Being an international student on US soil is not so easy. From the beginning at FIDM, I knew I needed to find a place for myself in this big, not so glamorous industry. But the question was how?? With zero professional contacts, no friends in the industry, and only a couple of people to bank on, it was hard. But, it was definitely not as bad as it sounds. My first aim was to get to know as many people as possible in the industry, starting with FIDM students, faculty, and staff. I had to work harder networking than citizens. I worked hard for all my classes, made sure I had perfect grades, and stayed in touch with all my teachers. FIDM provides its students with lots of resources, so basically I took everything that FIDM could offer. Over time I realized it is very important to have industry experience in order to crack the right job, so internships come into play here.
There are two options when it comes to internships either paid or non-paid. Usually everybody suggests unpaid ones are better, but there is no rule to it, trust me! Been there, done that. I looked for companies that offered great learning experiences irrespective of whether it was paid or unpaid. I was in touch with my Career Advisor all the time to get the internship leads and searched for more on craigslist. Yes, I said “craigslist.” Believe it or not, most companies post their job leads there. I was lucky to easily get an unpaid internship at Perry Ellis International. I interned there for six months, learning what goes on in the Design Room and experiencing how fast-paced the industry is. It was a great learning experience.
Also, if you feel your internship is not the right place to learn for any reason, feel free to switch, as you are not committed. You can take advantage of being a student and use the time to get trained, not exploited. Yes! Don’t be surprised if you are asked to do clerical work, and other non-challenging tasks at internships. My advice is to switch immediately since this is a time when you can learn as much possible and build up your resume. Also, if there are any companies you want to work for, feel free to email them. Most of them will respond.
So here are my tips to students looking for internships:
* Keep your options open for paid or unpaid internships—either can be good.
* Start looking at least 3-4 weeks ahead of when you plan to start.
* Visit craigslist, company career websites, and other job posting sites and stay in touch with your career advisor for job leads.
* Even though it is an internship, please don’t get exploited. Do meaningful work and learn as much as possible. Remember you can’t put on your resume that you had to photocopy, pulled printouts, etc. as your only job responsibilities.
* SWITCH your internship immediately if it is not worthwhile. Always look for a great mentor in the company who can teach and not use you.
* Make friends at work and network as much possible—you never know, this could be your potential full time job.
* Finally, being on an F1 visa makes it harder, so allow the time you need to find a job. It is quite a process but worth it in the end!
Remember: If you are determined to make your career here and live your dreams, you’ve got to follow some rules!
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