Ahh, college. The place we come to balance assignments, find a career path and find an internship before we graduate. It seems hard to balance, and at times, it is. Not to mention, finding an internship is not as easy as it sounds. It’s frustrating, stressful and at times, so overwhelming you want to give up. Trust me, I’m currently experiencing it first-hand. Here are four tips you can use to at least make the canonically dreadful internship search during your college career a little easier. Â
- Find out what’s interesting to YOU!
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Don’t just look for an internship because you feel you need one, look for one you genuinely want to do. This can help to narrow down potential career paths by showing you what you do and don’t like. Look for internships you feel passionate about because I promise, it’ll show in an interview. This alone will motivate you so much more when doing the great internship search. Â
- Start looking SOON!
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Don’t just wait until your last semester of college to begin hunting for opportunities, start looking as soon as possible. This will make the search much less stressful, allowing you time to apply and interview for as many as you want until you find what’s right for you. Especially in today’s competitive job market, putting yourself out there early really gives you a leg up in the process. Look into every place you can and reach out to everyone!Â
- Apply to everything!
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Don’t underestimate yourself and have the mindset that “they wouldn’t hire me anyways.” NO! Be confident in yourself! Apply to any internship you have interest in and be hopeful. There’s no harm in trying, and sometimes you may seriously surprise yourself. You have to remember that you are much more capable than you think.
- Network, network and network!
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Having strong connections with people can get you much further than you think. It is essential to talk to anyone you can and always make a good first impression. Carrying yourself professionally will make you stand out and can be a huge aid in getting future internships or jobs. Not only this, but networking is also important so you can have references on your resume and job applications!Â
This isn’t necessarily a guide to making sure you get the internship you want, but a guide to help you take a second and breathe when starting your internship journey. It can take time, so being patient and always giving your best is key. Keeping these tips in mind can make the hunt a little more bearable. I promise you’ll find what’s right for you, and it’ll be worth the search! Happy internship hunting, Hokies!Â