Back yourself first

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he start of second year always marks the time when many undergraduates dive into the murky waters of summer internships. You don’t need to go very far to see your peers stressing over cover letters, application questions and numerical tests whilst desperately keeping their degree afloat.

A lot of my friends have forgone their studies and their lives to go to numerous company presentations and case studies in the hope that they can get that one vital business card. That one name that is going to set them apart on their application.

The truth is that names are not as important as substance. And this is where work experience comes in.

You may scoff at the notion of work experience, thinking back to the time that you spent in that office where you made the coffee and was bored out of your mind most of the time. However, the definition of work experience, in my book, is anything that prepares you for the world of employment where you can develop the skills that will be invaluable in your career.

Therefore any work that you do with societies, especially if you are fortunate enough to be elected onto the exec, or with sports clubs or any extra-curricular activity at all, is going to fund those team-working or leadership skills that you are boasting about in your applications. So make the most of it!

Personally, I am involved with a few Campus Brand Manager schemes which really bridge the gap between employer and student. They task me with doing a real job, working with the client base that I know best (my friends) to try to develop their product at my university. For example, my work with Student Beans has helped me to understand how on-the-ground marketing works and the power of social media in this setting, which will no doubt be useful to me in whatever career I choose to pursue. I am preparing myself for the world of employment, one challenge at a time.

Don’t be under the illusion that every piece of work you do is going to be rewarded with lots of cash, even when you get into a job. Experience and learning are very much a part of any career and these skills can be transferable to any part of your life. At the same time, you are going to do jobs that you don’t enjoy or that you have to tolerate in order to get where you want to be. In order to minimise time wasted, get as much experience as you can so you know where you are going.

The great thing about university is that you have the time and energy to devote to different areas and sectors which will be next to impossible once you get into a nine-to-five.

All I would say is that whilst you have the opportunities in front of you to get more involved in things that interest you, why not take a chance and participate?

You have nothing to lose.

Rather than chasing money, choose something more meaningful. Back yourself first.
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Photo: flickr/flazingo_photos

Find out more here about Student Beans and Adobe who are helping students to find their feet in the world of work, by giving them this opportunity on campus.

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