by Jacqueline Zee, CALS sophomore majoring in Biological Engineering
Don’t have an internship for the summer yet? Don’t worry! You’re not alone! There are multiple alternative options that would be valuable experiences for the summer. Here are a few options you may want to consider:
Find internships/jobs in smaller companies or in your local area. Many students who hoped to land an internship at a large company may have been lost in the sea of equally qualified students. You may want to try contacting some smaller companies who may be in need of an intern over the summer. Send them an email and start a conversation with them; at the very least, you’ll be networking in the process. You may also want to consider staying here at Cornell and doing research or a job. A great resource for employers in the Ithaca area looking for students to work for the summer is the “Student Jobs and Internship Postings” page (http://studentjobs.seo.cornell.edu/sjp/jobSearch.htm).
Volunteer. Volunteering is always an option that could appeal to an employer since it takes away the financial aspect of an internship. If an employer doesn’t have the means to pay for an intern, it doesn’t hurt to offer to volunteer. You will still gain valuable experience that can aid you in your future. You may also want to consider volunteering for non-profit organizations who usually welcome the aid of volunteers. Don’t be afraid to go outside your comfort zone.
Shadow & network. Another option is contacting employers to see if they’d be willing to let you shadow them. You may even want to see if your parent’s friends would be willing to let you shadow them for a day. It’s great exposure to the professional world and it allows you to expand your network. The summer is also a good opportunity to reach out to alumni and professionals. You can ask them about their career path and for any advice they may have for you.
Take classes. The summer is a great time to take classes outside of your major or to catch up on classes. You may be an entomology major but are interested in taking a class about designing mobile apps. This is a great way to develop a new skill that could be useful in the future. Cornell offers many courses and Ithaca is gorges in the summer. Or you may consider staying close to home and taking classes at a local college.
Travel & try something new! Seeing the world when you’re young and when you have the time to travel may be a summer alternative worth exploring. There are also groups that travel all over the world doing service-based volunteer work.
Keep trying. Don’t give up! The career counselors have great advice and resources to help you explore your options for the summer. Set up an appointment or stop by for drop-in hours in 140 Roberts on Tuesday & Wednesday 9:30-11:30 AM or Thursday & Friday 1-3 PM.