Advice For Future Interns – ‘Internships Are The New Interview’

By, Alejandro Arcos| Published by February 20, 2021

The Offices of Career Services on Feb.1 hosted “Essential Skills for Internships,” a workshop that provided valuable information and advice for students taking internships in Spring 2021 intended to provide valuable information and advice for students expecting to take their Spring 2021 internships. Namely, how to prove one’s worth while working as an intern and what employers would deem most valuable.

The workshop was presented by Paul J. Casey, Assistant Director of Internships for the Office of Career Services, who holds 20 years of experience in leadership and has worked under various organizations and universities in management positions, such as Passaic County College as director of the Northeast Resiliency Consortium, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club in Garfield, and currently directing Kean’s own internship program.

Kean University’s Office of Career Services is dedicated to aiding and advising students on career and internship related questions and issues. The office aims to help secure employment opportunities for students when possible.

With internships being the proving grounds for students searching for a career, Casey provides advice to help students prove their mettle in every employment opportunity. 

1. Understanding Your Worth as a Young Intern

Entering a new job as the youngest member of the group is always a daunting idea, however Casey believes that being the youngest in a work hierarchy is in fact a positive influence for the workforce. 

“As you walk into the internship it’s important for you to understand and know what it is that employers hope to get out of it.” Says Paul J. Casey “Interns usually are younger, their brains are growing, they’re going to generate ideas at a much faster pace than someone who’s been in the workforce for a long time.”

2. Establishing Influence over Seniority

Casey believes that putting one’s leadership skills to work, even as a young intern, is a valuable trait to utilize. 

“Oftentimes you might think ‘The intern is the low man in the totem pole, everyone else has way more seniority than I do, so what opportunity am I going to have to be a leader?’ You showing you have leadership skills in any environment is critical (…) Put yourself out there, take the risk, don’t wait for some to ask, ‘will you be the leader?’.”

3. Interacting with Your Boss

With interconnectivity being a vital part of any relationship, let alone a business relationship, building rapport is just as important as doing a competent job whilst working for others.

“Using the relations that you’re building on the internship is really important to the success that you’ll see. Find people in the workforce that can help mentor you, get to know other people in the organization, advocate for yourself understand the next steps that you’d need to take to move your career forward.” They continue. “Know that an internship is an opportunity to take a first step in a career.”

Kean Career Services remains open for virtual appointment at Kean.edu through its listed hours of operation. For more information, visit Career Services at Kean.edu. To schedule a virtual appointment with Paul J. Casey or other representatives of the Career Services team, email them through their listed email accounts.

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