Molly Cramer’s major in leadership studies required an internship experience, and she learned of an ideal opportunity through word of mouth. She says, “A family friend had participated in the internship program and raved about the experiences he had. I then searched online to learn how I could apply.” Her proactive approach led to her paid internship at the JVS Cincinnati Career Network,

Question

helping members of the community search for sustainable employment.
Molly prepared for her first “real” interview by researching the organization and reading about its staff on Linkedln. She then “did a quick brainstorming session of questions I thought the interviewer would ask me. I enlisted a friend to ask me the questions, listen to my responses, and give me feedback.”
Molly’s professional behavior and work habits had a positive effect on her workplace. She says, “I think I contributed to the organization because I brought a can-do attitude and executed a task—organizing a job fair—that would not have been accomplished without a capable intern.”
Molly’s advice to others is to “establish positive relationships with your supervisors, coworkers, and other personnel. You never know whether an internship could turn into a job down the line, so make every effort to be friendly and professional with everyone.”
She now believes “there is nothing more fulfilling than helping others.” Helping others find employment was deeply satisfying for Molly. “I know that whichever path my career takes, I will find a way to help others in the process,” she says.

What did Molly learn during her internship that has helped her in school and in her career?

How did Molly’s can-do attitude help her in her internship?

Answer 1

She learned that having a positive, can-do attitude pays off in more interesting and challenging work. She learned the importance of getting along and acting professionally with everyone. Because her internship was with a career center, she learned the hard skills needed for effective job searches, such as writing effective resumes and skillful interview techniques. Molly even learned helpful things before the internship started: she learned about the advantages of taking a proactive approach (how she found the internship), and she learned the value of thorough preparation for important career events.

She worked on an important, challenging assignment—helping plan a career fair—that only a capable intern would have been entrusted with.