Cufflinks for summer internship interviews

Ahhh! Summer is upon us. It’s time for endless days at the beach just soaking up the sun without a care in the world. Let the sand run between your toes as you watch listless clouds float by. Cold, crisp drinks and icy beer make their icy appearance as you take your first sip and wonder how you ever bothered with silly things like bills and final exams.

BAM! And then you wake up to the sound of an alarm and realize you’ve fallen asleep through its blazing sounds for the last 45 minutes, making you late for your 8am chemistry test. The only remnant of your summer dream is a fine drop of drool sliding down your chin. As you pack up your notebooks and textbooks and rush to class, you seem to have much more on your mind than your impending chemistry test (how does electromagnetic radiation carry energy to a receiver from a transmitter again?! ). With summer just around the corner and rising tuition a very real possibility, you’ll need to start looking for a summer job. Sure, you could just walk in and secure a position in the electronics department at her local Wal-Mart, but as a junior in college, it might be time to start exploring internships that really RELATED to your specialization and that will give you the footing you need in the industry you are studying.

Once you’ve visited your college adviser and your university’s career resources department looking for summer internship opportunities and once you’ve polished and submitted your resume, the interview requests will start pouring in (meaning, of course , unless you major in drama). trying to secure an internship position at the city’s top chemical engineering firm, in which case, good luck.) In addition to being doubly sure that you really KNOW All the skills and keywords you wrote about in your resume and cover letter, you’ll want to make sure it looks good for your interview.

Now, it can be very tempting for a high school or college student who is used to wearing faded T-shirts and ripped jeans to just do the bare minimum in terms of dressing for an internship interview; Keep in mind, however, that these same internships are also being applied for by those eager brown-nosed beaver students who would bring fresh-baked homemade cupcakes to the interview if they thought it would secure the position. Yes, that is correct. The guy in your statistics class who always raises his hand to ask a few more questions just when your teacher is about to let everyone out of class a little early on a Friday afternoon…he’ll probably be there. So will that girl who lingers in class every day to see if there’s any extra work she can do during the week, since she’s already written her 15-page essay that she’s not due for three. weeks. These browns will be dressed to kill in one of the fifteen suits they’ve already purchased just for this internship opportunity, so you’ll need to look good to compete.

So now you have the suit tailored and pressed (yes, you’ll need to have it tailored and pressed to make it fit perfectly). Why not take your look a step further and do something those brownies could have easily missed? Pair your suit with the perfect set of cufflinks. Here are some tips for selecting the right cufflinks for the right internship. After all, in this decision, it is imperative that you know and work with your audience.

o If, for example, you’re competing for an internship at one of the best law firms in town, you could go a couple of different paths. Since lawyers are known for their conservative style, you can’t go wrong by choosing a traditional set of solid colored cufflinks. A classic ensemble like single-color knot cufflinks would also be very appropriate, as long as they match your shirt and tie. If you don’t want to get too traditional and would rather have a bit of an edge, there are many lawyer related cufflinks to choose from, such as cufflinks representing the scales of justice or a gavel. Don’t try to get cute by wearing ambulance or barracuda cufflinks or the only door you’ll see will be the exit door.

o If you are applying for an accounting, engineering or financial services intern position, the same rules apply. These are considered the most conservative industries, so try to keep your traditional look. Some variations are acceptable, such as wearing golf-themed cufflinks, since it is considered a traditional sport. However, if you’re really into motorcycles, now might not be the time to break out those Harley Davidson cufflinks.

o If you are competing for a position as a graphic artist or video game designer and programmer where the office may be a little more relaxed than the typical corporate environment (ping pong tables and video camera consoles in the break room instead of newspapers from the Financial Times scattered around the espresso machine), you’ll still want to make a professional appearance in a suit and tie; However, he could add a little spark and creativity to his outfit with some themed cufflinks. For example, you could choose sterling silver Batman cufflinks or high-tech-inspired cufflinks (CD or microchipped, for example). Just do your best not to push this margin too far. You want to appear professional and creative to your potential new employer, not like that eccentric guy who sits in his cubicle burning incense and listening to Bob Marley all day while babysitting his Chia pet.

Sure, there’s a chance you’ll be paid off as a summer intern and used as the office scapegoat running errands for the big Whigs and doing their dirty, meticulous work; however, you will gain experience in your industry that will look fantastic on your resume and will surely earn a little more than a store at Wal-Mart. By simply dressing the part and backing that up with real knowledge and experience (by concentrating on interview questions beforehand), you’re guaranteed a shot at that summer internship.