December 9, 2021

What Does Your Online Presence Say About You?

With summer internships just around the corner, now is the time to evaluate your social media presence. In a digital culture that emphasizes posting your highlight reel on Instagram, it’s a good idea to rethink not only how you want to portray yourself on social media, but also how you want potential colleges and employers to perceive you and your brand. In the current job-search climate, scouring a candidate’s social media pages is considered fair game. In fact, in 2o19, 36% of admissions officers (Kaplan, 2020) and 70% of employers reported visiting potential candidates’ social media pages. In 2020, that 70% jumped to 98% of employers (The Manifest, 2020). So, what can you do to ensure that you’re putting your best digital foot forward?  For starters, take inventory of your personal online presence. What social media or discussion platforms do you use? Instagram? Twitter? Facebook? Reddit? Are there any accounts you used years ago that may still be active? Decide […]
November 4, 2021

What Makes an Ideal Intern?

As a high school or college student, participating in an internship is an ideal way for you to learn about a career area while building professional skills. But what do you do if you have little to no work experience? How can you ensure you will stand out as an intern and be memorable? Organizations value qualities such as enthusiasm, willingness to dive into new territory, an ambitious mindset, and excellent listening and follow-through skills. While not every employer is seeking the same set of qualities, here are five sure ways you can make an impact as an intern.  Take Initiative | Be Confident Once you begin your internship, hit the ground running and maintain a steady pace. Organizations appreciate determined individuals who work hard and dive head first into projects. Along with the willingness to go above and beyond, be what everyone calls a “go-getter”. That means taking initiative, responding quickly, and always following through on tasks. Showing ambition […]
October 7, 2021

The Elevator Pitch in 3 Steps

Think about your last elevator ride. Now imagine you had the duration of the ride to tell someone all about yourself. Could you do it? You could if you had an elevator pitch ready to go. An elevator pitch is a short but meaningful summary of your academic and professional background. The goal? To be memorable!  As a high school or college student, your work experience may be limited, so do you need an elevator pitch? Yes! You can use an elevator pitch at a school career fair, networking events, and your professional online profiles (such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or your blog) that might be seen by employers. Since an elevator pitch should be around 30 seconds, it’s important that you include the most important and relevant information. Be sure to include these elements as you craft your pitch.  Introduction. If you’re meeting somebody new, state your name and your purpose for the interaction. Do you want an internship? A […]
September 2, 2021

A Few Quick Tips to Avoid WFH Burnout

Working from home can be convenient, but it also comes with challenges–whether you’re working full-time, part-time, or you have a virtual internship. The idea of not leaving your house and being stationary in one spot all day is daunting in a different way than commuting to an office and being surrounded by people. Working from home may feel draining at times, but it doesn’t always have to.  According to this article from Forbes, “Employee survey comments around burnout doubled from March to April, increasing from 2.7% to 5.4%, suggesting that it’s a growing threat to the productivity and engagement of today’s workforce,” the study reads. Those who struggle with balancing home and work are 4.4 times more likely to exhibit signs of burnout. So, here are a few tips to help you combat WFH burnout. Get Up and Move Blocking off a certain time each day to move your body can be super beneficial in resetting and recharging your mind […]
August 5, 2021

Science and Research: Interning On-Site and Virtually

At InternWorks, our goal is to develop internships for all of our students, assuring they will gain valuable work experience and get a glimpse into their desired career fields. Two of our high school students share their experience interning at a research lab at a top hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Both students share a different perspective on a similar internship.  High School Junior – On Site in the Greater Boston Area (Summer 2019) Before applying to colleges, I was itching for some valuable, hands-on experience and to get a taste of the future that I was planning for myself. I was very interested in majoring in science, so I applied to InternWorks, and they could not have found a more well-suited internship for me. I began my medical research internship working at a laboratory at a major hospital in the middle of Boston’s medical hub. The lab was studying preeclampsia, a condition that occurs in some pregnant women that can […]
July 1, 2021

Seven Things to Include on a High School Resume

High school is a time for new beginnings and new responsibilities. In addition to increased study hours and extra-curricular activities, it is important to keep in mind that internships may be on the horizon for you. Now is the time to have your resume ready to go. A resume gives a potential employer (or college) a brief snapshot of who you are should entice someone to get to know you better. Writing a resume may seem daunting, especially if you don’t have much work experience. So where do you start? Information. Gathering and organizing information is half the battle! Create a Word or Google doc with detailed notes about your schoolwork, activities, and work or internship experience. When you are ready to write your resume, choose a resume template. Use an easy-to-read format using a simple font such as Arial, Helvetica, or Calibri. Avoid templates that use multiple colors or complicated formatting. Limit your resume to one page. Your resume […]