Searching for great college interns

by Candy

I feel like I am becoming the interview queen. In our efforts to find the next Account Coordinator, I have conducted numerous phone interviews and several face-to-face interviews. While that search continues and is moving into the next phase, I am now starting the search for summer college interns. More e-mail resumes, phone interviews and then face-to-face interviews.

I find college interns to be a different breed. You really never know what you are getting – Can they really write? Will they be dependable? Will they understand and practice confidentiality regarding our clients and information? Will a wild weekend affect their availability for work (how often are the phone calls saying I am sick really mean I have a horrific hangover)?

I am a mom of a 2005 college graduate and I hope I taught her important characteristics about interviewing such as the difference between persistence, follow-up and overdoing the welcome; dressing for the interview (we may have a casual environment, but that doesn’t mean applicants should come in casual dress); and thinking (before the interview) of good answers for typical questions.

Maybe I am getting too old (after all I am turning the big 5 – 0 soon, and proud of it), but I seem to remember that in years past, college students/job applicants were better prepared and less full of the ‘I’m entitled to’ syndrome. Hmmmm. However, I did like this morning’s intern applicant – anyone who can pick up from Pennsylvania and go to college in Oregon before transferring to UNC, all while being a winning varsity wrestler, must have some discipline and dependability within.

The interviews continue…

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