Need help finding short-term chem positions.
August 1, 2011 12:04 PM Subscribe
So I'm having some difficulty looking for a short-term internship / volunteering position related to my career goals(chemistry) for this coming winter break.
I'm a college Junior who is looking to gain some experience in a chemistry field this winter break. My school is on the trimester system so I will have nearly 6 weeks free from the time I leave until when I have to return. I've been looking for options and am not really sure how to approach this. I attend a very small school so it is difficult to arrange research jobs on campus during the school year.
Should I just look up companies and send them emails asking for a volunteer position? Contact University profs whose research I like and ask to volunteer in their lab?
I feel that the short amount of time I have(6 weeks) is just too small to make any position that would be valuable to both me and them impossible. I really need some job experience though as I have very little real-world experience and would like to know what I am getting myself into careerwise.
I've compiled a list of biotech companies and other possible options in Eastern Mass + the Cape which is where I will be living. Is there any way that I can make this seem as beneficial to them as it would be to me or should I just settle for a holiday job at the mall.
I'm a college Junior who is looking to gain some experience in a chemistry field this winter break. My school is on the trimester system so I will have nearly 6 weeks free from the time I leave until when I have to return. I've been looking for options and am not really sure how to approach this. I attend a very small school so it is difficult to arrange research jobs on campus during the school year.
Should I just look up companies and send them emails asking for a volunteer position? Contact University profs whose research I like and ask to volunteer in their lab?
I feel that the short amount of time I have(6 weeks) is just too small to make any position that would be valuable to both me and them impossible. I really need some job experience though as I have very little real-world experience and would like to know what I am getting myself into careerwise.
I've compiled a list of biotech companies and other possible options in Eastern Mass + the Cape which is where I will be living. Is there any way that I can make this seem as beneficial to them as it would be to me or should I just settle for a holiday job at the mall.
No one needs chemistry grads. The lack of available non-academic internships, paid or unpaid, should give you the first hint about this.
posted by yoyo_nyc at 12:30 PM on August 1, 2011
posted by yoyo_nyc at 12:30 PM on August 1, 2011
Response by poster: No one needs chemistry grads. The lack of available non-academic internships, paid or unpaid, should give you the first hint about this.
yoyo_nyc, I haven't had any trouble finding internships(academic, non-academic, paid, unpaid), my main problem is just finding an option that would be as short-term as 6 weeks.
posted by aleatorictelevision at 12:43 PM on August 1, 2011
yoyo_nyc, I haven't had any trouble finding internships(academic, non-academic, paid, unpaid), my main problem is just finding an option that would be as short-term as 6 weeks.
posted by aleatorictelevision at 12:43 PM on August 1, 2011
Will you have time to volunteer or get another internship with the same company after the winter trimester and/or between your junior and senior years? If so, you could ask to start now, getting some basic training done early, so you can get a refresher in a few months and really get involved. Tell companies what courses you've taken, what you'll be doing between the possible internship/ volunteer time and the next time you could intern/ volunteer with them, and that might help get you placed.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:01 PM on August 1, 2011
posted by filthy light thief at 1:01 PM on August 1, 2011
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Yes, do this. Many will be happy to have you. Include in your email that if they are unable to take you, can they recommend someone else who may be interested. Most profs like teaching people the things they love, that's why they're profs (of course, not all of them...)
posted by brainmouse at 12:12 PM on August 1, 2011