Ann Johnson

INTERNSHIPS –

Why You Need One and How You Get One

Internships do what nothing else can do, they give you a peek into the world of work. They are an opportunity to learn about a career you are considering and what that career looks and feels like in the “real world”. An internship is also an opportunity to begin creating a network of people who can help you achieve your goals and realize your potential. Paid or unpaid, an internship can be a key that opens doors to your future.

Getting a good internship requires some effort. Internships are not bestowed, they are earned and require preparation, hard work and tenacity. Begin by deciding what kind of internship you want. What are your career interests? What is your time availability? Do you have reliable transportation? Are you willing to travel and, if so, how far? What skills do you have that make you qualified for an internship?

Once you have decided the type of internship you are interested in, you should begin doing some work to prepare yourself to be the best candidate. Most internships are highly competitive and, in order to stand out from the crowd, you need a well written resume and exceptional interview skills.

A resume is a written snapshot of you, I like to think of it as a written “selfie”. Most people want folks on social media to see them at their best – no blemishes, cool clothes, great smile – showing all their best attributes, and downplaying any imperfections or blemishes. It doesn’t mean those imperfections don’t exist (nobody’s perfect), it’s just that they don’t want them highly visible and emphasized. A resume is the same. You want to present your best self on paper.

Writing a good resume requires some self- reflection. You can start by making list of your skills. Read the information contained in the internship announcement. What skills and personality traits do you have that match what the company is looking for? Those are the qualities and skills that you should emphasize in your resume. Be careful how you list those skills – are you an expert? Are you proficient? Or are you experienced in a certain skill? Make sure you are representing yourself honestly – don’t say you have expertise in an area when what you really mean is that you have experience in it. There is a difference and by misrepresenting yourself you could find that you are in over your head and that will result in a bad experience for you and the company. Resumes should be free of ALL spelling, grammar, punctuation and typographical errors. It should be as perfect as humanly possible. There are many websites that will help you with the format of your resume, but basically you should have five sections: A Goal statement, Education, Skills, Work Experience, Volunteer Experience, Clubs/Organizations and References.

Prior to the Interview:

A good resume can be a foot in the door, but the real deal clincher is the interview. There are many things you can do to prepare for an interview. The first is ensuring you “look the part”. An interview is normally a fairly formal meeting between you and someone representing the company. How you look is important. You should dress at least one level more formally than what most folks wear to work in that company. Guys cannot go wrong with a well-fitting, clean, pressed pair of dress pants, a clean pressed button-down shirt, matching tie, belt, dress socks and shoes. Women can wear either dress pants or a knee-length skirt, a modest blouse, closed-toe shoes and minimal jewelry and make-up. Ensure that you are also well-groomed, including clean nails, a recent haircut and for gentlemen a clean shaven face or well- trimmed beard or mustache.

A firm handshake and good eye-contact are imperative at making a good impression. The more you practice this, the more second nature it becomes. People who make good eye-contact and have a firm handshake exude a feeling of confidence which is important in any job setting.

Know the company! Do some research on the company that is offering the internship position. What kind of work do they do? How long have they been in business? How many employees do they have? What is their vision? What is it about this company that makes you want to work for them?

In an interview the person who is interviewing you is trying to get to know you. They want to find out about your experiences, your outlook and your goals. They are trying to determine if you are a good fit for their company. In order to do this they will ask you questions about yourself, your skills and your experiences. If you answer these questions with one or two words they will know no more about you when you leave than when you came into the interview. The best advice I can give you is to reflect on experiences you have had and draw upon those experiences to illustrate the answer to the questions you are asked. Most interviewers have some basic questions you can use to prepare such as:

What makes you qualified for this internship position?
What do you see yourself doing 5 years from now?
How has your education/experience prepared you for this internship?
Give an example of a time when you had to work to a deadline.
What do you see as your strengths?
What do you see as challenges for you?
All of these questions give you an opportunity to use your prior experiences to explain and elaborate on your answers.

