Blog Post: Your ExternShip is Sailing....Don't Miss It!

     As a former College Career Director, I am a strong supporter of real world experiences that provide “on the job” training opportunities.  This is why the Good Morning America story that ran on July 27th excited me. Tory Johnson, CEO of Women for Hire and ABC News Contributor, is advising professional candidates who are looking to make a career change to try out “externships”, i.e. unpaid work assignments where your skilled labor is exchanged for valuable training. I give a very enthusiastic thumbs up to this idea and have been recommending it to my own clients for years.  

     I use to coordinate college internships for students who complained about the required time commitments until they noticed the results that their peers were getting.  This is similar to what happened when I posted a “work study” opportunity created through a partnership with a local employer. It was geared toward our IT and Network Administration students who did not have a formal internship program. Despite my marketing efforts throughout the campus, only one student, Diana, applied and went for it. When she graduated 18 months later, not only was she hired by that employer, but she also accepted employment at the college as our own Network Administrator. Her hands on experience catapulted her into a league of her own with a set of skills that far surpassed that of her peers.   

     Externships are not actually intended for enrolled college students (the “ex” refers to being out of school).  If you are currently unemployed and discouraged by the job search process, it may be time to try something new. Consider creating your own externship experience by approaching a local employer in your new field of interest. Ms. Johnson recommends a small to mid-sized company that won’t be constrained by too many corporate policies. Yes, externing is similar to volunteer work, but it requires more vision on your part in order to ensure success.  Give careful consideration to how you may benefit an employer with your current skill set and design a proposal for a specific project that you would like to undertake on their behalf; In return, think about what skills you want to add to your repertoire. Ms. Johnson provides a sample template that you may use to pitch your idea to an employer. Factors that you will want to include are specific time frames and targeted objectives. The template may be found at, http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/JobClub/story?id=8187309 .  

     The benefit that my student Diana gained from her experience, namely two job offers, may not be typical these days and should not be expected. In fact, you should state up front in your proposed contract that you do not expect a job offer to come out of your efforts.  That said, there are so many other benefits to your career that you will experience including, the perfect bridge to a new occupation, favorable work references, an expanded business network, relevant experience to list on your resume and discuss on interviews and, perhaps most importantly, a real  boost to your self esteem and confidence.       

   

     Honestly, what is more important to be doing with your time these days than taking control and designing your next career move? I understand that this may seem unconventional, but some of the best ideas always are. Also, just as your job search requires that you apply to many places at once, anticipate that you will need to approach several employers with your proposition, too. Not everyone is going to "get it"; but it only takes one open door to create outstanding possibilities.  Ms. Johnson verified that unemployment benefits would not be affected in New York and Boston by these types of externship arrangements. However, you should consult with your own Florida State Benefits Counselor before taking action with your plan. Best wishes and please let me know about your successes if you take this course of action. Questions and comments are also welcomed.