Here are the internship resources you’re missing out on

Two years ago, as a freshman here at FSU, I was recruited for an internship through a classroom questionnaire that brought me to the Dunlap Success Center for an informational meeting. That meeting not only landed me an amazing summer internship, but it changed my life. It also helped me realize how important it is to take advantage of your summer as a college student.

Here are ways you can find an internship through FSU.

The Dunlap Success Center

Next to the ASLC and the Health and Wellness center is a great place to start, especially as a freshman or sophomore, and they answer all these questions. Don't wait. Every semester they send out weekly emails giving students an opportunity schedule for the week, companies hiring for interns, even full and part time jobs. They're a great place to get help with writing and organizing your resume or help with interviewing skills. You can go in and ask the help desk to see what they’ve got going on this semester!

Clubs and Organizations

Whether it is Greek life, A Capella, or intramural soccer; there are Organizations and clubs you are already apart of that have students from a wide variety of backgrounds. If you see regulars, officers, or just someone who seems like they have it together, ask them what they did last summer, how they liked it, how did they get involved? Networking 101! You never know how you'll get the hook up of your college career, you just have to go after it.

Keeping Your Eyes Open

Bulletins, sidewalk chalk, and those strange emails you get from some random person at the university are all opportunities right in front of you. You may even just have to go to class! Some amazing internships are pitched right to you in your HCB lecture. The different colleges on campus will have major specific openings for jobs and internships, the college of business does this all the time through weekly emails. Take charge and ask about them!

There's an epidemic among college students where our focus is on the party scene and occasional trip to a Heritage tailgate, and then maybe going to class. Summer is an awesome period where we can choose how to spend our time. The most successful students their break differently than everyone else and choose to hustle.

I knew that getting an internship early on in college would help me save a ton of time and stress when I graduate, and doing my internship through Southwestern Advantage was one of the best decisions I've made as a college student. Not only did it give me incredible resume experience, college credit, networking and friends; It helped me believe in my own ability and got me out of my comfort zone. I would've missed out on opportunities for growth and experience if I hadn't taken advantage of the resources that were available to me at Florida State.