I would like to (metaphorically, of course) pull the hair of whoever came up with the concept that waiting until your last two years of college to take on internships is a good idea. Maybe this person was hoping more people would relax during their first two years or was concerned that most college freshmen don’t have the knowledge they need to intern, but I’m here to tell you that simply isn’t true.
As I work through applying for jobs post-grad I’m so glad I started working in my field from the beginning, because so many post-grad jobs require several years of experience. I can assure you my career field isn’t the only one that requires this.
The way our system is setup today, you go to college, intern the last two years and then hope and pray that’s enough to land you a decent job. With the competition becoming fiercer, however, I encourage those of you who are currently freshmen and sophomores to start applying for internships now. While you might feel like you’re too young to be thinking about your life after you graduate, it’s important to remember that three to four years from now is not far away at all. Before you know it you’ll be scanning Indeed and other mediocre job sites to try to find something that doesn’t bore you half to death and pays a livable wage. The way to get that job is to start working or joining a club that helps go further down your career path now.
Whether starting now means that you actually go to career fair this month, or you simply call or email places nearby that you’d like to work for is up to you, but do something to show that your first two years here weren’t spent completely at Midtown or in the library. I stress this because I want the best for you, and I was lucky enough to have family and older friends in undergrad that stressed the same thing to me. It is never too early to start investing in your dream job.
Since I came to UF with an associates degree, I was pushed into getting an internship my first semester here. While it took me until my second semester to land a job that I ended up loving and still work at today, I was glad I went to the career fair during my first semester. By going and talking to employers for the first time, I figured out the do’s and don’ts of small talk and networking, the things that employers found most interesting about me and most importantly, I was able to shake off my fears of talking to powerful people in my industry. This kind of experience is essential. It not only helps you grow, but gets your name thrown out there a bit and might even land you a job somewhere down the line.
While I’m grateful that I came to UF with two years under my belt, at times I wish I had the entire four years to intern at a few more places than I did. While my time for internships is almost up, if you’re a freshman or a sophomore there are endless opportunities for you now. Please don’t be foolish and ignore them, as you’ll only hurt yourself in the long run.
So, dear readers, I encourage you to get out to a career showcase, make yourself vulnerable and, most importantly, learn. Learn if the major you’re in is the career field you want to be in, and learn how the professionals in your career act and dress. Pick up all of these things now while you’re still in college so that one day, when it actually matters, you’ll know.
Sara Marino is UF journalism senior. Her column appears on Wednesdays.
