The past few weeks have been a combination of a bit of stress and wondering whether God has plans for me that are different from what I have originally set up. After searching what seemed like endlessly for an internship opportunity I found one. It was for a credit card processing company that send information in the coding for transactions of their clients in order to lower the rate they borrow their money on with their credit cards for B2B transactions. Buyer to buyer transactions happen frequently and monotonously as companies pay for supplies, ship equipment and product, and upgrade their buildings or software. This company has been known to lowering their customers fees by 20-30%. For a 5 million dollar company this could be as much as 20 thousand dollars per year.
After searching for so long I was so excited to end the process of looking for an internship and be able to just focus on the task ahead of me. However, when I called up my mentor to talk to him, I asked him about the industry and how it functioned. I wanted to know if I would be a good fit for it. His response first hit my pride. he said that because it is such a competitive industry, after I finished organizing my bosses clients and information in excel, I would end up cold calling. This position was not going to be paid and at that moment I realized that the experience value for me was not as glamorous as I predicted it to be. I began searching more to learn what an internship that compliments what I know and what I need to learn is very important. the value of waiting for the right position was more important than grabbing the first one that came to me.
My mentor walked me through each of the ideas I just laid out and after praying about it I decided to turn it down. It still felt uncomfortable to turn an opportunity down, but each day I realize more about how patience allows us to see more clearly and open us more to what God has planned for us.
As always, Tom and I talked abut the markets and how they have progressed. The update since last time we talked is that the markets have done what they have always done. They went into a small recession and then almost immediately began recovering to a full recovery to date. We also talked about how the mini recession is a time for stock managers to buy more of what they want and then reevaluate their current holdings as they wait for the markets to continue their cycle.
After searching for so long I was so excited to end the process of looking for an internship and be able to just focus on the task ahead of me. However, when I called up my mentor to talk to him, I asked him about the industry and how it functioned. I wanted to know if I would be a good fit for it. His response first hit my pride. he said that because it is such a competitive industry, after I finished organizing my bosses clients and information in excel, I would end up cold calling. This position was not going to be paid and at that moment I realized that the experience value for me was not as glamorous as I predicted it to be. I began searching more to learn what an internship that compliments what I know and what I need to learn is very important. the value of waiting for the right position was more important than grabbing the first one that came to me.
My mentor walked me through each of the ideas I just laid out and after praying about it I decided to turn it down. It still felt uncomfortable to turn an opportunity down, but each day I realize more about how patience allows us to see more clearly and open us more to what God has planned for us.
As always, Tom and I talked abut the markets and how they have progressed. The update since last time we talked is that the markets have done what they have always done. They went into a small recession and then almost immediately began recovering to a full recovery to date. We also talked about how the mini recession is a time for stock managers to buy more of what they want and then reevaluate their current holdings as they wait for the markets to continue their cycle.
The search for quality internship opportunities is tough! I've been blessed to have a paid internship at the same company for four years now, but I sometimes wonder if I should be branching out to gain new experiences. However, it's really hard to find opportunities that offer relevant experience and a decent wage. I think what you're learning about the value of holding out for an opportunity with greater potential for development is so important.
ReplyDeleteI have had similar experiences with internships that I knew by reading the job description, would not be the best experience for me. Today, it is so competitive to improve and refine your resume to make yourself appear more qualified for a job, everyone is seeking "that internship". In my experience, I have gotten rejected by so many companies for internship positions that I have put pressure on myself to accept any internship position that I am offered. This mindset is counterproductive because not only are you learning about something you aren't passionate about, you are using precious time to work on job functions you aren't as passionate about when your real work passion is out there waiting to be experienced.
ReplyDeleteJonathan, glad you've been able to talk about this with your mentor! Unpaid internships can be a fantastic opportunity to learn an industry you're interested in, but it's certainly important to know exactly what they expect from you. I think you'll find that despite the initial difficult in finding a good opportunity, you'll do well wherever you end up. Good on you for making the tough decision! I'll have to keep this in mind when I interview for a payroll position over the summer.
ReplyDeleteWay to look at the grand scheme of things and see that it may not be the best decision. That is a grown man decision that not many people are able to make. Good job seeing better in yourself and knowing you can do more than just cold calls.
ReplyDeleteWow, I really admire your maturity in this decision. Your statement about patience leading to God fulfilling our purpose really resonated with me, because I struggle with wanting to do everything He has for me right away. He is calling me to spend more time growing in my relationship with Him than worrying about what I am going to do.
ReplyDeleteI totally feel how this must have been a tough decision, especially after searching for so long for an internship that would be the right fit for you. I thought you handled this really well and made the right decision. I also agree in always keeping in mind that God has plans for us, and keeping this relationship with Him is so important.
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