It seems like the second you walk onto a college campus all everyone ever talks about are internships. Starting as early as freshman year, students begin the search for the perfect internship: the one that will give them the best experience possible, and look the most impressive on their resumes. The truth is, internships are fantastic opportunities for students to try out various jobs or positions that interest them, to learn valuable, real-world skill, and to gain experience from a multitude of companies before finding the best one to settle down and work for full-time after graduation. But finding these internships is certainly not easy to do. It requires a lot of research, preparation and hard work. Take a look at these tips for finding (and landing) your first internship.
1. Use your resources.
There are tons of people who can help guide you in the right direction during this search. Before you begin searching online or through companies’ websites, locate your campus career service office, and have them help you. Oftentimes, schools will have particular websites that list jobs and internship opportunities, and you can apply straight from there in association with the school. This can be helpful, for example, in cases where companies recruit heavily from certain schools in particular. You may also want to schedule one on one appointments with career service associates who can give you personalized advice.
2. Attend internship / career fairs.
These events are perfect opportunities for you to take a preliminary look at what types of jobs and companies are out there in your specific field, who is hiring, and what they look for in their employees. This is a great chance for you to practice talking to professional employers, gain knowledge of the industry, and potentially find a position that really interests you.
3. Do your research.
Before and after applying, it is important that you find out as much about the company you are applying for as possible. You do not want to sign yourself up for something without knowing exactly what you are getting yourself into. Look up the companies mission statements, past and present employees, reviews of the company, etc. The more you know, the better. This will also help you in preparing for an interview.
4. Write a neat, simple resume and a good cover letter.
Employers and recruiters do not spend a lot of time looking over resumes. On average, they will not spend more than 7 seconds before they move on to the next one. Because of this, you want to make sure your resume is simple and easy to read, but catches their eye enough that they spend more than 7 seconds on you! You want to stand out from the other applicants, and show the recruiter that you are a better fit for the position than anybody else. This is also where a cover letter is important. You should state your interest, your background and skills, why you think you would be a good fit, and most importantly your gratitude for their time and consideration. Again, the shorter the better; but you want to make sure you are making yourself distinct from other students applying.
5. Schedule an interview.
If you are lucky enough to be offered an interview, schedule a time where you know you can make it on time, and allow yourself enough time to prepare for it. Again, doing your researching and having background knowledge of the company, as well as the person interviewing you is extremely helpful. You should be ready to answer any question that comes your way. Recruiters like when you ask them questions as well, so having a few of those prepared certainly wouldn’t hurt. Don’t be late. And be sure to send a follow up thank you letter or e-mail after the interview to restate your gratitude and thank them for all of their time. Manners and politeness go a long way!
6. Dress the part.
If your application and resume are up to standard and you are able to land an interview, or a job, it is important that you dress appropriately. If it is a casual place, and most employees wear jeans, that does not necessarily mean you should wear jeans to your interview, or first day of work. It is always better to be over dressed than underdressed, so to be on the safe side, make sure you have some formal business clothes to wear, (unless you are specifically instructed otherwise.)
7. Be enthusiastic and eager to learn.
As a student, you are always in a position to learn. While working at your internship, or just interviewing with one that you want to work for, asking insightful questions and looking for help shows employees that you are genuinely interested and willing to learn new things. Your excuse is that you are a student, but you’re not a student for long. Internships are the perfect opportunity for you to take advantage of the fact that you are a student, and learn as much as you possibly can.
8. Build a network and make lasting connections.
Meet people and stay in contact with them. Be considerate and grateful. As unfair as it is, in many industries it is simply about “who you know,” so the more people you have connected with, the better. Stay in contact through LinkedIn or just simply through e-mails and phone calls. You never know who might be able to help you out somewhere down the road...
While there is no perfect science or formula that will land you the ideal internship, following these tips can certainly help get you on the right track. Build your brand, and allow yourself to be an individual that stands out among other applicants. Apply to as many positions as you want, and if you do not get any, don’t be discouraged! It is a competitive world out there, but there are plenty of opportunities; the perfect one for you might just require some extra searching. Maintain connections with other employers and students, and continue to keep your eye out for job opportunities whenever they come along. It may be stressful, but it will be worth it in the end.
I wish you the best of luck throughout this process!
