My internship as a recruitment volunteer at the American Red Cross has benefited my future by teaching me more effective methods to perform research. Along with that, my internship has taught me how to use various online platforms to showcase my research. Due to my increased experience with websites like Microsoft Excel, my internship will continue to benefit my career as I can now use these networks more productively. This ties into my field of study as a sociology major as I’ve previously analyzed countless research studies performed within social groups. Within my internship position, I’ve begun performing this research myself by investigating various social groups in Utah and Nevada to fill positions within the Red Cross. This has allowed me to use my sociology degree to switch perspectives to determine which social groups would be most likely to fill certain positions. Due to this, I believe an educational background in sociology is helpful for this position as an understanding of various social groups can decrease the amount of research needed to fill positions. However, no specific educational requirements are necessary for this position as the research has not been heavy in theory or statistics.
To secure a full-time position as a volunteer recruiter with the American Red Cross, you must understand and be eager about the various volunteer opportunities available within the organization. More specifically, the position requires recruiting experience and eighteen hours of training including an orientation to the Red Cross, volunteer recruitment training courses, and on-the-job training. This position also values skills in communication, leadership, and event planning. Although I have learned a lot during this internship, I would not consider this specific position in the future as I’m simply uninterested in volunteer recruitment or hiring positions. Despite this, I will likely pursue the field of research in the future as I have an unending thirst for knowledge and would like to influence the world with my work. However, I hope to perform research within my fields of interest such as sports and fashion rather than recruitment.
I advise future interns to stay on top of their hours as you can easily get behind when working on a remote online internship. Without a strict schedule to adhere to, it can be difficult to complete ten hours each week. To stay on track, I recommend working on your internship for 2 hours a day as it allows you plenty of time to perform other activities throughout your day. Along with that, this strategy will ensure you complete the required ten hours within five days, allowing you two days to relax or complete other pressing matters. This will ensure you can complete your internship assignments more successfully as you are not rushing to finish all of your assignments within a day or two. By splitting your work into smaller sessions, you also ensure you have the time necessary to contact your internship supervisor with questions before your next meeting.
