Career Goals – Benefits of
an Internship and Real Life Work Experience
By Simon O'Mahony
Obtaining a college degree
is one of the many important steps in pursing and reaching your career goals.
However, a degree alone is not enough to be competitive. Hiring Managers want
real life, on the job, experience to compliment your career. This can be done
through many avenues including part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities etc,
but an Internship can often offer the opportunity to develop your skills and
abilities through a focused career-related program.
Typically, an internship
lasts for at least a semester or a summer. Decidedly different than a part-time
job, internships are designed to connect your classroom experiences to the real
world through hands-on projects and mentoring relationships.
The Benefits of an
Internship Program can include:
- Helps you develop a competitive edge over other candidates in the hiring process
- Increased your likelihood of receiving an employment offer upon graduation
- Tends to improve the initial salary offer
- Broadens your career knowledge and can strengthen your career decision
- Socializes you to the world of work including ethics and professionalism
- Reinforces classroom learning
- Gives you a realistic picture of what a career will actually be like
Finding an Internship:
Utilize the resources of
your Career Office on campus, check out company websites, job search engines,
and social media outlets. Network with alumni, family, and friends.
Simon
O’Mahony, originally from Dublin, Ireland, was personally recruited by Sage
Hospitality and joined the organization as a Corporate Recruiter in
2006. In 2009, Simon was promoted into the role of Talent Acquisition
Manager for Sage Hospitality and Sage Restaurant Group. Simon is
responsible for hiring management positions for Sage Hospitality
nationwide and for their corporate office in downtown Denver. He is also
involved in overall recruiting initiatives including college recruiting
programs, diversity initiatives, and employer branding. Simon works
with several local and nationwide agencies, colleges, universities, in
order to build a network and pipeline of candidates. In 2009 he was the
recipient of the Sage Innovation Award as a result of his use of social
media networking to enhance the recruiting process.
When he is not recruiting, (Recruiters are always working!) Simon enjoys Colorado’s beautiful outdoors. He also has a passion for photography and while it sounds like a cliché he loves meeting new people (which is why he probably loves recruiting!). Simon is a supporter of several non-profit organizations in Denver.
When he is not recruiting, (Recruiters are always working!) Simon enjoys Colorado’s beautiful outdoors. He also has a passion for photography and while it sounds like a cliché he loves meeting new people (which is why he probably loves recruiting!). Simon is a supporter of several non-profit organizations in Denver.
Simon can be reached at Simon.OMahony@SageHospitality.com.