On the day of the interview:

Plan to arrive 5-10 minutes early.
DO NOT bring your cell phone into the interview! Show the interviewer (and sometimes yourself) that you are not addicted to your phone and you can and will function without it.
Introduce yourself clearly using your first and last name.
Offer a firm handshake.
Sit using good posture and refrain from talking with your hands. A person who uses a great deal of hand movement can appear to an interviewer as someone who is nervous or not in control.
Listen carefully and answer all parts of each question. Don’t be afraid to ask an interviewer to repeat a question or rephrase one that you are unsure about.
Speak clearly and try not to let nerves lead you to talk too fast.
At the conclusion of the interview stand, and again offer a firm handshake.

After the Interview

Follow up with an email or a hand written note sent through the mail to the interviewer thanking him or her for the opportunity to interview.
Be sure to include your contact information.

Internships can last a few weeks, a few months or a few years. Each experience will help you solidify your career choices and the connections you make will prove to be invaluable as you move forward toward a financially and personally rewarding career.

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING A CAREER IN A DEFENSE-RELATED INDUSTRY

Almost every job in the defense industry, whether it is a government position or with a private contractor, requires you to be eligible for some level of government security clearance. People who work in this area have access to classified information and it is imperative that they can be trusted to keep our nation’s secrets safe.

“ It must be determined that the individual’s personal and professional history indicates loyalty to the United States, strength of character, trustworthiness, honesty, reliability, discretion, and sound judgement as well as freedom from conflicting allegiances and potential for coercion, and a willingness and ability to abide by regulations governing the use, handling, and protection of classified material.” – U.S. Department of State

There are three levels of security clearances, Confidential, Secret and Top Secret. Which level you need depends upon the job you will be doing. The Federal Government is the only agency that can grant a security clearance. Without a security clearance, an individual will not be considered for a job in the defense industry.

13 guidelines to establish if a person is eligible for a security clearance.

Allegiance to the United States- Any action or speech that calls into question a person’s loyalty to the United States of America is taken very seriously. You can certainly participate in politics but defamatory speech against the government is not looked upon favorably.
Foreign Influence - Having family members or friends who are citizens of another country that is known to be a threat to the United States
Foreign Preference – If a person’s actions or words indicate a preference for a foreign country over that of the United States, especially if that country is a threat to the United States
Sexual Behavior - Any sexual behavior that involves a criminal offense, indicates a personality or emotional disorder, reflects lack of judgment or discretion, or which may subject the individual to undue influence or coercion, exploitation, or duress
Personal Conduct - Any conduct involving questionable judgment, lack of candor, dishonesty, or unwillingness to comply with rules and regulations can raise questions about an individual's reliability, trustworthiness
Financial Considerations – Having an excessive amount of debt that may indicate a lack of self-control and also make a person vulnerable to bribes
Excessive Alcohol Consumption – This often leads to the exercise of questionable judgment or the failure to control impulses, and can raise questions about an individual's reliability and trustworthiness.
Drug Involvement - Use of an illegal drug or misuse of a prescription drug can raise questions about a person’s reliability and trustworthiness, both because it may impair judgment and because it raises questions about a person's ability or willingness to comply with laws, rules, and regulations.
Psychological Conditions - Certain emotional, mental, and personality conditions can impair judgment, reliability, or trustworthiness and therefore could render a person ineligible.
Criminal Conduct – A single serious crime, being accused of a serious crime, being on probation or parole, not completing court ordered rehabilitation or a dishonorable discharge from military service can render a person ineligible.
Handling Protected Information - People who have a clearance could lose that clearance if they don’t protect sensitive information by following protocol.
Outside Activities – Working for or volunteering with foreign businesses or groups or people who represent foreign interests may render a person ineligible.
Use of Information Technology – Illegally hacking into servers and/or databases, unauthorized use of hardware or software.

The State Department does a thorough investigation into the background of each person who requests a security clearance. They interview friends, relatives, former teachers, coaches, supervisors and coworkers. They have access to your social media accounts including: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snap Chat, Tumblr, YouTube, Pinterest, MySpace, etc. Everything you posted, every picture, every tweet will be available for view ( even those you have deleted posts) Therefore, make sure that if you are considering a job in the government or with a defense contractor your social media sites contain nothing that could raise suspicion in any of the 13 areas listed above.

Our nation’s security is dependent upon the character of the people who work in defense related careers. If you are considering a career in this arena knowing what is expected of you before you apply for a security clearance will help to ensure that you have the best possible chance of being granted the necessary security clearance for the position you desire.