Spring Break
The Lighter Side of HBS - What Should I Do This Summer?
Creative Ideas in a Trying Economic Times
Dana Hopp Peritz (NF), Harbus Rep
Issue date: 3/9/09 Section: Humor
In these trying economic times, the rabbit has become even more elusive. HBS Career Services cite a 27% decrease in internship postings with the Finance, Real Estate, and CPG areas hit especially hard.
As HBS students struggle to find summer internship opportunities, one student turned to her section for creative ideas.
Like Alice in Wonderland, students in the HBS bubble find joy in its magical insulation. Walking outside in the winter? We have tunnels. Boring classroom lectures? We have case discussions. Bland cafeteria food? We have the international buffet and brown rice sushi! Yet, as great as it in inside, we all know that this happy state is ephemeral. Come December, we all start chasing the white rabbit. We preen for calls with alumni hoping they can help guide us on our quest. We run around scrambling to get our cover letter done. Anxiety echoes through the halls of Spangler, "I'm late! For a very important date! I need a summer internship!"
In these trying economic times, the rabbit has become even more elusive. HBS Career Services cite a 27% decrease in internship postings with the Finance, Real Estate, and CPG arenas hit especially hard. They warn that times will get worse and our EC brethren have it far worse as companies are even reluctant to recruit full time employees they do not know if they will be able to afford. They urge RCs to focus and be flexible. They remind us to talk to alumni, ECs, and our RC classmates.
With a ruffled petticoat, I am one of the many students still at the tea party. I persist in my quest for an internship in the industry I desire. I remain intrigued by its Cheshire allure and hope someone will soon be swayed by my experience and passion. With that said, I could not resist asking the mad hatters around me for their craziest ideas as to what other options I should consider. With a smile, I posed the question…
"What should I do this summer?"
Alan Braly, former Biomaterials Scientist, suggested finding employment as a: "part-time tasting editor for a 'recession-proof' cookbook titled, "These Trying Times: 101 Recipes with Velveeta and Spam. Seems like you might find a lot of customers among local MBA students paying ~7% on their loans."
As HBS students struggle to find summer internship opportunities, one student turned to her section for creative ideas.
Like Alice in Wonderland, students in the HBS bubble find joy in its magical insulation. Walking outside in the winter? We have tunnels. Boring classroom lectures? We have case discussions. Bland cafeteria food? We have the international buffet and brown rice sushi! Yet, as great as it in inside, we all know that this happy state is ephemeral. Come December, we all start chasing the white rabbit. We preen for calls with alumni hoping they can help guide us on our quest. We run around scrambling to get our cover letter done. Anxiety echoes through the halls of Spangler, "I'm late! For a very important date! I need a summer internship!"
In these trying economic times, the rabbit has become even more elusive. HBS Career Services cite a 27% decrease in internship postings with the Finance, Real Estate, and CPG arenas hit especially hard. They warn that times will get worse and our EC brethren have it far worse as companies are even reluctant to recruit full time employees they do not know if they will be able to afford. They urge RCs to focus and be flexible. They remind us to talk to alumni, ECs, and our RC classmates.
With a ruffled petticoat, I am one of the many students still at the tea party. I persist in my quest for an internship in the industry I desire. I remain intrigued by its Cheshire allure and hope someone will soon be swayed by my experience and passion. With that said, I could not resist asking the mad hatters around me for their craziest ideas as to what other options I should consider. With a smile, I posed the question…
"What should I do this summer?"
Alan Braly, former Biomaterials Scientist, suggested finding employment as a: "part-time tasting editor for a 'recession-proof' cookbook titled, "These Trying Times: 101 Recipes with Velveeta and Spam. Seems like you might find a lot of customers among local MBA students paying ~7% on their loans."
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haley
posted 3/11/09 @ 8:00 AM EST
It's a really tough job market out there and students will need to utilize all the resources they have. A website where students can avail of more scholarships, summer internships and other benefits is nuResume - http://www. (Continued…)
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