Internships: The Power in Asking
Nova Bronstein Monday, July 25, 2011 at 9:00AM 
With summer being throughly underway and the lure of sun and sand ever looming, thinking about an internship is probably the last thing that would cross one's mind. This is precisely the reason why it's the perfect time to start looking for one! Most companies that have hired summer interns expect a number of those employees to leave as summer draws to a close, making July and August the perfect time for pursuit.
Internships are incredibly valuable as they give you inside information on how a successful company does what they do best without requiring you to have lots of experience. Then comes the question of how to get one. There are two pretty much no fail ways to go about getting an internship. The first is to think about the people in your life, your relatives, acquaintances and friends and make a list of any of them that might be in a position to help you. This could mean that they are personally involved with a company where you would like to intern or it could mean that they know someone of interest. If you feel like you can ask them about this directly, then great. If not, then follow up on any leads by doing something nice for them, maybe ask them out for coffee or take them to lunch and just talk with them a little.
Don't have anyone to help place you in your chosen company? Well, I have good news. The best way to find exactly the internship you are looking for is to present the idea to your employer of choice. Don't wait for the perfect opportunity to pop up on Craigslist. You should not feel limited by the need for an internship to be posted. Instead, take the initiative and do research about jewelry companies you respect that are in your area and contact them directly. I myself have gotten many a fantastic opportunity by "cold calling" a company who did work I respected and offering myself up an an intern so that I could learn how they do business.
I suggest starting out by asking for an informational interview. Once you are talking to someone from the company and meeting them face-to-face then you can give them a little pitch on why they don't want to do without you. Make sure to bring an updated copy of your resume and a portfolio containing examples of some of your best work.
It seems that when trust is being built, as it always is at the beginning, it is best to not expect to get much by way of pay. Remember, you are doing this for experience, to get your foot in the door and to learn from a pro (or many of them) about how to create a successful jewelry company. The experience will be worth much more than they are likely to offer you in pay. And, more often than not, an internship will turn into a permanent position and when this happens you will be in a fantastic bargaining position!
Interested in making some of your own smashing jewelry? As a jewelry design instructor at the Sheffield School in New York, I encourage you to take the matter of making into your own hands! Check out the newly launched Jewelry Design Course offered at the Sheffield School. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any other school in the world.
- Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.
- Subscribe to the Sheffield Designer newsletter.
career, craigslist, internship, jewelry, jewelry jobs, portfolio, resume in Jewelry
Reader Comments (12)
www.on2art.com
If you're really serious about finding a job of any kind, there's a great book that I have used twice in the past when I was "in between opportunities", but it's for job seekers at any point in their careers. The book is called "What Color Is Your Parachute?" by Nelson Bolles. It used to be republished every year, with all of the most up-to-date information. I do recall it went into how to go about getting internship positions as well.
Good luck!
I did 3 internships during my college years, and all of them were great! despite of the troubles I had because I didn't have any experience before in the industry, apart from my textbook-based knowledge. My advice for people looking for internship opportunities is to prepare professional CV, resume, portfolio and attitude. Be confident, and if you are enrolled as a student in an education institution, ask your institution/ lecturer or anyone with authority there to give you official letter so you can insert the letter along with your CV and all. Make sure the official letter states that you are a student of institution A and the school permits you to do an internship. Oh yeah, by the way, great article!
it always is at the beginning, it is best to not expect to get much by way of pay.
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