There’s a myth on Vanderbilt’s campus: that to get a great job, you need an amazing internship. And to get one of those, you need a number of things.
Extensive experience.
Connections at the company you wish to work for.
An airtight resume.
An amazing interview.
If you have all these things, then you can get a great internship, giving you the connections and skills you need to land the job of your dreams. But if you don’t fulfill these “holy requirements”, then you can’t get that experience, and you can’t get that dream job.
This is a myth.
There is another approach, another way to gain valuable experience before your first job. It’s an older approach, and it’s a less sexy approach.
It’s called an apprenticeship.
The right apprenticeship can equip you with invaluable experience. It can introduce you to an accomplished mentor in your field. And given today’s entrepreneurial climate, there is no better time to seek it out.
Here’s the icing on the cake: to land an apprenticeship, you need none of the “holy requirements” you need for a coveted internship.
You can have no experience in their industry.
You can have no connections within their company.
You don’t have to send a resume.
And you might never have an interview.
On paper, this sounds impossible. But it isn’t.
I want to break open the myth that you need an internship to get incredible work experience. There’s a case to be made for the apprenticeship, and it’s completely invisible to the average student here at Vanderbilt. Jordan Klein graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2017, majoring in Communication Studies with a minor in Corporate Strategy. During his time at Vanderbilt, he served as a Vice President of Vanderbilt Tour Guides and a student VUceptor. He was a recipient of the Frank K. Houston Public Speaking Award, and his viral high school commencement address was featured in publications such as the Chicago Tribune. When he’s not listening to a podcast or burying himself in a book, you can find Jordan at the gym or pretending to enjoy a green juice afterwards. He is currently pursuing his Masters of Science in Journalism at Northwestern University, specializing in Sports Media. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx