Internships: the vital first step for every college student to obtain their dream career.
So how do you get an internship before you even know anyone in your field? It’s not easy but there are ways to set yourself apart and increase your odds of getting that internship you’ve always dreamed of.
I myself am a senior communications major hoping to work in television production; arguably one of the most competitive fields in terms of internships. During my college career, I have interned for three television shows and one production company. I’ve learned a lot about the application process, different interviews, and also the hardest part of this process: rejection.
Firstly, make sure you present yourself well. This encompasses things like having a professional resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile. Pace’s career services team is happy to help with your resume and cover letter, just email them at careers@pace.edu to schedule a meeting. This is good to do your freshman year to establish your resume and then continue meeting with career services every year to update your resume. I have a folder on my computer where I save all of my cover letters and resumes. Once you write one cover letter it is easy to keep the same template and make minor changes to personalize it for each company you apply for. This will save you so much time and make it easier to apply for even more internships!
Arguably, the best way to get any position is through networking. If you have a family friend who knows someone at the company you want to work for, do not feel afraid to contact them! Getting your first experience can be hard without these types of connections and a simple text message or phone call can put you to the top of a hiring manager’s pile. I’ve learned this from experience. At every internship I’ve had at least half of the interns get there from networking.
Another tip that I’ve found useful is keeping track of every internship you apply for, as well as the date you applied. This makes it easier to see how long it’s been since you applied for the position and also keep track of how many applications you have sent. Every semester I aimed to apply to at least 25 internships to increase my chances of securing one, but everyone is different. Always remember that everyone is different, but if you are worried about acquiring an internship, you should definitely apply to a lot.
In the end, you need to make sure you are doing the most you can to present yourself as the best candidate. This means having a great resume, cover letter, making connections and giving a good interview. If you have done all of this then you can feel confident applying to a wide array of internships and know that no matter what happens you have put your best foot forward. If you utilize these tips throughout your college career, you just might get that dream internship.