Golden Key means something a little different to each of our two million (and counting!) members. For some, it’s about much deserved and hard-earned recognition. For others, it’s about meeting new people, attending events, seeing the world, and being part of something bigger. We love […]
With more than two million members around the world, Golden Key is proud to be associated with and supporting people at all different stages of their educational and professional journeys. Membership with Golden Key is for life, and we’re passionate about continuing to grow with […]
We’re proud to have more than two million amazing members of Golden Key around the world, and we love hearing and sharing the stories of why each person joined and what they’ve gained from their time with us. Here we share the stories of three inspiring members…
Edward Donato McMaster University
“The reason I initially joined Golden Key was due to the encouragements of one of my professors who is one of the chapters honorary members. She mentioned that joining the chapter would not only present opportunities but would encourage me to continue my academic excellence knowing that I’ve been recognized for my hard work.
“After joining, I took part in some great events and travelled across Canada to conferences in Montreal and Edmonton. I was able to make great friends and had the opportunity to speak to professors that I wouldn’t have met unless I joined the society. Being a member also pushed me to improve myself both academically and personally, which ultimately led me to be the president of the chapter in my final year of my undergrad.
“Although being president of one of the largest clubs on campus seemed daunting at first, it made me realize that all of us work incredibly hard to do well in both school, and Golden Key presented a medium, not only for myself but for all its members to be proud their accomplishments and open doors of opportunity for us to excel even farther. With that, I would encourage joining, as it has opened so many opportunities for me to grow as a person and make friends who have pushed me to do better in school and in life.”
Jessica Cathcart University of Victoria
“I initially joined because I felt that membership would be a great addition to my CV. However, my years of involvement with Golden Key were much more than this. Truly, they were life-changing.
“I was fortunate enough to attend 3 CANCON conferences during my time with GK, one in Montreal, one in Toronto, and one in Vancouver. I had GK’s financial assistance attending the Montreal and Toronto conferences, and never would have been able to visit those cities otherwise. I also met students from universities across Canada at these conferences who are now lifelong friends. The events and seminars I attended at these conferences inspired me to work toward my dream of becoming a doctor.
“I also applied for, and was awarded, a $5000 USD scholarship by Golden Key. This money helped me to stay out of debt while attending university full-time, maintaining my GPA, working, and playing competitive softball.
“I truly believe that I would not be where I am today without GK. Not only was this the avenue for many volunteer/extracurricular activities that helped me get into medical school, but it was the support network that I needed to get through university AND have a lot of fun along the way. I have always felt very supported by my the GK community, and several of my fellow executive team members are my closest friends to this day. GK is an invaluable experience for those who commit to getting involved.”
Kiran Dhillon University of British Columbia
“Being the recipient of the Golden Key Undergraduate Achievement Scholarship was much-appreciated financial assistance that helped me pursue my career in medicine. It was also an affirmation to continue doing the extra-curricular and volunteer work that I loved so much.”
You’re amazing–and you need to make sure the interviewer knows it. Standing apart from the hoards of other job candidates means showing your interviewers how you’re different. This is where it pays to express your own personality, rather than exhibiting a rigid, polished, robotic side. […]
The art of practicing for an interview is different to anything else entirely. Many college students have little to no experience on handling interview questions, especially big ones that have the potential to earn you a spot at your dream internship. There’s no way of […]
Internships can be an incredible stepping stone on the path towards your dream career. They are a chance for you to try your chosen job and industry on for size and make sure it’s the right direction for you. It’s also a valuable chance for you to meet new people and prove yourself–and maybe even score an ongoing job.
But how do you score a top internship in the first place? By networking. By being thoughtful and strategic about how you network, you can grow your contacts, discover new opportunities, develop your people skills, and generally expand your horizons. Plus, it’s great preparation for later in your career when networking will continue to be so important.
Here are seven tips on networking that can help you earn a top internship in your industry:
1. Always be ready to actively network
Be ready to give an elevator pitch in any setting, whether it’s a meeting, at an actual networking event, or at a party. There are always people around you that may present an opportunity, no matter where you are at that time.
2. Be knowledgeable
I would never expect anyone to understand the ins and outs of every aspect of a business or individual, but go into any professional setting with some knowledge about the company and hiring manager if you know who that person may be. Google search can be one of your best friends, use the tool that’s right at your disposal to have some facts at your disposal if you’re speaking to someone who may be able to offer you that dream internship you’ve wanted to snag for months.
