities, strong work ethic, or organizational talents one will be able to rise above the competition in the eyes of an internship manager.

Once the internship begins, being on time, dressed conservatively and enthusiastic can easily turn a summer semester into a full time job offer.

physician jobs in minneapolis

October 8th, 2007

Between the population continuing to grow and less students graduating from medical school than ever, reports have shown that overall the US could soon be experiencing a shortage of doctors. This means that individuals looking for physician jobs in Minneapolis shouldn’t experience any difficultly in locating one anytime in the near future.

Although Minneapolis is not experiencing the onset of this shortage as badly as some areas are, the effects of less individuals choosing this profession will eventually cause the doctor to patient ratio to reach numbers that could result in a lack of hospital efficiency. According to the New York Times, areas like Miami already have 40 percent more doctors per capita than Minneapolis does.

Statistics like this mean that patients in the area may have a longer wait to be able to see a doctor. The good news for those that do locate physician jobs in Minneapolis is that shortage will result in an influx of business. Because of this, those who do not operate their own private practices will find that hospitals are more likely to pay better in hopes of keeping their already existing staff.

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pre-employment background checks

September 19th, 2007

Credit scores are now being included in many pre-employment background checks. One survey showed that 35 percent of human resource departments are now using this information to assist in determining who they do or do not hire. The idea behind this is that those individuals who have good credit scores have demonstrated responsibility and are, therefore, the ideal employees. These individuals are viewed as more reliable and less likely to call in sick without reason or arrive late.

Another reason for the recent popularity of background checks that include credit scores, is the fact these reports almost always list an individual’s previous residents and employers. With a large portion of the population falsifying or inflating their employment history, credit reports are now assisting businesses in weeding out the untruthful

Employers that require this information are looking for specific things such as a pattern of unpaid bills. Forgetting to pay an electricity bill once in two years is very unlikely to trip warning signals in an employer’s mind. That being said, repeated offenses will place a potential employee in a negative light.

For those with low credit scores this can be increasingly nerve racking, especially since it’s much harder to increase one’s credit without a job to pay the bills. Knowing what cannot be held against an individual in a background check can make a difference.

Although a history of unpaid bills can effect an employer’s decision on whether or not to hire and individual, businesses are not allowed to discriminate against anyone who has had to file bankruptcy. Doing so violates the Fair Credit Reporting Act and can be disputed. Negative credit information that is older than seven years will not effect one’s ability to get hired.

Sadly, lack of credit can be held against an individual. Although some individuals prefer to deal with cash and rent as opposed to buy, a completely blank credit report is seen as a strike against a potential employee by some companies.

If one is denied a position due to the results of credit information that surfaced during a background check, the company that request the investigation has let the individual know why. For some this may give the opportunity to clear up misrepresenting facts, such as how a pattern of unpaid bills was not intentional neglect but due to a long and severe illness or other serious circumstances.

recession looming for empoyment outlook in dallas

September 19th, 2007

Those living in Dallas, Texas should be happy to know that the area is currently one of the best places to live in. In the last year, the Dallas-Fort Worth area has lead the nation in job creation. Because of the growing economy is such areas, Texas was responsible for a third of the countries job gains over the last twelve months.

With the addition of 68,700 new Dallas jobs, the area is certainly the best city in the state, if not the country, for those looking for employment. The Dallas-Fort Worth area beat out other large metropolitan areas such as New York City and Phoenix, Arizona.

This news surprised many who thought that they housing market slump and the resulting mortgage lay-offs would has injured the area’s economy more. Since decreased home sales usually means an increase in unemployment, the assumption would usually be correct. According to Mark Dotzour,the top economist with Texas A&M University Real Estate Center, the housing situation would have been a lot worse had it not been for the growth of Dallas jobs. Dotzour also believes that many area citizens have incorrect opinions on the city’s economy due to the fact that positive job news is being offer shadowed by negative real-estate issues.

Despite the good news, many do not feel that the favorable conditions will continue for long. With a slow decrease in the number of jobs being created, it seems a recession is on it’s way. If predictions are correct, jobseekers may want to increase their efforts toward finding employment as soon as possible. Those without a current position may want to consider contacting an agency that specializes in job-finding assistance. Now is the time to brush up resumes and increase interviewing skills so that one may be able to benefit from new jobs in Dallas, Texas before the recession hits.

injecting interns into workforce is a good thing

September 19th, 2007

Undoubtedly, internships assist college students in setting themselves apart from other recent graduates when it comes time to enter the job market. Aside from altruistic reasons, creating such a program also benefits employers in many different ways.

By creating an internship program a company stands to gain more than just positive PR. Hiring college students can help to increase office place productivity. Interns often handle tasks that take a up a lot of other employee’s time. This enables other staff members to focus their energy on more pressing assignments, while allowing the intern to gain valuable work experience.

Interns often interject enthusiasm into the workplace. For most of them, all work experiences are new and therefore more interesting than they might be for seasoned cubicle veterans. Many businesses find that this spark of energy can be contagious and help in raising office place morale.

With today’s interns coming from a more technologically advanced generations, having an internship program can also bring new skills to the office. Many students keep track of new computer trends and can bring fresh ideas to table. Those in charge of internship programs should consider these new thoughts a valuable resource and encourage them. By doing so, this will also increase students’ level of satisfaction with the program.

One of the best reasons to create an internship program is the recruiting benefits. Employers should view all interns as potential staff additions. This way, a company has the first shot at new talent before it is even available to the rest of the job search market. This will reduce recruiting costs and help reduce hiring mistakes. After all, when else does a company have the chance to see six to twelve weeks worth of an individual’s work before they are hired on?

By creating an internship program an employer also has a chance to have a hand in molding the talent of tomorrow. If such an individual does later become a full-time member of the staff then they are already pre-trained.