Some of the content on this blog is syndicated over at BrazenCareerist, which I love. It exposes my book and my blog to a new audience, and I get some great comments and interest in what I write.
I loved that my last post about paying for unpaid internships drew such commentary and lots of the people that responded on Brazen had valuable things to say. Especially one comment about internships from one great reader. She said everyone has to start at the bottom somewhere. True, true.
It got me to thinking, is the internship the starting point, or isn't that the first job? After all, internships are great at helping you get that first job, but even at a first job, isn't that the place that propels you? Is the official start of your career the internship or that first job?
Just more to think about to get your brain cranking...
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6 comments:
Hey Kristen,
Thanks for giving a shout out to Brazen. As usual you bring up some pretty provocative questions.
I've never thought of my career having a beginning and an end. I think a career is better looked at as something that continually evolves and changes.
I'm only 25 years old and I've already thread across many paths. Even before a traditional internship (via part-time jobs, volunteering) I was gaining experience that has helped me become the professional that I am today.
What do you think of that mentality?
I think that internships help you start your career, but your first job launches your career, even if it leads you down different paths...does that make sense?
I guess my first thought was, OMG what if grads think their internship was the "bottom"? They are probably in for a rude awakening because a first (or 2nd...) job can be the bottom of the totem pole and is for most people.
From my experience, my first job was something that I found to not be to my liking. My internship (after graduating college) was what defined who I am today. My internship (while in college) even further helped direct my path towards what I do professionally today. So, I would say an internship is where you need to focus to find something that you know works, then expand on that for moving into your first job. ;-)
Kristen, Ryan Paugh sent me the link to your blog where he saw you indirectly mentioned my comment from your previous post about everyone has to start at the bottoms somewhere.
I think that my internships propelled me forward and set the framework for my career. Career meaning, post-college. However, a few of my internships hired me on full-time in the summers and part-time during the school year which to me, was/is part of my career. Maybe it depends on the depth of your internship. Without a doubt they're stepping stones, but the amount of full-time I have spent at my current startup in my position (first post-college job) overrides most of my internships. I have to count my internships as the start of my career, but each had a different lesson to teach me I suppose.
Great thoughts!
Maybe it depends on how you define 'career'.
If you see it as your working life, then I'd agree with the posters saying earlier work, other internships, jobs etc should be included.
However, if you're 'career' is the one specific to that internship and perhaps you even get a job out of that internship, then I'd say yes, it's the beginning.
I definitely think first jobs are the bottom - to me, internships are just extended college curriculum set in a working environment.
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