3. Get comfortable with who you are
People can quickly sniff out someone who is unauthentic. If you have an interview coming up do some prep work for the company as mentioned above, but try to go into the meeting as relaxed and calm as possible. Showing your nerves or worrying about it too much can hinder your chances at landing the internship. Be yourself, employers will value that.
4. Know what NOT to do at networking events
It’s easy to tell you what you should do if you want to land that top internship, but you should also keep in mind the things you shouldn’t be doing. Inc.com wrote up a list of what not to do while you’re at a networking event, and these tips are very helpful.
5. Volunteer during your down time
If you’re in between internships and waiting for next summer to land the one you’ve had your eye on, do some volunteering. It’s always good to pad your resume if you have the time to do so, and once that future internship interview comes you’ll have even more contacts through those volunteer opportunities.
6. Master your social network, don’t let it control you
You know the drill. If you haven’t done so by now, clean up your social media presence. There are tools like persona-co.com and others that help you get a clean online reputation. Post less, pay attention to your likes and favorites and scroll through those photos to eliminate any unwanted/less than flattering pictures for a future professional.
7. Stay positive
Positivity can go a long way, and whether it a friend or a prospective employer who sees a smile on your face, you’ll be paying it forward to everyone who may have a lot on their plate. The best networking is a real smile. Stay away from negativity and focus on the positives, and you can land that top internship.
This article was first published by Golden Key partner Dream Careers.
Dream Careers is a tuition based, an all-inclusive internship program, providing motivated college students an easy way to spend a summer in exciting cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, London, Washington DC, Barcelona and more, while also providing custom internship placement at your choice of nearly 5,000 companies. The program tuition ranges from $8,499 – $9,499 and covers your summer housing with hundreds of other college students, a meal plan, academic credit, exciting weekend trips, resume and interview preparation, and career development seminars.
Being fresh out of college and job hunting in the real world can be stressful, and for many people, having to perfect a resume can often make things more confusing. Luckily it doesn’t have to be that way! There are a few tips and tricks […]
Our Leadership Summit in Houston at the end of this month will be inspiring and engaging in so many ways. We’ll have renowned keynote speakers Linnita Hosten and T. J. Sullivan, plus a series of workshops covering a wide range of topics from personal finances […]
Summer is a glorious time of year, full of exciting possibilities. It’s time for a much-needed break, but also an opportunity to think ahead, assess your options, and prepare for the future. But it’s easy to let the weeks slip away. So how can you make sure you’re smart with your time off? Here are our top suggestions for making the most of your summer vacation:
The summer is an excellent time to do some networking, make new friends, and activate a network that might help you down the track. Take some time to comb through LinkedIn and update your profile (we have some great tips for you here on how to do this) and reach out and make connections with potential contacts.
A great way to network and meet interesting new people is to attend an event such as the Golden Key Leadership Summit in Houston this July. Running for one inspiring weekend, this will be a chance to meet people (just like you) from around the world, learn from experts in a series of keynote speeches and workshops, and grow as both a person and as a future leader.
Giving up some of your time to take part in a project that can help other people is an amazing thing to do on your summer break. It can be something as simple as volunteering for a few hours a week at your local nursing home or pet shelter. Doing shopping or gardening for a neighbour who has trouble with mobility. Taking part in a local soup kitchen or offering some free baby-sitting to friends or family who are having trouble entertaining their kids during school vacation.
It’s also worth thinking ahead and doing some research on ways to get yourself closer to your goals. A great way to do this is with one of the many scholarships offered by Golden Key throughout the year.
The summer is also a smart time to work on your professional development. Do you have a resume and is it up to date and ready to send up when an exciting opportunity arises? Have you done some practise for future job or internship interviews? Are you being proactive in your networking? This summer, Golden Key will be launching our Summer Series, full of useful content that will help you with your next step prep for resumes, interviews and networking. Keep an eye out on this blog for more information.
Finally, don’t forget to take a well-earned break. You’ve worked hard all year, so this is the time to stop and relax a little, and recharge for the year ahead. You’ve earned it.
Our goal is to not just inspire our members. We also want to find ways to help you change the world. Service projects are an important part of the daily activity of Golden Key chapters around the world, and we couldn’t be more proud. A […]
GK SCHOLARSHIPS: Ather Sharif
GK Scholarships: Logan Thornton