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How can I appeal to internships with little experience in my field?

I'm really interested in a summer internship in biology, wildlife, or environmental science but most applications ask for experience related to the job. I want an internship in order to have experience for my future career but I'm afraid of being rejected due to lack of it. #internship #career #summer-jobs #internships

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Rachel’s Answer

In short answer, the BEST way to do this is highlight the things that you are learning already in classes on your resume! Labs and projects in class very much do count as experience. I would also recommend in exploring topics outside of the classroom too. This shows great initiative and an eagerness to learn and grow. No one expects an intern to be an "expert", but to show you are ready to learn as much as possible instead!
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Ken’s Answer

The first step is to get to know yourself so that you can identify how your personality traits relate to this wide range of career areas, so that that you can narrow down your focus to make yourself more appealing.



Getting to know yourself and how your personality traits relate to people involved in various career opportunities is very important in your decision making process. During my many years in Human Resources and College Recruiting, I ran across too many students who had skipped this very important step and ended up in a job situation which for which they were not well suited. Selecting a career area is like buying a pair of shoes. First you have to be properly fitted for the correct size, and then you need to try on and walk in the various shoe options to determine which is fits the best and is most comfortable for you to wear. Following are some important steps which I developed during my career which have been helpful to many .

Ken recommends the following next steps:

The first step is to take an interest and aptitude test and have it interpreted by your school counselor to see if you share the personality traits necessary to enter the field. You might want to do this again upon entry into college, as the interpretation might differ slightly due to the course offering of the school. However, do not wait until entering college, as the information from the test will help to determine the courses that you take in high school. Too many students, due to poor planning, end up paying for courses in college which they could have taken for free in high school.
Next, when you have the results of the testing, talk to the person at your high school and college who tracks and works with graduates to arrange to talk to, visit, and possibly shadow people doing what you think that you might want to do, so that you can get know what they are doing and how they got there. Here are some tips: ## http://www.wikihow.com/Network ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/nonawkward-ways-to-start-and-end-networking-conversations ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-questions-to-ask-your-network-besides-can-you-get-me-a-job?ref=carousel-slide-1 ##
Locate and attend meetings of professional associations to which people who are doing what you think that you want to do belong, so that you can get their advice. These associations may offer or know of intern, coop, shadowing, and scholarship opportunities. These associations are the means whereby the professionals keep abreast of their career area following college and advance in their career. You can locate them by asking your school academic advisor, favorite teachers, and the reference librarian at your local library. Here are some tips: ## https://www.careeronestop.org/BusinessCenter/Toolkit/find-professional-associations.aspx?&frd=true ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/9-tips-for-navigating-your-first-networking-event ##
• It is very important to express your appreciation to those who help you along the way to be able to continue to receive helpful information and to create important networking contacts along the way. Here are some good tips: ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-informational-interview-thank-you-note-smart-people-know-to-send?ref=recently-published-2 ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-tips-for-writing-a-thank-you-note-thatll-make-you-look-like-the-best-candidate-alive?bsft_eid=7e230cba-a92f-4ec7-8ca3-2f50c8fc9c3c&bsft_pid=d08b95c2-bc8f-4eae-8618-d0826841a284&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_20171020&utm_source=blueshift&utm_content=daily_20171020&bsft_clkid=edfe52ae-9e40-4d90-8e6a-e0bb76116570&bsft_uid=54658fa1-0090-41fd-b88c-20a86c513a6c&bsft_mid=214115cb-cca2-4aec-aa86-92a31d371185&bsft_pp=2 ##
Let me share an interesting story about internships: During my daughter's senior year in high school, the highlight of the year (and of the whole high school experience) was to be a several month long internship program. Everyone signed up and indicated the type of internship that they wanted - all except for one girl. This girl wanted to become a doctor and wanted her internship to be with the local EMS unit at the local fire station. So, she talked to the head of the EMS unit and got his approval and made arrangements with the school to create her own internship. Of all of the students about which I heard, she was the one who benefited the most by her internships. My daughter's was definitely not the highlight of her school career. Her first choice fell through and her final assignment was not really what she wanted and did not give her the type of exposure that she had hoped for. This shows that you can create your own internship! Locate a company that fits the parameters of the type of experience and exposure that you are seeking and work with them and the appropriate people in your school to put it in motion. After all, if there is an internship program existing today, anywhere, it had to be created by someone.
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Maia’s Answer

Hi Allana!

