Apply for internships and entry-level jobs simultaneously

March 16, 7:42 AMEntry Level Careers ExaminerHeather Huhman

Previous Next

3 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Entry Level Careers Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

It’s mid-March now, and graduation is just around the corner for many of you. But, with many December graduates still on the job hunt, how can you assure employment awaits you? My recommendation: apply for internships and entry-level jobs simultaneously. 

While it’s still a bit early for May graduates to apply for entry-level jobs—never apply for a job unless you are available to start within the next couple weeks—internship programs are accepting applications now and won’t begin until after graduation. 

Apply for both paid and unpaid internships. If the internship program is unpaid, be sure to arrange a 15- to 20-hour work week so you can accept a paying retail or waitressing gig on the side to cover your bills. Even if the internship is paid, carefully calculate how much money you’ll need during the length of the program. (Don’t accept a 40-hour per week internship that pays minimum wage if you need to be paid at least $10 per hour, for example.)

What if you apply for an internship now and receive an offer before you hear back from the entry-level positions you begin applying for in April? It is extremely common to accept an internship—or an entry-level position for that matter—and back out either before or after you start because a better offer comes along. However, it’s better to accept an internship you know will provide meaningful, relevant résumé-building experience than to hold out for an entry-level position—and get stuck with nothing in the end.

Also, during the interview process, it’s completely acceptable to inquire whether or not the internship might turn into full-time employment upon successful completion. In fact, this shows the employer you are thinking long-term.

So, organize your job search now—and include internship applications in your plans. During the first or second week of April, depending upon exactly when you graduate, begin applying for available entry-level jobs. As always, be mindful of the fact that 70 percent of positions are never advertised—they are uncovered through networking. Even in tough economic times, these strategies are the best way to assure employment awaits you once you cross that stage and flip your tassel to the other side.