Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Odd question for HR people (long)
I currently work as a manager at a restaurant that I worked at throughout college and had a 9 month break. During that 9 month break I was interning as part of my college requirement to graduate, it was supposed to last 16 weeks. I ended up leaving my internship at 11.5 weeks which also meant I didn't graduate with my degree. The internship is technically not a job as I was not paid for any of it, nor did I receive a stipend. Do I have to put it down on an application or resume since I did not complete it? Do I have to explain it anywhere other than during an interview?
I left my internship because I was not happy and it was overall a bad situation. In hindsight I wish I would have interned elsewhere because I would not be in this situation.
The dates I've worked at this job are May 26 2005 to December 28 2008. I then came back September 26 2009 after trying for months to find another job, but no one was hiring and I was running out of money that I had left over from my student loans.
I'm going to be applying for another job at multiple locations, and I know having left my internship leaves me in a really tight spot in terms of how people look at my not graduating college with my BS. Whats worse is now I'm not sure If I really want to even do what I went to college for, and if I tried to do an internship around home I would end up doing it at a nursing home, which was not what I ever wanted. And doing another internship isn't feasible as we don't have the money to cover expenses. It would also mean 40+ hours a week, plus homework, a huge project, all the planning and paperwork that goes into it, and no pay.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated, but flames, you can keep. TIA
Re: Odd question for HR people (long)
Are the incomplete degree and incomplete internship related to the kinds of jobs you are applying for? How do you plan to explain your decision to not complete your degree to potential employers?
I'm seriously not trying to flame or anything, I swear...but I would think your resume and cover letter would have to be pretty darn crafty to make employers overlook the fact that you are thisclose to a degree and don't plan on finishing.
My incomplete degree and internship have nothing to do with the jobs I will be applying for. Some of my classwork from my psychology minor will be related in some shape or form, and a couple of classes here and there from my major in Therapeutic Recreation, but that is it. The jobs I will be applying for are mostly customer service based, which I have many years of experience working in.
As for how I plan to explain my decision, I have no idea... it all does suck I was that close to finishing my degree but I'm in no financial position to do another one. Which blows even more. Partially some of the reason I have decided to take a different route to a career that I will love, but one that allows me to have a life outside of work. Unfortunately Therapeutic Rec really doesn't. I do intend to go back to school at some point but for now I'm leaving my options open because I'm not entirely sure what I want to do for the rest of my life. I enjoy my current job but I am looking to expand my knowledge base and experience.
Regardless if the degree has NO bearing on your current positions you are applying for.
IMO..I say finish school NOW especially if you are less than 12 credits to graduating.. take out a small student loan if you have to but ABSOLUTELY by the end of summer.
It's a tough job economy out there no need to make it harder for you for a few short credits!
After that, try volunteering in an area you may want to work in....