由 cburger » 2007-03-26 19:30
Internship Searching Tips
be receptive to new ideas
Coming from a technical background, I wasn't sure what field I want to be in (actually, I am still not sure). So I started by looking at my skill sets and see what would be a good fit for me. I started by looking at the consulting industry. The first tier of consulting firm was basically out of my reach so I focussed on 2nd tier firms such as PwC, Ernst & Young, etc. Industry-wise, I am interested in the gaming industry (video, card, arcade, etc). Also because of my background in credit card industry, I was looking at Visa, MasterCard, etc. Then i also look at the hi-tech companies.
I guess the point is to try to explore as many opportunities as you can. Of course for people who are very specialized, this approach probably doesn't work well, but I still encourage people to at least explore different functions and industries that your skills can apply too.
start your resume/cover letter revision early
for international students, i would suggest that the earlier you can start working on your resume/cover letter, the better. MBA only gets busier as the classes continue. We also have to worry about improving our spoken English in the mean time. You will also probably need to tailor make your resume/cover letter as you try to look for positions in different industries. So if you can at least start editing earlier, you will be less pressed for time later
network outside of MBA
you have to 'differentiate' yourself by exploring opportunities that may be outside of your school's career service. If you only rely on your school's resource, you will be only competing with your fellow classmates. It's a zero-sum competition. If you have your own unique leads, you would have more chances
help each other out
as you are networking outside of school, you might find some opportunities that don't fit you, but might fit one of your classmates. Refer your classmate if possible. It will leave a good impression on both your contact and your classmates.
aim high, but be realistic
look at your current skills and consider your best-case scenario and worse case scenario. You need to re-evaluate the situation periodically and determine if you need to switch your effort