How to get an Internship
Guest Post By Madison Morton, Step Up Recruiting Intern
It’s that time of year again. You’re in the groove, winter is ending, and your classwork is beginning to pile up. Now, you have to apply for an internship. Already? It’s not even spring yet! Yes, some companies begin looking for summer interns as early as September! Instead of stressing about finding an internship at the last minute, being prepared is smart and inspires confidence. Follow these tips below to help increase your chances of getting a summer internship.
- Know What You Are Looking For and Do Your Research!
Begin with figuring out what industry you see yourself in. For example, retail, transportation, service, or manufacturing. Then, find out what field interests you the most. Know what you see yourself doing as an intern. Know what company you would like to work for in the future. Find the internship that sounds the most interesting to you, and will help you land your dream job down the road. Once you have an idea of what kind of internship you would like and with whom, search for internship opportunities that closely resemble your ideal internship. LinkedIn is a great place to start finding information about internship opportunities. Do your research! Research the companies offering interesting internships, and study the job descriptions. Lastly, try to find connections through LinkedIn or friends to see if you can find a personal connection who works for the company of interest. - Tailor Your Resume and Cover Letter
Now that you have found great internship opportunities, create your resume and cover letters. To start with the creation of your resume, utilize your school’s career services department. Consider attending resume building/critiquing classes or seek help and professional advice when putting together your resume. Ask several people to proofread your resume to make sure it is flawless and free from any spelling/grammar errors. Stay consistent with the format of your resume, so that everything flows together. For example, apply the same spacing to all of the sections.It is best to narrow your focus to a few carefully selected companies, than to apply to a ton of random ones. Applying will take work and time. You want to study up on the job descriptions, and research the companies. Tailor your cover letter, and your resume to each internship that you are applying for. Companies will know if you tailored your resume and cover letter to them, or if you spent little effort in applying. This is why you want to pick several top companies to apply for, and spend your time and effort on focusing your resume/cover letter around the job description. - Mock Interviews and Career Fairs
Stay involved in what your school has to offer. Go to your school’s career website to see job postings and dates for the career fairs and check your school email regularly for reminders. If you have trouble finding out when the career fairs are hosted at your school, call your school’s career service department or ask your advisor. Going to these career fairs will be a great way to get your foot in the door. Also, you will gain some experience socializing with professionals and marketing yourself. If your career service center offers them, take advantage of the mock interviews. Practicing through mock interviews is a great way to find out what questions you may be asked during your real interviews. Also, many mock interviews are conducted by actual HR managers. This practice allows you to become comfortable interviewing, gives you confidence, and gets you familiar with common interview questions. - Don’t Hesitate. Apply!
Now is the time to apply all your hard work. You can apply for your internship through the company’s website, LinkedIn, or your school’s job posting. Unfortunately, once you apply, now you play the waiting game. After roughly a week, send a follow-up letter to one of the company’s HR managers asking about the status of your application. Make sure to remain positive and polite, avoiding aggression. Check your email regularly, and make sure you have a professional outgoing voicemail message. Once you get the call or email saying you got the interview, stay professional and be quick to respond. Do not hesitate. Take a deep breath, you’re almost there. - Be Your Best Professional Self and Follow Up
When going into an interview, make sure that you arrive early and prepared. It is better to overdress than underdress. Always wear a suit. Put away those party clothes, and dress conservatively. Bring your portfolio, which will include your projects, resume, cover letter, and anything else relevant to the job. Be confident during the interview, and give a firm handshake when first introduced. Market yourself, and do not be afraid to ask them questions of the interviewer(s). When the interview is over, leave on a positive note, and thank them for their time. Hours after the interview, send a follow-up email thanking them once again for their time. Act as if you nailed the interview, but don’t be cocky. Now all you can do is wait, and hope for the best.
Remember to breathe and enjoy the process of landing your internship. This should be a positive experience that will only help prepare you for your future. So get out there, and land an internship!
