Seek & Conquer: Tips on getting your dream internship from Jack Tuason

Mr. Jack Tuason, founder of Enderun Colleges, shares valuable insider tips on what students can do to bag that once in a lifetime internship.

How do you get THAT internship?  That question was answered by none other than Jack Tuason, one of the founders of Enderun who is also part of the Hotel Administration faculty. Getting advice from a man who can seemingly achieve almost anything he sets his mind to, was a great opportunity for all the students who attended his talk entitled “SEEK and CONQUER” last January 22, 2015.

With thousands of young adults aspiring to land on the career of their dreams, the employment and internship industry is a tough one to penetrate. Thankfully though, this issue is covered with a great number of tips and strategies in order to be noticed by interviewers. Based on experience, Sir Jack recalls the story of his own internship interview- he tried to impress his interviewer with his determination to be accepted into that hotel and eventually, landing him enough opportunities to eventually become the youngest Hotel General Manager in the Philippines during his time. Through sheer guts, persistence, and drive, Jack Tuason was able to achieve his goal in an establishment that he wanted.

In his talk, there were five key points that stuck the most:

 1. Do your research and be prepared 

It’s a given that you should have information on the place you’re applying to. Employers find it impressive when you’re familiar with their brand and what their company’s goals are. Even better? When you know the interviewer. In today’s day and age, pretty much nothing is a secret anymore. If you look hard enough, you should be able to find something that will help you impress your future employer.

2. Confidence is key (aka fake it until you make it)

There are probably times when, even if you’ve researched as much as you possibly can, you might still find yourself at a loss. The best thing to do is to turn the situation around in a way that will benefit you. You also have to know how to act with certain people, because it may differ depending on who you’re talking to.

For example, with someone from HR you will want to look dependable and clean cut, like you wouldn’t break a single rule. If you’re talking to a middle man or a manager, you don’t want to come on as too aggressive, but rather as a team player who is never sick, never absent and never complains. If you get an interview with a top executive, you would want to present yourself as someone who is ambitious and eager to learn. In a way, asking how you can be like them and how did they do it. (At least, this is what Sir Jack says.)

3. Learn to put your best self forward

First impressions really do last, but so do the ones that come after that. Your dream employer may be impressed with your resume, but if you show up looking less than presentable you may be out of luck. It should go without saying that if you want the job, you’re going to have to look the part.

4. Invest in your future

There are quite a few people that balk at the expenses they may incur while going after that dream internship. For people who want to go out of the country, visa processing alone can set you back by a huge amount. But if you think about it, can you really put a price on your future? Never look at gaining experience as a cost. Education and experience are investments you will have for the rest of your life. 

Another tip we were given during the talk was to save money from day-to-day expenses and eventually use this to travel. Not only is this a way for you to broaden your horizons and expand your network, but you can also use it as another opportunity to get interviews with employers in that location. Tell them that you’re flying in on these specific dates, and you’d appreciate getting just a little bit of their time to see them. You have nothing to lose by doing so.

5. Grab every opportunity

It was mentioned that we should be applying to at LEAST 10 places. It would be ideal to get it up to 30, if you can. If you get into more than one, then that’s great! Getting to politely say no is the best position to be in.

Try to figure out who the best person to send your resume to is. Just about everybody may say yes, if you talk to the right person. Go to people whose priority it is to have good people. They will be that much more willing to hire you.

You know how they say you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take? Well, you miss 100% of the jobs you don’t apply for. Don’t be scared to go for that internship that you think FOR SURE you won’t get.

Written By: Zheri de Vera & Mikel Jacinto