While thoughts of sun and sand are what most people associate summer with, there are others, like myself, who want to be somewhat productive during the four-month vacation. Although I’d much rather be getting my tan on by the pool, the harsh reality is that I’ll be working (hopefully) at one of the summer internships I’ve applied to. I know firsthand that it can be really intimidating looking for an internship. It ultimately means that you have little work experience, and many jobs nowadays are expecting you to pull “three to five years of work experience” out of your “you-know-what” when you were just allowed to make life decisions, like, a year ago . But I’m here to ease your troubled mind with some helpful tips that I’ve learned, and assure you that the task of finding a summer internship (or any internship for that matter) is a lot less daunting than you think.
1. Start your search as early as you possibly can.
This applies in two ways. First, start as early as your sophomore year, so on the off chance you don’t get an internship right away, you won’t be as stressed out as a senior looking for their first internship would be. Second, for summer internships, it’s best to start looking and getting your resume circulating as early as December. Many companies sift through piles of resumes (a.k.a. they make their interns do it), and often times pick out potential interviewees as early as February. So, to ensure that your resume gets the chance it deserves, submit it “A$AP Rocky."
2. Speaking of resumes, make sure yours is one worth looking at.
What I mean by this is get anyone and everyone you know to look at your resume. That means your professors, your friends, the lady at the nail salon, even the guy whose dog you walk occasionally. Basically, the more eyes check over your resume, the better quality it will be. But if your school has a career center, check them out first. The counselors there are experts in dealing with stressed out, internship-hungry students. Honestly, they’ll make you feel like you’ve accomplished so much in your life, even if you really haven’t.
3. Be selective but not picky with your choices.
The ideal plan is to select an internship tailored to your major/interests, but overall, you want to gain experience working in the real world. Obviously, you don’t want to be stuck doing “pointless” work like making coffee runs and filing mail. But at some internships, this is a stepping stone to higher positions, and will show your superiors that you’re willing to take the necessary steps to be an asset to the company. Overall, choose internships you’re interested in, but don’t reject ones that make you do some manual labor.
4. Don’t be afraid to send out a lot of applications.
I cannot stress enough. This goes back to the whole idea of starting early and getting your resume out there. If there’s an internship that you really want, by all means put your heart and soul into trying to get it. But don’t put all your eggs in one basket and rely on just that one opportunity. By sending out multiple apps, you get a chance to maybe get interviewed by a job you forgot you applied to, but ended up loving in the end. Be smart and put the odds in your favor.
5. Be sure to ask about possible compensation for the internship.
This doesn’t necessarily mean a paying salary. Many internships, especially those aimed toward college students, offer college credit to students instead of hourly pay. Check with your school’s specific guidelines for internship hours and credit before accepting the position. Also, before you deny an internship because you would be essentially working for free, think back to why you actually want the internship, and understand the more experience you get, the better chances you’ll have at receiving a larger salary when you apply for an actual job.
6. If you don’t get your dream internship right away, don’t stress out about it.
This goes for if you get an internship you end up hating, or if you don’t get one at all. The main thing to focus on is the fact that you’re trying to put yourself out there, and, unfortunately, the job market for college students are very slim pickings these days. But don’t get discouraged. Keep sending your resume out, and keep asking around to see if anything comes up. Eventually, you’ll get the magic call (or email).
Ultimately, the work experience you receive from interning will be beneficial in many ways. But it doesn’t compare to the life experience you get by trying to find an internship.
Happy searching!
