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Preparing for a Return to Work
The Value of Internships
by Greg Cusick, San
Diego Community College District’s WorkAbility Program
Internships: Internships are an excellent way to
transition into the workforce. The following are benefits of completing
an internship:
Building Work
History - Many individuals have incurred a disability that precludes them
from working in their occupation. The result is the individual needs to be
retrained. This is an exciting option for most, but also starting a whole new
career can cause a fair amount of anxiety. Many people are concerned about their
marketability upon completing their retraining because they have no work
experience in their new occupational area. The answer --- become involved in an
internship. An internship may be paid, or unpaid. Regardless of pay, the purpose
of the internship is to gain valuable work experience while a student is
completing their new training program. As a result, when a student completes the
training the student can go out into the job market with an educational
credential, current work experience and a letter of recommendation from the
internship supervisor. Also, the first statement of work experience on the
resume will be related to the occupational area in which the individual is
seeking work.
Will The
Internship Turn Into A Job? - Remember, while an individual gaining valuable
work experience in an internship, the individual is also showing off their
skills. In some respects, the internship can be a job tryout. If a person does
an outstanding job, this will open the eyes of the employer. There are no
guarantees; however, an employer knows what the intern can do, how they fit in
with the other employees and the potential they have as a future employee. So,
if the timing is right, hiring the intern on can save the company from having to
recruit, hire and train an unknown person. Whereas, the employer knows what it
has in the intern. So, yes the internship can lead into a job.
Get Used To
Looking For Work And Working - For many, it has been a while since they
ventured out into the job-seeking world. This is a scary place full of
rejection. Everyone has gone through this. Filling out numerous applications and
sending out multiple resumes only to get a few responses and even fewer
interview opportunities. Then one lays it on the line in the interview only to
find out they didn’t get the job. This is a rough process. One that tests
confidence and self-esteem. Looking for an internship can get the individual’s
feet wet. Since, one may be looking for unpaid work experience (basically
offering their time to a company in exchange for work experience) the process is
a little bit less threatening. However, it forces the individual to create a
resume, create a master application, prepare for interviews and seek out
opportunities. All skills one will need to fine tune when the time comes to look
for the “real” job. It’s time to go to work! For many it has been months
or years since they have had the responsibility of having to be someplace
three/four days a week at 8 or 9 in the morning. The internship allows the
individual to get used to the rhythm of getting up and going to work. Tired
is going to be the key word for the first few weeks, but those who hang in will
find that their body will adjust and their endurance will increase. All of this
is important in preparing for the permanent, full time position.
Working With
People - For many, returning to work in the form of an internship is a
return to the world in which they have to get along with many different people -
co-workers, supervisors and customers. For some, this can be the most difficult
part of the job. The technical aspect of the job is handled well, but dealing
with many different personalities in the workplace can be stressful and
overwhelming. During the internship, an individual is encouraged to stay in
touch with a peer, a counselor or a family member to talk about the social
aspect of work. Also, the coping strategies that have been learned will be put
to the test during the internship.
The Letter Of
Recommendation - At the end of the internship, ask the supervisor for an
evaluation of work performance and a letter of recommendation. The evaluation is
useful in knowing strengths and areas in need of improvement…and we all have
both. The letter of recommendation will help as one looks for new employment.
Greg Cusick, of
SDCC WorkAbility Program can be reached at gcusick@sdccd.cc.ca.us
or 619/584-6983
