If you haven't already scored an internship or job for the summer, it's the perfect time to start the process! There are so many opportunities out there, it's just a matter of taking some time out of your already busy schedule to look. It's always good to have a few options, and once you start looking you'll be even more excited for the summer to start! Here are a few tips to help you nab the internship of your dreams!
The Job Search
Head to your college career services portal and check out the available job and internship postings. If you don't know what USD's is, it's called Torero Link, and it has a ton of job opportunities, with some very familiar and reputable companies. It makes looking for jobs and applying really easy!
Another good place to start is with your contacts. If this will be your first work experience, it doesn't hurt to ask your family if they know of anyone in your field of interest who might need an intern. Your parents know a wide range of people that already have their lives together, and they should be more than happy to see you score a job for the summer! If that doesn't work out, turn to your college friends and see if they know of any openings at a place they used to work at, or if their parents happen to work in your field of interest, and know of internship openings. Your chance of being hired is a lot better from internal company referrals, so this is a great place to start.
If you want to do the job search more independently, sign up for job boards such as indeed.com, monster.com, internships.com and post your resume! You never know who might reach out. You can also look on popular job networking sites like LinkedIn or Glassdoor. Glassdoor is also a great place to do research into the potential companies, and see what it's like to actually work there.
The Resume
There are tons of resume tips and templates online, or on your university's website. Here are a few helpful tips I've picked up over the years.
An employer will only take less than a minute to review your resume. Make sure that it's organized, concise, and professional. Leave out the tiny details, and focus on your most important accomplishments. You can probably get rid of high school experience, unless it's incredibly impressive and pertains to the line of work.
You don't need every detail on your resume. You want to try and put everything on one page, so pick the most important details. Make sure to use active descriptors, and numbers and statistics when/if possible to illustrate your results. You can go more in depth on your projects on your LinkedIn page.
Categorizing your resume is an easy way to organize it and make it easy to follow for the interviewer. My resume is divided into education, work experience, leadership and organizations, community service, and skills. Try to highlight and focus the experiences that would make you more qualified for this position.
Another important tip is to try and tailor your resume to the position you are applying for. Look for the key buzz words and skills listed in the job description, and try and use those words in your resume. It can be tedious, but will really stand out to the employer, and showcase why you'd make the perfect candidate for the position.
If you don't have a lot of experience, don't worry. That's what internships are all about! You don't always need to have experience to land your dream internship, as long as you demonstrate your potential.
Do Your Homework
One of the most important things to do before your interview is your homework -- and I don't mean that term paper. What I mean is to research the company before you go into the interview.
The best way to stand out is to make sure you are knowledgeable about the company you're working for. Test its products, or just do a quick search online to know what they're about, especially their culture and values. It's also helpful to know a little bit about the person you're going to interview with. Check out their LinkedIn profile, and find something you can ask them about after the interview.
It's also important to practice before the interview. Whether it be with a friend, in the mirror, or using InterviewStream, an online mock interview tool that helps you practice interviewing. Google some common interview questions for your role, and craft your answers in a way that will demonstrate your strengths and leadership abilities.
The most hopeful statement I've ever heard about interviewing is that it's not always the most experienced candidate that walks away with the job, but the most prepared one. It's important to be prepared for whatever they may throw you, and be ready to throw some back at them to show you are invested and truly interested in working for their company.
During the Interview
Make sure you are dressed for success. Grab that blazer, and make sure everything from your hair to your shoes are perfectly in place. Ladies, make sure to wear closed toes shoes, and if you're going for some height, skip on the wedges.
It's okay to be nervous, but the best way to go is to fake it 'til you make it. Just make sure to smile and take a deep breath and everything will be okay. Make sure to give a firm shake when meeting your interviewer, and maintain eye contact.
It's okay to take a moment to think of a solid response before answering their questions. It's better to take a breath to compose your thoughts then just spit out some word garbage and ruin what could've been a slaying response.
Don't forget you get to interview them as well! This is your time to see if this company would be the right fit for you. Make sure to have a few questions in mind for after the interview, to get a feel as to whether you would fit in there, and if the company culture aligns with what you're looking for. If you just really want the job, then ask a few questions that shows the interviewer that you are enthusiastic and excited about the position, as well as the company. It looks good to take this time to show the employee that you've done your research about the company. Ask them about a news article you saw, or about something specific to the company you're interviewing for.
After the Interview
Now relax. The interview is over, and you killed it! Don't dwell on what you could have said, but just patiently wait to hear back. It helps when you ask at the end of the interview when you can expect to hear back about the next steps.
Make sure you send a follow-up email to the interviewers afterward, stressing how grateful you are for the opportunity, if there was anything you got out of the interview/learned about, and a sentence or two about why you would make a great candidate for the position.
After this, sit back, grab some wine and keep your hopes high until you hear back!
