Help Jump-Start Your College Grad’s Career Internships and Co-op Programs Offer Young Professionals On-The-Job Experience (NAPSA)—From completing your child’s college application to arranging the first job interview, parents of Generation Y’ers are more involved in their children’s lives than any generation preced- ing it. Commonly referred to as “helicopter parents,” the difference between this generation and others is that many millennials actually want their parents to be involved in their career selection process. But what is a healthy medium between properly advising your college-aged child on career planning as opposed to mapping out his or her entire career—causing corporate recruiters to run for the hills when they get a phonecall from a parent of a potential Gen Y employee? Internships and co-ops are career door openers that parents can use to help guide their children as they transition from college to the workplace. Through internships and co-op programs, college students can experience their chosen career field firsthand. When researching the various programs, advise your child to: Research the reputation of the organization—is the company well known as an employer of choice? Compare different types of internships—is it a paid or nonpaid internship, and does the company offer housing for its interns? Consider the daily work— will it provide actual experience that builds skills and knowledge in the chosen careerfield? Parents who suggestan internship or co-op to their college- aged child may be providing sound career-planning advice. For example, Aflac offers com- plete internship and co-op opportunities for students seeking careers within various areas including Marketing, Finance and Informa- tion Technology. While internships are completed during the summer months, co-ops are offered at the company throughout the year, typically for students interested in IT. “Many major corporations like Aflac work with universities and high schools to train and recruit future employees—providing students with great experience,” said Keyla Cabret, Aflac’s university relations supervisor. The insurance company’s internship and co-op programs are unique because they offer the participants corporate housing, actual project experience and, upon successful completion, a per- manent position. And best ofall: Aflac’s internships and co-op pro- grams are paid, which is not always the case with most entrylevel opportunities. To learn more, visit aflac.com.
