gap year internship Archives

October 13, 2020

How an Internship Can Improve Your Gap Year – Even During a Pandemic

Many students take a year off between high school and college—especially now when the spread of Covid-19 has disrupted college plans. In fall 2020, most universities and colleges are offering limited in-person classes or a remote-only option—both of which carry a high price tag for a limited college experience. Traditionally gap years have given students a chance to break from academics and engage in extensive travel. Some students use the year to earn money to pay for college. In 2020 the spread of Covid-19 has limited travel and many in-person work opportunities. The key to a successful gap year is to use the time wisely. Investing in an internship is an opportunity to gain some real-world experience and some insight about a potential career and what major to choose. For now, a virtual internship may be your best bet. Once companies safely resume on-site work, in-person internships will again be a viable option. Two Students – Two Very Different Internships […]

January 6, 2022

Thinking about a Summer Internship? Now is the Time to Plan!

With the second half of the school year getting underway and colder temperatures in many parts of the world, it’s hard to imagine planning for summer. Between attending school, studying, participating in extracurricular activities, and fitting in a personal life, thinking about what to do over the summer shouldn’t even be on the radar. Or should it? According to U.S. News & World Report (Sorensen, 2022), “Because competition for summer jobs and internships can be stiff, you should start seeking out such opportunities months in advance.” So now is the perfect time to start thinking about and planning a summer internship. Why An Internship? Getting hands-on experience in a career field is a valuable way to spend time in the summer. For high school and college students, internships are primarily experience-focused, which means they are designed to introduce students to an industry or career area. For some, it confirms a chosen career area; for others it may create an interest […]

February 3, 2022

How to Test Drive Different Careers as a High School Student

As a high school student, trying to figure out what you want to study and perhaps eventually have as a career–while exciting–can be daunting. The process requires time and the space to let yourself grow as you try on different career hats. So what can you do now? High school is the perfect time to research career fields and perhaps “test drive” different careers to find out which field you may one day want to pursue. You may ask yourself, “Well, how can I do that?” Here are a few suggestions and resources you can use to assist you in doing career research. who knows, maybe you’ll discover your passion. Join School Clubs Interested in writing or photography? Join the school newspaper! Are you interested in entrepreneurship or learning more about different areas of business? Find out if your school has its own DECA (Distributive Education Club of America) chapter. This club encourages skill development and the exploration of various […]

April 8, 2022

Email Etiquette in the Workplace

The adage “communication is key” has many applicable uses and is especially true in the workplace. While some companies are adopting communication tools such as Slack, Teams, Trello, and Google Chat as primary communication methods, according to The American Genius, the most common form of workplace communication is email. “There appears to be a general consensus that while social networks are useful to achieve work-related goals, email remains the undisputed communications tool in the enterprise.” And email is an effective tool when it’s used correctly. Have you ever received an email that was confusing? Have you ever sent an email that might have been unclear? These situations are frustrating–especially in the workplace where people are often relying on email to do their jobs. However, email communication can be greatly improved by adhering to some basic email etiquette guidelines–both when sending and replying to emails. Sending Email Correct email format is essential. Keep these five basic rules in mind: Include a […]