The Internship/Job Maze

It is that time of the year, where students begin to ponder summer plans. Will I study abroad and hone in on a particular business skill or will I use this opportunity to hone my skill through an internship? It is one of the "hot" questions here at the Belk College of Business. Students begin to polish and dust the cobwebs from their resume and cover letters to attract interest from their company list.

As a second year MBA student, I would love to share some advice in getting your foot in the door.

1.  Start early: Do not... I repeat DO NOT wait until the end of March to begin your search. It is imperative given the increased competition and current state of the job market, to plan early!
2. Research: Create a list of five industries of interest. From this, write a list of pros and cons of why this industry interests you. This list will become the foundation in regards a company list.
3. Network: Talk to professors in regards to your career interests. Listen to his/herfeedback and inquire about contacts he/she may have that can assist in your job search. Talk to friends and family. You never know who he/she may  know as well. If you are on Linkedin, research the company(s) of interest to see if you have know any current contacts.  This step is important to learn more about the company and position. This can also assist with eliminating and/or elevating a position(s).
4. Polish: In the meantime, make sure you polish your resume. Feel free to submit your resume to your career coach or to UNC Charlotte's Director of Graduate Professional Development, Robin Boswell. Robin gives EXCELLENT and candid feedback.
5. Practice: Practice your 30 second elevator speech. What do you want people to remember that is not explained in your resume. If you do have an interview, schedule a mock interview with UNC Charlotte's Career Center.

These are just some thoughts and ideas. Good luck! Have a great week!