I'm an Operations Director in a large technology company, and I'd like to share with you what I look for in a successful intern. For starters, I look for passion for and interest in our industry but I don't look for previous experience. Don't worry about that!

I love working with interns, and I find that I often learn so much from them. Their fresh perspective, enthusiasm, curiosity, fearlessness and willingness to jump right in always provides a great boost for the business. 

When hiring an intern I look for the following on a resume: 

  1. engagement and participation in school/community: is this student active and how does she contribute to her community? does she show passion in something. For example, maybe she leads an LGBTQ group on campus, maybe he leads or is active in a gun violence prevention group - something that shows passion and interest
  2. Education: what does this candidate study in school and how well does she or he perform? 
  3. Work experience: Has this candidate held part-time jobs or worked in other capacities at school. Former internship experience is a plus, but more important is to demonstrate that you're a responsible person who has worked in some capacity. 

When interviewing a candidate, here's what I consider: 

I do not look for specific experience in our industry. An internship will help him or her GET exposure and experience to our industry. I look, instead, for curiosity (in class or in her work, does she seek new ways to learn and grow?), a learning mindset (does she get excited about learning new things?), collaboration (how well does s/he work with teams like group projects at school? can she give good examples of how she works with her peers in school projects?), preparation (has he prepared for the interview by learning about our company and can he describe why he feels our company is a good fit for him)

Good luck!! 

Maia recommends the following next steps:

  • Explore internship fairs at your school, if that's available to you. Or, if you have specific companies in mind, explore their programs on the website.
  • Once you've identified a company, be sure to be specific in your application or introduction letter about why you feel their company is a good fit for your career goals.
  • Have fun and work hard! internships are a great way to learn and get experience.

Good luck!

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Simeon’s Answer

I would reach out to your teachers and see if they know of any internships or work opportunities. Check the websites of companies that you'd like to work for someday and send inquiry emails. Even if a company doesn't know of an internship, they might know of other companies that do offer internships. If you can't find a summer internship, you could also try working at a summer camp. You'll make a lot of new friends and you can often leverage new connections to find job/internship opportunities.
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James Constantine’s Answer

Dear Alanna,

Steps to Attract Internship Opportunities Despite Limited Experience in Your Field

1. Showcase Your Transferable Skills: Don't worry if you don't have direct experience in biology, wildlife, or environmental science. You can still draw attention to your transferable skills from other areas that can be beneficial in these fields. Skills like research, data analysis, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork are often in high demand for intern positions. Highlight these skills prominently in your resume and cover letter.

2. Acquire Relevant Experience Through Volunteering or Personal Projects: Think about volunteering at local wildlife reserves, environmental organizations, or research labs to gain practical experience in your chosen field. You can also embark on personal projects related to biology or environmental science to display your enthusiasm and initiative.

3. Network and Conduct Informational Interviews: Connect with professionals in the field you're interested in and ask for informational interviews. This can help you gain deeper insights into the industry, establish valuable contacts, and potentially discover internship opportunities that aren't publicly advertised.

4. Personalize Your Application Materials: Adapt your resume and cover letter for each internship application to highlight any related coursework, projects, or experiences that align with the specific requirements of the position. Express your passion for the field and explain how this internship aligns with your career aspirations.

5. Utilize Educational Opportunities: If you're a student, seize educational opportunities such as research projects, seminars, workshops, or courses related to biology, wildlife, or environmental science. These experiences can boost your knowledge and make you a more attractive candidate.

6. Stay Proactive and Persistent: Don't let rejections or lack of responses deter you. Continue applying for internships, follow up on applications, and seek feedback to enhance your candidacy. Your persistence and proactive approach can show your dedication and determination to excel in the field.

By adopting these strategies, you can boost your chances of attracting internships in biology, wildlife, or environmental science even with limited experience in the field.

Top 3 Reliable Sources Used:

Harvard Business Review: This source offered valuable advice on showcasing transferable skills and personalizing application materials to improve internship prospects.

The Balance Careers: This website provided tips on acquiring relevant experience through volunteer work or projects and utilizing educational opportunities to strengthen one's candidacy for internships.

Forbes: Forbes articles were used for guidance on networking tactics, conducting informational interviews, and maintaining a proactive approach when applying for internships.

May God Bless You!
James Constantine Frangos.
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