Interview after interview, I have finally found the right internship for me!!
On Wednesday February 21st I started my internship at the Cleveland Orchestra!! It feels nice to even say that I work there because the name itself is impressive.
Last semester, I received an application for a paid internship there, but due to finals week and my work schedule, I did not meet the deadline. I thought I missed a great opportunity and continued my search elsewhere. To my pleasant surprise, there was another posting, but it was unpaid. I applied just like any other internship and continued my search.
To my pleasant surprise, out of nowhere I receive an email from the internship coordinator saying that they were "very impressed with my resume, and would like to meet with me, and though its unpaid, to not turn them down because I may have a chance for further employment after graduation"... I thought "who cares if it isn't paid, its the Cleveland Orchestra! I'll take it" and I scheduled an interview for the 7th and on Valentines day I receive an email saying I got the internship!! I was ecstatic, and thanked God and even hopped up and down in my dorm room.
I knew this was meant for me because everything went so well. On the day of my internship, I woke up extremely early (actually I couldn't even fall asleep) and I even ate breakfast in Pilla and still had time to kill. I text'd all my friends and told them to pray, and got there 30 min early and called my internship coordinator, and even my mom. When I arrived in the parking lot, they interviewer was waiting for me. It just felt like a great environment and everyone was so nice.
On my first day I got to meet a lot of people, helped around the office and learned what I would be doing. I even got the chance to see a bit of the rehersal in the auditorium and was amazed at how beautiful it was.
This has been a great exerience already and it was only my first day... It just goes to show me how the search for an internship was not in vain, and I've learned a lot along the way and now I am ready and have found the right fit.
I will definetly blog about my days in the Orchestra each week. (I'm there on Wednsdays only)
Keep on searching interns!!
~Amanda S.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Interviews... to many!!
I have gone on so many interviews, that I feel like I can tell others what to expect. When you apply to internships and have a 3 pg. resume, it seems to impress some employers, but not all because there are some who believe you should narrow it down to 1 page!
I mean, that really confuses me!! "One page", "more experience", "overqualified", "not enough experience"... It's mind boggling really!!!
My interviews in the past couple of months have really changed my perspective on employers, and now I know what to do and what not...
Voice of experience: Be prepared, try to know the employer and company before you get there. (They may not ever ask, but its good to know just in case. When your not prepared seems to be when they ask!) Make sure it is something you are interested in and not just something you applied to because you really need the internship, or else you may just get the job and dislike it in the end.
In the past months I have traveled to Painsville for a job which I thought would be easy... It was a distance, but it was paid and Spanish is my first language, so I thought it would be a breeze, but I discovered that nothing is ever that easy. I would've had to make lesson plans (as though I don't have pleanty of things on my plate) and teach 3-6 year olds. And though I knew I could handle it, and the interview was one of the best I've experienced, of course someone with more "experience" got the job. But in this case, I was glad they did, because I'd rather had her hire someone with experience teaching than myself who just knew the language.
That interview was amazing! Here's how it went: I applied to the posting on E-recruiting (while preparing for an interview in the computer lab) and literally minutes later she calls me and says how impressed she was with my resume and wanted to set up an interview. Amazed at the quick response, I set up the interview and met with her the next week. When I arrived I met with her and immediately took a tour of the school, then we went into her office for the initial interview, and the chemistry was great. I felt very confident and we talked for what seemed hours. We set up a possible schedule and I learned a lot about the school, (which I didn't beforehand) and at the end she said " I hope to get back to you soon, it was a pleasure interviewing you, you interview very well" and that really meant a lot because I felt that all the ones I've previously been on and got turned down, it was good to hear a positive response.
All these interviews, some good, some bad... Some employers made me wait weeks before hearing from them, then received an email, some were nice enough to call and explain, and some just simply seemed to have forgotten my contact information, but its all a learning experience.
I suggest that everyone just attend as many interviews as you can. DON'T get discouraged!! just take it as a learning experience and keep a positive attitude!!
Until later,
~Amanda S.
I mean, that really confuses me!! "One page", "more experience", "overqualified", "not enough experience"... It's mind boggling really!!!
My interviews in the past couple of months have really changed my perspective on employers, and now I know what to do and what not...
Voice of experience: Be prepared, try to know the employer and company before you get there. (They may not ever ask, but its good to know just in case. When your not prepared seems to be when they ask!) Make sure it is something you are interested in and not just something you applied to because you really need the internship, or else you may just get the job and dislike it in the end.
In the past months I have traveled to Painsville for a job which I thought would be easy... It was a distance, but it was paid and Spanish is my first language, so I thought it would be a breeze, but I discovered that nothing is ever that easy. I would've had to make lesson plans (as though I don't have pleanty of things on my plate) and teach 3-6 year olds. And though I knew I could handle it, and the interview was one of the best I've experienced, of course someone with more "experience" got the job. But in this case, I was glad they did, because I'd rather had her hire someone with experience teaching than myself who just knew the language.
That interview was amazing! Here's how it went: I applied to the posting on E-recruiting (while preparing for an interview in the computer lab) and literally minutes later she calls me and says how impressed she was with my resume and wanted to set up an interview. Amazed at the quick response, I set up the interview and met with her the next week. When I arrived I met with her and immediately took a tour of the school, then we went into her office for the initial interview, and the chemistry was great. I felt very confident and we talked for what seemed hours. We set up a possible schedule and I learned a lot about the school, (which I didn't beforehand) and at the end she said " I hope to get back to you soon, it was a pleasure interviewing you, you interview very well" and that really meant a lot because I felt that all the ones I've previously been on and got turned down, it was good to hear a positive response.
All these interviews, some good, some bad... Some employers made me wait weeks before hearing from them, then received an email, some were nice enough to call and explain, and some just simply seemed to have forgotten my contact information, but its all a learning experience.
I suggest that everyone just attend as many interviews as you can. DON'T get discouraged!! just take it as a learning experience and keep a positive attitude!!
Until later,
~Amanda S.
internship search... "more experience required"!
Searching for an internship can be quite an adventure. I've applied to any and and every posting that E-recruiting sends me, and I've discovered that you can never apply too much! Recently I have received emails and phone calls from many employers. The paid internship, that look really good on your resume, are of course! the toughest one's to get into.
I attended a career fair last semester in which I has my eye on one company in particular... and to my pleasant surprise, i received a call the very next day. Seems that my resume was quite impressive to them, but when it came down to the interviewing and hiring... turns out they found someone with more experience... go figure!!!!
It makes me wonder how these employers ever want us to have "more experience" if they don't give us the opportunity to 'gain' more experience.
~Amanda S.
I attended a career fair last semester in which I has my eye on one company in particular... and to my pleasant surprise, i received a call the very next day. Seems that my resume was quite impressive to them, but when it came down to the interviewing and hiring... turns out they found someone with more experience... go figure!!!!
It makes me wonder how these employers ever want us to have "more experience" if they don't give us the opportunity to 'gain' more experience.
~Amanda S.
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