In honor this past weekend's "Gilmore Girls" reunion at the ATX Festival in Austin, Tex., I've been in the mood for a trip to Stars Hollow. Rory has been an inspiration for me and girls everywhere to achieve great things academically and professionally. Spoiler: choosing her career over an engagement to Logan is truly admirable. Anyway, in a Rory-esque move, here are some tips to get your dream internship.
Go to on-campus or Career Center-sponsored networking events.
There are resources on campus you have access to from the first day of freshman year, and past graduation day. The Career Center wants you to succeed. Most schools have alumni associations and alumni connections. The alumni are another important resource as they may offer you an internship or have advice in finding an internship.
Keep in touch.
Rory was fortunate enough to have her grandfather, Richard, be an alumni of her university, Yale, and have his connections. For the rest of us, email the people you meet and thank them for their time. But before sending, proofread because spelling and grammar mistakes could cost you your internship. Also, be careful which email address you use; I recommend using one with a variation of your name. Recently, I went to an event which a prospective employer received an email from “ididmollylastnight69@gmail.com.” Don’t be that guy. LinkedIn is also very useful in your internship search.
Write a resume and cover letter.
Make your employers want to tackle you like Rory tackles Lorelai; they should want you as much as you want them. Be prepared to apply by having a well-formatted and truthful resume. Include your on campus activities because they can help demonstrate your out of class skills and responsibilities.
Pick something you think you love and want to pursue.
Internships are a great time to explore fields you may want to have a career in. I think of it as a test drive for a career. At the end of the internship, if you hate that field, you have time and options to explore other opportunities. If you love the internship, then you are closer to finding a career path. You and your interests evolve so you can always change your mind, so don't worry so much about a five year plan -- just do well today.
Apply and apply early.
No one wants to end up with a boss like Paris. If you find something that interests you, apply and apply that very second if possible. The intern hiring cycle varies by industry, but January or February is a good time to start looking. Also, apply to as many places as possible. You do not want to be stuck at the last minute not having a plan,
Prepare for your interview.
While Lorelai can make any conversation seem excellent on the spot, you probably can't. An interview is a conversation, so don’t expect to memorize a speech. However, you should practice interview skills like maintaining eye contact, a firm handshake, introducing yourself and have a few points you want to cover. Certain industries have very specific interview styles, so be familiar with them before the day of the interview. Also, interviewers can sense if you aren’t interested, or this isn’t your first choice, so even if this is true, don't let this come through.
Dress appropriately.
This is not the time to wear your new body con dress, or super short shorts. The environment of your office will dictate what you should wear. An appropriate length dress, or pant or skirt suit, is a safe first day or interview outfit. Lorelai would suggest a shopping trip; so do I. A work wardrobe is an investment for your future.
Do you.
Lorelai always forged her own path, never taking the easy way out. Being yourself is the most important, while not always the easiest, thing. If you don't have access to a car, don't apply for an internship in which you need to drive. Also, don’t apply for an investment banking job because your parents told you to. If you want to work in television, apply for internships in the media industry.
Good luck in finding you dream internship!
