On the hunt for a summer internship? Have you applied to so many that you’ve stopped counting? Applying for internships can be stressful, and people apply to so many in the hopes that they are accepted to at least one.
It’s unlikely to be accepted to each one you apply to, and that is the ugly truth.
In some cases, you may have all of the skills needed for an internship but the company chooses someone else. Perhaps the person they choose has a bit more experience, or perhaps they just happen to know someone who works there (someone who put in a good word about them to the hiring manager). This actually happens a lot, which is why networking is so important.
Before applying, try to get all of the experience you can. In college, that might be hard, but you can join clubs and make your way up to a higher position as you go through your four years. Other advice would be to talk to your friends, teachers, classmates, or members of your family if they have any connections to companies you’d be interested in. This might not necessarily land you the internship, as you’d still have to present a valuable resume.
Whether or not you land the internship, however, the outcome does not define your talent. If you have a passion for a certain field, and you know you have the skills for it, don’t let a rejection email turn you away from trying again elsewhere. And if you are accepted, but you find that the work isn’t something of interest to you, remember that you wouldn’t have come to that conclusion if you hadn’t worked there. Maybe one day you’ll join a business that you end up loving, and it would be a good thing that you weren’t accepted somewhere else.
Whatever your case, remember to work hard, build up your resume, communicate with others, and do your research. Remember your worth in times when you aren’t accepted, and when you are accepted, whether that be at an internship or a job, best of luck to you. You will do great things!