Get Valuable Work Experience
By Cindy, age 17, Texas
How can they expect us to have work experience at 15, 16, or 17?
First, it looks good to write down some type of experience whether you were paid for it, interning, or volunteering. It shows that you're reliable. Employers don't want to risk hiring someone who might not be responsible and later make a bad appearance in front of customers. Also, anyone likes to see that you have some experience and that other people trusted you to carry out a task.
So how do you get that valuable work experience to jot down on that application? Well, the good stuff is called internships. Through internships, you're able to gain work experience and learn from professionals while you also have some responsibilities to take care of. Just the mere word looks good on your resume, and that's what you're aiming for: maximizing your application so you can stand out and earn an opportunity at that job.
To get that internship, you'll first have to apply, and usually it's in a real workplace where professionals are. In some high schools, you're required to complete an internship before you graduate and that also makes you stand out in college applications. You'll be assigned a workplace and gain experience and knowledge.
If you're not one of those who have internships during school, you can also take the initiative for yourself. Usually, it's best to apply during the summers since you have so much free time and you can really dedicate yourself. For instance, if you're interested in becoming a doctor, you should visit a local hospital and speak with one and inquire about possible internships. The best thing is that you'll see if you'd really like to become a doctor or whether you need to consider other career choices.
When you're applying to internships, make sure you jot down any leadership roles or extracurricular activities you've been involved with at school or outside. All these things will show that you have had responsibilities and that people can trust you. If you've done any community service, make sure to include that as well, as well as any awards or skills that you have. References also help, and you can put down some teachers you feel comfortable with who have seen you do all that hard work. Finally, all that time and work you've put into things will pay off as you're applying to those internships.
Internships are usually the way to go and some even pay you. It's just a matter of doing some research and looking into places where professionals with your career choice work. You'll only be doing good for yourself by taking the time to visit some places and see if you can intern there. It's even better if you start early, since now many colleges will require you to complete some internships before you graduate.
The moment you write down your work experience through an internship, people will know that you're responsible and dedicated which will only benefit your future applications.
