<p>I have taken some accounting and Human resources classes and I am a junior. I would like to know how can I get a internship or co-op? I want to take a semester off and want to work and i am not financially stable. I did went to the career center, they just keep telling me to go online and apply. Currently I am working in a retail store and i don't like it as it does not has a good pay.</p>
<p>…have you gone online and applied?</p>
<p>If you’re not applying to any jobs, then that would be the number one thing that needs to change. If your school has an online job board, that might be a good place to start. If there are any companies that you would like to work for, you can look at their job postings on their website. You can also go to other online job boards and try to apply to jobs through there. Let everyone know that you are looking for a job because they may know of something at their company or a friend’s company or something.</p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that internships or co-ops may not necessarily pay better than what you already have, especially if you don’t have very much experience. You may still have to work a part-time job to make ends meet.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t leave school for a semester to work unless you absolutely must for financial reasons - it’d be best to keep moving your studies forward and do an internship while attending classes. The longer you draw out your education the longer it’ll take to graduate and begin earning a full-time wage with your degree. </p>
<p>Many larger retail stores have part-time HR or office assistants - is there a position at your store that you could talk to a manager and move into? If not, try getting in at a large department store that would have those positions. They have more room for growth in general than small specialty shops at a mall.</p>
<p>I work in HR so if you have more specific questions let me know. It’s hard to reply to posts like this because it’s so general that I could sit here for hours listing tips and tricks to get ahead of the game. The first thing is to draft a solid resume and cover letter template that you can tailor to each job. Don’t just send a generic copy to everyone - make sure each application speaks specifically to the position you are applying for and the values and skills that particular company is looking for. This requires research into the company culture and expectations. </p>
<p>Then…apply. You can’t expect to find anything if you don’t jump in and gain experience. Apply to multiple jobs everyday, everywhere. Get a ton of interview experience so that you are prepared when the perfect job comes along.</p>