itsover9thousand

Regardless of qualifications, I wouldn't expect anyone to accept me just because they knew me... it's an unfair advantage. The example you listed--that nearly all of the employees traced back to one person--strikes me more as a disgusting injustice than as any sort of justification for it.

LazyBum201

> If I tell my kids to be camp counselors, are their careers in a tailspin from the get-go?

It might not be a good idea to tell a kid what to be, even in a first summer job, but rather just to have some kind of work experience perhaps if you feel that is important in their life experience (which many do, but not all). But the assumption seems to be that being a camp counselor would be less stressful/likely to result in burn out than what is more traditionally considered an internship, and I don't suspect this to be the case. Caring for youth on a pool or out on a lake, say, requires far more responsibility than writing software code of various kinds that will be tested by various people before going to market, for example. Counselors also often work long hours.

But to your question of putting their career in a tailspin, it might depend on when that job was taken. I know a gal whose only paid work experience prior to entering Stanford a few years ago was that of camp counselor. I doubt she's going to have career problems once out of Stanford. But if someone is a camp counselor say just before the senior year of college, that *might* be a drawback for some job applications down the road.

ClaySoul

itsover -- but it happens. all the time.

Britty512

I think internships are a great way to narrow down your career field. I started my first internship after my Freshman year and took a second my Sophomore year (both unpaid). I interned two days a week and worked as a nanny in the evenings and weekends (had to make money somehow).

I found a paid internship the summer after my Sophomore year, and then finally got my dream internship in January working at a consulting firm. In the process I gained work experience at a non-profit, in a government office, and now in the private sector. Knowing what I like and dislike in office environments is really going to give me a advantage in finding the right job out of college. Not to mention, I am already miles ahead of those students who are just now finishing up their first internships as rising seniors. I have established a solid network and I am now blessed with both a great job and a workplace that is a perfect fit.

Networking is key. I come from a solid school (American University), but my office recruits from the Ivies. I had someone send my resume around the office and after a round of interviews, was offered a position. It's all about getting your foot in the door. Once you are there, you have to bust your a** twice as hard to prove that you were worth hiring.

ken285

How is it an injustice if you're hiring from a pool of candidates who are nearly identical? I don't think it's right if you hire somebody with lesser qualifications, but if there are no significant differences, you'd definitely hire the person you know. Like Britty said, you still have to prove that you deserve the job once you get it though.

juliushark

EDIT oops i misunderstood the title


anyone know if IB internships like RBC in Toronto pays for living space?

pearlygate

most cs internships that I know of(Intuit, Google, facebook, microsoft, apple, etc), pays about $5000/month at least. others even pay more with housing/relocation bonus/free food/massage/etc

ClaySoul

since we're all cs majors...

ac0704

I personally have done two internshipships and I have found that they were incredibly helpful. Both were not required but I chose to anyway. It's really not a bad thing to have them required.




Sincerely,

Alex
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