Many high school students in the GM Student Corps summer internship program soaked up the wisdom that their leaders had to offer. The 110 students worked alongside salaried retirees, who not only cleaned up parks with them in Detroit, but also served as mentors.
(For the full story about the experience, click here.)
鈥淚鈥檓 grateful to have them,鈥� says Geneva Brooks, 17, of the retirees. Team leader Dawin Wright became a role model, teaching life lessons and offering advice on interviewing and body language, says the rising senior who hopes to study social work in college.
鈥淗e told us if someone is speaking to us, don鈥檛 have your head all slouched down. It鈥檚 respectful to show them you are paying attention,鈥� says Geneva.
One of the GM volunteers, Tom Parkhill, 69, planned to give students on his Student Corps team his business card at the end of the program. 鈥淭hey have expectations. Our job is to do what we can to make those expectations happen,鈥� he says. 鈥淵ou need door openers and people who can help.鈥�
The interns became aware of the value of networking over the summer. Gregory Thomas, 17, who wants to be an engineer, is eager to stay in touch with his teams鈥� leaders. 鈥淚f later in life I want to try to work for GM, I might get tips from them,鈥� he said.
So how can high school interns get those business cards and make the most of a summer work experience?
It can be challenging for high school students to establish those business relationships, says Megan Dorsey, a college consultant and founder of in Houston. Often employers don鈥檛 hear the perspective of young people often, and students should be encouraged to speak up.
鈥淗igh school students are often very timid,鈥� she says. 鈥淭ry to be as outgoing as possible. Take any opportunity to go out to lunch with people and get to know them socially.鈥�
Students who have done an excellent job should make sure to stay in contact with their supervisor or boss. Ask if it鈥檚 OK to ask for a letter of recommendation and thank them for the experience.
鈥淢ake sure you do the written thank you,鈥� adds Dorsey. 鈥淎 lot of students are so comfortable with email they think that鈥檚 sufficient. It鈥檚 really not. A written, snail-mail note really means a lot.鈥�
Joie Jager-Hyman, founder of , has worked in college admissions and says letters of recommendations from a summer internship can be helpful in cases where students have been deferred or wait listed. Otherwise, the basic application doesn鈥檛 usually ask for those types of recommendations.
But it鈥檚 clearly advantageous to stay in touch with internships mentors. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great way to continue a relationship that has been inspiring,鈥� says Jager-Hyman. Consider formally asking the person: Will you be my mentor?, she suggests. 鈥淢any will be flattered.鈥� Then decide what that will mean, such as checking in once a month or once every other month.
It鈥檚 fine for the student to stay in touch with the employer periodically, says Sally Rubenstone, a senior adviser with College Confidential.com. 鈥淢ost busy adults don鈥檛 have a lot of time for a new pen-pal, but it can鈥檛 hurt to ask a mentor about how he or she could like to continue the relationship, perhaps suggesting occasional email updates over the year ahead,鈥� she says. 鈥淪ome mentors will be eager; others less so.鈥�
Asking for an evaluation鈥攆ormal or not鈥攃an be helpful, although a bit daunting for a teenager. 鈥淧erformance evaluations are a part of many grown-up work experiences, so this can be a valuable way to get a glimpse into that world,鈥� says Rubenstone. The review could allow the students to identify strengths and weaknesses and decide whether to ask for a letter of recommendation. Also consider how enthusiastic a letter a boss might write before making a request, she adds.
Internships and job references are not required at college-admissions time, so high school students should only include them with the application if the references offer information that the rest of the application does not or if they help to set the student apart from the crowd, says Rubenstone.
Stay tuned for tomorrow鈥檚 blog post: Turning your summer work experiences into a college essay.