The O’Neill School is all about leading for the greater good and building valuable experience to complement your internship experience. You can gain this experience in a number of ways including volunteering, micro-internships and job shadowing. Employers value candidates with diverse experiences in a variety of settings. The key is that you engage in experiences that build your marketable and transferable skills. The Career Hub has compiled great resources to help you secure experiences that build your competitive skills, help you learn about various careers, and stand out to employers.
When you are launching your career, simulated internships and micro-Internships provide a tremendous opportunity to build valuable experience. Not only can you explore different career paths and work on interesting assignments, you can also demonstrate your abilities to potential employers while building your professional portfolio and network. Beyond that, your academic experience will improve as you apply what is taught in the classroom to the real world (and vice versa).
Definitions
Simulated Internships (Forage): Virtual, simulated internships designed by leading companies, designed to allow participants to build skills and learn about various career paths at no cost.
Micro-Internships (Parker-Dewey): Short-term, paid, professional assignments that are similar to those given to new hires or interns. These projects enable Career Launchers to demonstrate skills, explore career paths, and build their networks as they seek the right full-time role.
Once you have completed these internships, you can add these to your resume and market your skills to employers. Take some time to explore the opportunities with both Forage and Parker-Dewey..
Forage is an online resource which offers virtual, simulated internships designed by leading companies. It is free to participate, and you do not have to apply.
You can develop your skills and try out different roles and industries by working through these self-paced modules, with tasks like those you would undertake during a traditional internship.
What does it involve?
• You will work through a series of resources and hypothetical tasks that are designed to simulate the sort of work you would undertake as an intern or full-time employee at the organization.
• It takes five to six hours to complete one program and you can complete as many programs as you like. All experiences are completely free of charge for students and alumni from the O’Neill School.
• You can opt to make yourself visible to the employer at any point in the simulation. You can also stay completely anonymous if you are more comfortable exploring the module that way.
What are the benefits:
• Sample what real life work at leading companies would be like
• Try out different types of work and discover which career path is right for you
• Build confidence and gain skills to get you ready for the workplace
• Earn a personalized certificate for your LinkedIn profile
How can I take part?
Click HERE to learn more and launch your Forage account now.
Micro-Internships are short-term, paid, professional assignments that are similar to those given to new hires or interns. These projects enable Career Launchers to demonstrate skills, explore career paths, and build their networks as they seek the right full-time role. Unlike traditional internships, Micro-Internships can take place year-round, typically range from 5 to 40 hours of work, and are due between one week and one month after kick-off. Micro-Internships are used by companies ranging from those in the Fortune 100 to emerging start-ups, and go across departments including sales, marketing, technology, HR, and finance.
Micro-Internships are facilitated via the Parker Dewey platform, which connects Career Launchers with Companies in need of support.
You can make meaningful connections, powerful change, build marketable skills, and lifelong friends, all by getting involved outside of the classroom. There are many ways to get involved on campus and in the Bloomington community. At IU, students can choose from more than 750 registered student organizations, or start your own. Within the O’Neill School, there are also specific student organizations to match your career interests and career community.
Environment, Energy, and Sustainability Student Organizations
Policy, Service and Advocacy Student Organizations
Business, Management and Administration Student Organizations
Creative Arts and Engagement Student Organizations
IU Campus: Be INvolved
Another great way to build your marketable skill set is by completing key certifications and trainings. The University Information Technology Services at IU (UITS) offers many trainings and certifications throughout the year. Also, IU partners with Linkedin Learning to provide students, faculty and staff with ongoing professional training and certifications. Develop SMART goals to complete these trainings throughout the year and add them to your resume.
UITS Training Information includes a complete list of topics, trainings, and certifications offered by IU.
IU HR has partnered with LinkedIn Learning to provide current IU staff, faculty, and students with access to an online library of more than 15,000 expert-led video tutorials and courses. Expand and improve your business, technology and creative skills on your schedule, from any device, anywhere. Click the link provided to access LinkedIn Learning courses.
Volunteering can give your resume that extra boost that makes you stand out from the rest of the pack. It can also help you develop skills that will make you a good fit for any office culture. Check out these great volunteer opportunities below.
IU Corps: IU Corps is a network of IU Bloomington students, campus stakeholders, and community partners who have joined forces to create positive social change in local neighborhoods and around the world.
Crimson Cupboard: Crimson Cupboard offers free healthy food to IU Bloomington students who are struggling with food insecurity. If you are interested in volunteering with the Crimson Cupboard, contact cupboard@indiana.edu
VolunteerMatch: Search volunteer opportunities in your area that match your skill set
Catchafire: Search national opportunities by project or organization
NetImpact: Search volunteer work related to environment, climate change, civic engagement, and social diversity, equity, and inclusion
City of Bloomington Volunteer Network: Search opportunities to give back to Bloomington and Monroe County
Linkedin Volunteer Marketplace: Tap into the LinkedIn network to search volunteer opportunities in your specific area of interest
