Ways to Stay PRepared This Summer

Source: Wallozo

Spring semester is winding down, and thankfully the chaos of finals is coming to an end. You finally have time to think without having the stress of school work weighing you down. So now the next big question crosses your mind: what am I going to do this summer? If you start freaking out because your summer plans are not set in stone, take a deep breath and relax! Don't forget that you are not the only one.  Whether you are still applying for internships or taking this time off, here are tips for the summer to set yourself up for success. 

If you want an internship for the summer, keep looking!

It is not too late to get an internship, so do not give up! You can use internship websites like internships.com, internmatch.com and internqueen.com to find the latest opportunities in areas near you. It is always smart to check the career pages of companies you are interested in. Even if a position is not posted, you can always reach out and see they’d be interested in hiring an intern.

Sharpen your skills

When you look around on internship descriptions, take note of what skill sets and experiences keep popping up in several postings. Summer is a great opportunity to develop skills that you haven’t had time to improve on during the busy school year. For example, maybe you want to start your personal website you have been thinking about! Taking time to assess your weaknesses this summer will help you build new skills that can land your dream internship in the future. There are many online resources dedicated to helping with online skills. Free websites like Codecamedy and Khan Academy will teach you the art of coding and helpful tips for Excel. Don’t forget that Temple offers free Lynda.com workshops through your TUportal account!

Do something for yourself

It may seem like everyone around you has an internship, and you might be stressing about it, but it does not mean you are falling behind. Instead of focusing on what everyone else is doing, take the summer as a chance to pay more attention to yourself. Go out and explore a quiet little town that you live near or go on the hunt for the best brunch-whatever it is, go out and do it! Take care of your mind and body this summer, and you will feel a whole lot better by the time fall semester rolls around. You might even be thankful for the time to step back and relax. 

Tips For Tackling That Dreaded Interview Question

During job and internship interviews, hiring managers may ask about your greatest weakness to determine whether you are fit for the position. This is a tough question, but luckily you can come prepared to an interview with a solution. When you think about your weaknesses, keep in mind not to indicate any qualities that make you seem incapable for the job. You want to present yourself positively and effectively when you answer the question.

1.Know your weaknesses and pick the best one.

Everyone has his or her own strengths and weaknesses; be honest with yourself! Delve into those ideas and tasks that make you feel uneasy or nervous. It is important to recognize these concerns, and acknowledge them so you can confidently say you will perform the job properly. It is important to get the point across that this weakness does not negatively impact your work.

2.Don’t say you work too hard.

Employers do not want to hear that you are a perfectionist and that you work too hard.  This is a common and generic response that is dismissed by hiring managers.

This question is an opportunity to share a professional challenge you have experienced in your previous positions, and can prove you are skilled in problem solving. People want to know what mistakes you have encountered and how you handled those situations.

3. Follow-up the weakness with how you conquered it.

After you provided the employer with the answer, you can demonstrate that you are constantly working on this weakness. A great candidate for any position is one that is always discovering new ways to learn and grow.  You can explain to the employer what initiatives you have taken to improve yourself. You can present your answer with the motivation to prove you can be the best at the job. This is how you can emphasize the positive when following-up the weakness.  

This guest blog post was written by PRowl staff member Randi Nemeth.