The idea of networking is of course an excellent one. I would suggest strongly that if you have not got a mentor yet, FIND ONE! Keep in mind that during your internship you will have a rather captive source of information and experience at your beck and call. Your PR professional is your built in go-to example to follow. Be sure to ask any questions you may have in order to learn as much as possible. After all, they will be EXPECTING you to pick their brains. Your job is to learn the most you can in a very short amount of time. I was watching the Marilyn Denis show(click on this link and watch the entire interview) on the weekend and she had Robert Herjavec on. He took questions from the audience made up of young professionals, and new graduates on how to write a cover letter, a resume and what type of jobs to apply for immediately upon graduation. He said that he personally does not EVER read a cover letter and knows many professionals who do not either. I found this to be AMAZING! He stated that it is very important to use your E-mail as an opportunity to grab the attention of the potential employer.
Mr.Herjavec also said that the resume should reflect your past experience even if you are looking for a less stressful job and are overly qualified. He suggested that someone in that position explain in their email that they are deliberately seeking a less stressful job. That way you are not simply dismissed as being overqualified for a junior or entry level position and more likely to gain the opportunity to explain your reasoning in person.
He took a question from an audience member who was a new graduate of a marketing program. He told her to apply for a low level entry job where she will learn the most and probably make the least; but most importantly to remember that this job is the one that will prepare her for the job she really wants in a years time. By that time she will have the experience to go out and land the job of her dreams.
The trick is to remember that although we are newly trained and may even be more up to date on social media and the such, we don't dare come off as being cocky or smug. So it boils down to keep your eyes and ears wide open and your mouth shut to learn all you can as quickly as possible. Remember, God gave you two eyes, two ears and ONE mouth
Onward and Upward fellow graduates. Onward and Upward!
