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news
Volunteer
internships pay off in long run
By Tom Carey
On-line Forty-Niner
The Career Development
Center is helping students gain a competitive edge in the
job field through volunteer internships as part of an effort
to provide experience and familiarity in the job field.
An internship is
often the decisive element of a resume that employers look
for, according to Cyndi Hale, director of the Education Participation
in Communities program.
Over 65 non-profit
agencies are seeking interns ranging from the Laguna Art Museum
to the Braille Institute. Each agency is located in fairly
close proximity to Cal State Long Beach, easing the commute.
The center works
as a student's agent forwarding resumes and helping with the
search process. Students can also use the resource library
to search for job online and receive help from walk-up counselors.
Up to three units
per semester can be earned by working in a volunteer internship
program. Students who work a minimum of 120 hours over two
semesters are eligible for college credit up to a year afterward.
"Most non-profit
agencies are more lenient with interns than in paid programs,"
Hale said. "Agencies are more flexible with the student's
hours and not as much pressure is put on them."
For students who
are unsure of what path to take in their college life, a volunteer
internship may just be the answer, according to Hale. An internship
helps get your foot in the door and gives you direct exposure
to a working environment.
Tusana Petchprom,
a senior business marketing major, is one example of a student
gaining credits and valuable experience in the non-profit
sector. Petchprom, who interns for Women in Need, helps with
the advertising sector for the agency.
"This was my first
experience in public relations," said Petchprom. "I worked
on press releases, news letters, power point and other promotions.
I learned a lot from my boss."
Petchrom describes
her experience as being very flexible and simple.
"You only have
to go to class seven times a semester for three units," said
Petchrom. "It really opened my eyes to other career possibilities."
Hale emphasized
the diversity of internships available, including web designers,
counselors and athletic directors.
All agencies are
pre-screened to make sure no clerical work or manual labor
is involved and students must have a 2.0 GPA to . Anyone interested
should contact Cyndi Hale at (562) 985-4151 or visit the Career
Development Center in room 250 at Brotman Hall.
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