In today's higher education system, upcoming graduates are taught to seek internships in their desired field. "They help you network" "Sometimes they lead to a job," your career center counselors tell you. But these are people who haven't had to search for a job in years and had a disconnect with how the job market really is, especially if you went to a college in rural America like myself.
Here's the thing that you have to understand: the world is changing, fast. And if you don't keep up with it you are going to lose. Sorry about it.
That being said, online networking and internships are the way to go. "Networking events" will be replaced by conversations in online forums and google hangouts. And while LinkedIn may be a valuable tool of connecting with other alum, twitter DMs are just as valuable.
The past six months I've had the unique opportunity to be an intern with the largest motivational blog Addicted2success.com. As someone who is passionate about both social media and self-development, this internship was a dream come true.
Fast forward to today and I've had the chance to be published on over half a dozen websites, connect with some of the largest influencers in the space, and get offered a full-time position: all from the comfort of my own home in my sweats.
On top of it all, it only cost me a few hours a week. Less than a part-time job. And at my own schedule & leisure.
So you can see why I'm pushing this so hard.
Granted, A2S is a strictly online 6-figure business. For example, My boss Joel Brown is what we call a 'digital nomad' and the editing team is based in Australia. It's been a lot of skype calls, emails, and awkward text messages.
What my internship with A2S has shown me is a glimpse of the future, what business will be done in the future. Everything will be done online and at scale.
And while brick & mortar companies are useful to build the face of a company - not everyone has to work there.
So if you're a college student looking for a quick & often easy way to boost your resume, don't be afraid to accept an online internship. They're often super practical, give you relevant experience and teach you to network online.
What are your future goals? Does an online internship sound interesting to you?
