INTERNSHIPS because of the team ’ s name . Also , consider moving out of your comfort zone for an internship by working in a different part of the U . S . or world . Internships are a three-month chance to experience life in an area with which you may not be familiar .
In addition , as you see internships of interest , make sure to ask fellow students if they have any previous experience with those listed . Find out what they liked or did not like about those internships , and see what they would change about those experiences . This feedback can help guide you in shaping your internship .
As you select an internship of interest , you need to prepare a couple of documents , including a cover letter and resume , before you apply . Preparing these before you e-mail the field manager or human resources department will ensure you can move the selection process along quickly if you receive an interview . Your cover letter should be specific to the job to which you are applying . For example , do not write to a baseball internship and say that you are excited to learn more about football field management . Also , add relevant skills , such as what equipment have you operated , any experience you have with edging a softball / baseball field , or if you have a pesticide applicators license . These skills will set you apart from other potential interns . Remember , too , that you are part of a team , so try to avoid using “ I ” too much in the cover letter . Your resume should cover skills that you have as well , but not an exact copy of those discussed in the cover letter . With both documents , make sure to have others read them for errors . Also , make sure you have checked your social media accounts to ensure they are not damaging to your efforts . Employers will often check your accounts , and don ’ t want to see anything that may put their organization in a negative light .
Do some research before your interview . Try to be able to ask a few questions about the facility at which you are applying to work . Have a short , prepared statement that you know by heart about what you want to do with your life as a career so
that you can easily repeat it if asked . Make sure you listen to what the others on the interview are saying as well , and ask questions about what they cover . Additionally , during your interview , be willing to tell the field manager what it is that you want to learn from them . This will help them guide your internship . The best interviews are those that feel like a conversation , as this shows you can communicate with others .
Once arriving for the internship , ask questions about the jobs and tasks that you are assigned . This will help you understand why you are completing the various tasks . If at a previous job you had been taught how to carry out a task , you may offer that method on the internship ; but always make sure to learn how they carry it out as well , as it may be more efficient . There also may be a reason a task is done a certain way with each crew compared to how another crew at a different facility carries out that same task . Make sure to have an open mind , and one that is willing to grow . Don ’ t forget to ask for feedback on tasks you complete ; you want to make sure they are up to standards set or learn where you need to improve . This will help you become a better field manager .
Once settled into a routine on the internship , make sure to learn as much as you can . That is best done by volunteering to work as often as they will let you . Working the off days will help you gain confidence , and often your boss will then allow you to complete more high-profile tasks on game day . There is no better way to learn new skills than by being on the job to carry out the various tasks . Be the employee that sees tasks to do and completes them without being asked . You will also build a positive relationship with your boss by being the one to volunteer to water on the holiday weekends ; this will carry over into an excellent reference when you are done with the internship . Also , make sure you understand there is no job too small for you . The best field managers are often those that have the greatest attention to detail , especially the small details . For example , if , on your way into the stadium , you see the flowers out front are dry , water them and pick up trash instead of walking over it .
Students are often asked how an internship goes when they come sportsfieldmanagementonline . com May 2021 | SportsField Management
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