(NAPSA)—J.R. Mejia had something special waiting for him after he graduated from college last year: a job. It wasn’t any ordinary job, either; it was as Logistics Operations Administrator with Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. While it used to be that a college degree guaranteed you stable, good-paying job, today, this is more an anomaly than the norm. College students who expect to land quality jobs after graduation need to start planning and preparing for that career now. So what did Mejia do differently that gave him the edge over other college graduates? He simply got an internship at Toyota, through INROADS, while he was still in school. He knew Toyota would be morelikely to hire someone who understood its industry and required little to no on-the-job learning. “T knew I would be competing with other college grads for the samejob, so I decided to act early,” said Mejia. “I went to INROADS expecting to get an internship, but I took away so much more—actually, my ideal job.” INROADS is an international organization that has been giving ethnically diverse college students internship opportunities for more than 36 years. The organization’s staff provides ongoing academic support and career training and guidance to more than 5,000 interns sponsored by over 600 companies. “Manyof today’s college students have never worked in any formal business environment,” said Hector LaFarga, Jr., regional director of INROADS Pacific Southwest. An INROADS intern- r| An INROADSinternship can be a great wayfor college students to get a leg up on the corporate ladder. ship can be a great way for college students to get a leg up on the corporate ladder. “We prepare college students on everything, from how to win and hold a job to how to write a resume and dress in the office. This may sound basic, but understanding corporate culture can either make or break a job interview.” But the positive result is not just for interns; employers also find a significant benefit. “We don’t always know when we will need to look for a qualified candidate, but when we do, the need is usually urgent,” said Jane Beseda, vice president of North American Parts Operations for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. “We had the opportunity to see J.R.’s strong work ethic and when an opening came up, he was our likely choice.” INROADSis currently recruiting internsto fill its job openings. Interested students are encouraged to apply to their local chapter. More information can be found at www.inroads.org,or call 1-800-328-5778, ext 4.
