Amidst the stress and turmoil of midterms is the search for a summer internship. This endeavor, important for the future of many a college student, is made all the more difficult when paired with the plethora of work required during that fateful week. Cover letters and resume editing must be balanced with studying for that Spanish report you put off, or the accounting exam you're sure you'll fail.
There is one issue with this situation: if you prioritize your academic studies above your summer internship pursuits, you may just wind up back in your hometown working for that local ice cream shop again this summer. While all your friends are studying abroad, traversing through Europe or working at that cushy gig in the big apple, you will again be living vicariously through Snapchat stories and Instagram posts. If this experience does not sound like the summer of your dreams, then don't wait … I'm here to give you tips on how to land a summer internship.
1. Utilize LinkedIn
If you don't have a profile on LinkedIn, you need to change that. LinkedIn connects 347 million people, which means 347 million different ways to network with people who can help you nab that dream job. By using the advanced search feature you can enter key words related to your job field, or even the company name where you plan on working. Add in the name of your school and boom, you are now searching through a pool of alumni relevant to you. More often than not, these people are very much willing to lend advice or connect you with someone else who may help you in your internship pursuits. Networking and knowing people in your desired field is paramount, so I suggest taking LinkedIn and making it your new favorite social media (it will probably pay off more in the end than the endless Instagram uploads or Facebook statuses).
2. Personalize that cover letter
As unobvious as you may think it is, if you send a generic cover letter to every place you apply for a job or internship, you will not stand out. This may sound like very basic advice, but by making an honest effort to show the company you are serious about them and understand what they specifically are looking for will go a long way. Although cover letters can be annoying, this can sometimes make or break the chance you are called for an interview or even offered the job.
3. Follow up
Once all your materials are submitted, it is definitely not the time to sit tight and wait for the call that's sure to make all your dreams come true. This is not to say you should email them every day inquiring about your application's status, but a perfectly timed check up email can be the perfect way to put your name back in their minds and that much closer to landing the internship. Often this step can be forgotten, but that does not make it any less important. Maintaining a relationship with the intern coordinators and companies past your initial application submission can be the difference between summer spent with the rents and a summer spent with the Rockefellers.
