With school wrapping up soon, everyone is looking for that summer job or internship. Today, it seems like it’s so much more difficult and competitive to land an internship or job.
For me, I haven’t been on the hunt for just any job such an retail or a waitressing job like I was during previous summers. Now that i’m in college I realize that it’s important for me to work somewhere that will benefit my future career choice.
Being pre-PA has definitely lead to some road blocks for me. Before applying to PA school (which you usually do your junior year in undergrad) you have to clock in about 400 hours in a hospital or medical facility. The kicker is that these hours can’t be normal volunteer hours, they have to be paid, hands-on clinical hours. Now if you aren’t familiar with the medical field, a job like that is very hard to find for college students because we have little to no experience in a hospital setting.
Anyway, I knew I had to do my best to find someone to hire me being that I only have 3 summers to clock these hours in before I start applying to PA schools. I ended up getting very sick during finals time first semester and was at urgent care. While the doctor was examining he started some small talk and we ended up talking about how I attend the University of Michigan and he continued to tell me how he completed medical school here. After, I told him that I am interested in medicine, specifically being a physician assistant. After my appointment, the doctor gave me his business card and told me to call him if I wanted a job and that he could set me up with an internship at a nearby hospital he works out of, Beaumont Hospital.
About a month later I realize that I should probably shoot him an email and ask if he could still help me out with the internship. I was really nervous and honestly did not feel comfortable reaching out to him considering we had only met one time and it was only briefly mentioned. I decided to put my hesitations aside and email him. After four days of no response I then decided to go into the urgent care he works out of and talk to him. It was extremely out of my comfort zone but I knew if I wanted something that bad that I would have to work for it. After going in and talking to him again, he was very impressed on how persistent I was and then told me that the reason he didn’t answer his email was because he had been on vacation.
All in all, I ended up going through and interview process and then landed the summer internship! The best advice I can give to anyone is to really take advantage of any opportunity that is given to you. If you really want something then its up to you to make it happen. It’s up to you to follow up with all the connections that you make!
Great post!!!
ReplyDeleteI went home earlier this semester, to hand out resumes to local businesses for a summer job. After I gave them my resume, I made sure to call them on Monday, just to make sure the manager got it. I also went back to the store over spring break, just to see where they were in the hiring process. I could tell that the manager was pleased with my persistence, because it showed I really wanted the job! Although these encounters can be uncomfortable or make you nervous, it is important to be persistent because it shows how much you care! Congrats on getting the internship!!
Thanks for this post, Megan! That's so true, being persistent (in the right way) is important in the competitive professional world. There have been many times where I've sent cold emails to people, and after not hearing back, I've taking the time to send them a follow-up. Usually, this lands me some kind of response. It's cool to hear how you took that a step further and actually went in to talk to the person you were trying to contact. Way to be bold! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteNice work! This reminded me of Jenna Birch and how she would send cold emails and if she didn't get a response she would follow up, like you did! To me it seems like following up is always worth it. Emails can so easily be missed or even just forgotten, it's always a good idea to just check in. I like that you went and talked to this guy in person, it didn't feel like too big of a step, especially since you already knew him personally and obviously made a good impression on him. I'm glad you made the most out of this opportunity, I hope you have a great time at the internship!
ReplyDeleteGreat advice! This reminded me of the talk with Carol Ross when she stressed the important of communication. I remember her saying that no matter what, you should always send a follow up email, phone-call, or letter. Your story is a great example of what she was trying to stress! Also it's so impressive that you took it a step further and physically went into the office. I know I have a bad habit of forgetting to follow up and definitely have to work on that.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. As a typical college student, I've been busy with the summer internship search lately, using my connections to snag immersions and interviews. Unfortunately I'm still looking, as like you said, it's very difficult to get that first job in a particular industry without much experience. However, persistence pays, so hopefully something will work out for all of us looking for the "right job" this summer.
ReplyDeleteNice job Megan.
The struggle is real in regards to the internship hunt! I applied to roughly 25 different internships, only hearing back from 2. That was really frustrating, and so was your situation. Being persistent, yet professional is key in making relationships and building connections in your field of interest. They say that once you get one internship on your resume, it's much easier to land a second one! Hope you have a great summer working at the hospital.
ReplyDeleteKate
This is such a great story Megan. Not only is it one of hard work and accomplishment, but it also reflects many of the things we have learned and discussed in class. You demonstrated how creating connections truly does happen at any time (even when you're sick), and you showed how important it is to not let opportunities slip away and to be persistent. To be honest, I would have been very discouraged after not receiving an email back, and I think your approach of going in to actually try and talk to the doctor in person was exactly the right move. Good luck this summer with your job/internship!
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate to your post! I'm also pre-PA and struggling to deal with getting all the hours in - it really is so hard to get the specific type of job we need. The way you reached out was exactly the steps you should be taking, very impressive! Keep up this attitude and I am sure you will succeed. Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteMegan great post! I am definitely in that rut right now of trying to find a summer job! I was thinking of just applying to some waitressing job but now I think I might want something that could give me more experience. You have inspired me to go out and search for something that could be more meaningful. I may have to work to really find a great opportunity like you, but after hearing your story I am sure if I perceiver I will be able to find one. It's all about networking!
ReplyDeleteLove this message. It's hard sometimes reminding yourself to keep persisting and that one day it will pay off, but it's exactly how the job world works now. And this is another reminder that establishing connections can never be over-stressed. Best of luck this summer!
ReplyDeleteNice post, Megan! This definitely reminds me of the idea that networking can happen anywhere, and it sounds like you really made the most of it. As a pre-med myself, it sounds like you'll have an awesome experience with the internship. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI'm going through a similar process now and it's nice to be reminded how persistence pays off (sometimes it's difficult to gage whether or not this will come off positively). Nice job on landing the internship Megan!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome, it seems like a theme in this blog and throughout the course that putting yourself out there is often all it takes to get an advantage in the real world. I really envy that opportunity, and it sounds like you're in a great position for where you want to be headed in life. Great job, and good luck with the internship!
ReplyDeleteGreat post and congrats on getting the summer internship. I think this has a lot to do with our LinkedIn unit and just connecting with people professionally. Although it might seem a little awkward to do this, that is what LinkedIn is for. I like how you followed your passions and went after a goal, as that is half the battle.
ReplyDeleteI definitely relate to this post Megan. As a musician, the best way to promote your artistry in such a competitive industry is building connections and collaborating with your network. It's so cool to think such a simple concept can be applied to a bunch of different areas of expertise. Congrats on getting the internship and I hope you have a great summer!
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