Landing an internship is one of the most important things to do while in college. As scary and competitive as it may seem, there is always a way to get one if you work at it. The experience and skills you gain are just as important as the company name you place on your resume. Here are some helpful tips to think of while applying to internships the next few months.
Don’t be afraid to use your resources and ask your friends, greek life alumnae, or family friends for help, especially if you are applying to their company. If they are happy with their company, they will be thrilled to help. Pass your resume along to anyone who is willing to help. They might even connect you to other companies as well.
Dream big by applying to big name companies such as Google, Warner Brothers, and IBM. Big companies like these see thousands of resumes a week and are very selective, but you never know what they are looking for this time around.
Also, be realistic and apply to smaller and lesser known companies. You may think that you are better than said company, but everyone needs to start somewhere. There is a place for everyone.
Check out websites such as Internships.com, Monster.com and Indeed.com. There are companies you may have never heard of that are perfect for you. Applying to them is also easy by just uploading your cover letter and resume.
Reapply to past companies who have turned you away. The applicant pool is different every semester, and this time, you might be the right one. There’s a reason you applied to this company in the past, don’t give up on them yet.
Be aware of deadlines because everyone is different. Certain summer internships are due in early February while others are due in late March. Don’t wait until two days before the application is due because human resources might have hired all they need a week before.
Have your resume ready to go at any second. You never know where you will be and who you will meet. Have a copy on your phone so you can email it on the go as well. If you wait a few days to redo it before sending it to the CEO you met in the elevator, they might have already forgotten you.
Be willing to work unpaid. As awful as it sounds, you will get double the amount of possible internships if you are willing to work unpaid and solely for the experience.
Be prepared for interview questions. We all love talking about ourselves until it comes to interviews. There is just something about “What do you want to do with your life?” and “Where do you see yourself in five years?” that make most people freeze in their chairs. Have a friend or family member give you a mock interview to prepare.
