I just spent an hour using online search engines and visiting websites of companies looking for internship openings for this summer. The Internet makes this really easy to do; there are cites whose purpose is just to compile a list of internship openings that match your interests and location. My question is, how did people search for internships, or even jobs, in the past? My resume is on my computer, and when asked for cover letters or writing samples, all I have to do is click a button on my computer and upload these documents to an email or to a profile on a website. Then, using the Internet, I can log back in and check the status of my application.
This is definitely a topic I'm going to bring up at the dinner table with my parents when I'm home this weekend. I think that the main difference in applying to internships now versus 20 or 30 years ago is that today, it is more expected that students obtain internships during their college career, and employers are seeking to hire students who have previous work experience. I know for my mom, getting an internship while she was in college was completely out of the question. Instead, she had to work as a waitress and earn a salary so she could pay to send herself to college. I'm really curious as to how people went about seeking jobs in the past because I feel like the Internet has made this process really easy for me and I'm sure for others also.
Okay...If I had to guess, I'd say the primary outlet for hearing about job and internship openings would be newspapers or word of mouth. Any other ideas?
Allison, I'm sure that people got their jobs through networking! As you get closer to graduation you will quickly learn that communicating with anyone and everyone you know, or don't, in order to get the opportunity to even become a prospect is crucial; more so than even searching online. Sure these websites are extremely helpful in communicating available positions, etc., but I think today we come to rely on them too frequently. How many other people do you think looked up that same company online and applied for that same job? Probably hundreds, if not thousands!
ReplyDeleteWe've become so consumed by these new media channels and overlook the base of communication: speech!
I agree with Dani that both in the past, and today, one of the primary ways to obtain job and internship opportunities is through networking. Yet despite this important career skill, as Dani mentioned in her post, I think many people have become so dependent upon technology, social networking, and electronic communication, that they lack the ability to communicate in person. Or, if they are personable, they are so reliant upon electronic communications, that they do not initiate the networking steps necessary for securing their position, or marketing their name.
ReplyDeleteAs a graduating senior, I have sat in many career preparation preparations, have spoken with many recruiters, and have held internship positions myself and one of the common themes that I heard from employers was that many employees in our generation lack socialization skills. Employees are timid to answer the phone, go out and meet other people, or even reply to simple inter-office emails. So, in response to your original post Allison, I question, is technology helping our job prospects, or is our dependence hurting us in the long run?