I know the last thing you want to think about when starting university is looking for internships or jobs for the next year, but trust me, the earlier you start, the better. This applies whether you’re a first year looking for any summer job, a second or third year searching for an internship, or a fourth year chasing another degree. So, as a fourth year who wishes she did some things differently, here’s my advice:Â
- Connect with your lecturers
Especially in first year, it can seem difficult to connect with your lecturers as the classes are large and questions are intimidating. Or it feels like a frivolous task, I mean first-year grades don’t even count! At least that’s how I saw it– I didn’t need to talk to my lecturers because I could get by without them. However, a naive first-year me didn’t realise that applying to internships means asking for recommendations. Imagine how awkward it is to ask for a letter of recommendation from someone who doesn’t even recognise you. So, my advice is to go to office hours, ask questions in lectures, and be an active participant in tutorials. It’s not only helpful for when it’s time to apply to internships, jobs, and postgraduate programs, but also, believe it or not, lectures have a wealth of knowledge to share.
- Grades matter
While it’s true that your grades in first and second year don’t count towards your final degree classification, they still matter. It’s very easy to get swept up in the luxury of not stressing about grades early on, but I would urge you to not fall under that spell. If you’re trying to get a summer internship, most of the time they will ask you for a transcript, and you’ll want to make sure it reflects your best work. So, if you’re reading this as a current first or second-year, put all your effort into your modules, but also don’t stress over small marks.Â
- Make the most of your timeÂ
Fall semester is busy with figuring out classes, clubs, and friendships, so sometimes it’s difficult to find time for other things. However, when you have a few minutes, do your research and make a list of jobs,internships, or post-graduate programs. I can’t tell you how many different websites I searched trying to find all the opportunities that exist. University websites are always a great place to start, and sometimes you can be lucky and find big websites with multiple internship opportunities or master’s programmes for your degree. LinkedIn or Indeed can also be helpful sometimes. There’s a lot to go through so the more you manage your time, the better!
- Plan ahead
The fall semester is quick, so you need to be quicker! Deadlines for internships, jobs, and other degree programmes are spread throughout the calendar year so it’s important to make sure you know when the deadlines are. I remember finding incredible internships only to be disappointed that the deadline was three weeks prior. My recommendation would be to make a big spreadsheet full of all the deadlines so it’s easy to keep track of all of them.Â
- Invest time in your CV
Another key aspect for any application is your CV. Even the smallest details and formatting can make or break your chance of being successful, so take your time writing it and making sure it’s accurate and reads well. Of course, this is an exhausting process when you’re applying to multiple things at the same time, but I think it does make a difference. I would suggest making an appointment with the Career Centre so they can give expert, tailored advice for your CV. I finally used this service last year and I wish I did it a lot sooner;as someone who was not aware of what recruiters are looking for, I found it extremely helpful.Â
- NetworkÂ
I know it’s not new advice or advice you necessarily want to read but in today’s world, it’s very necessary. I think we are all aware that many people get internships or jobs because they know someone, and it’s even been found that 43% of university students relied on family connections to get an internship. Whilst that can seem unfair, try to use it to your advantage. Isn’t that the whole point of LinkedIn? To start your networking journey, I would recommend going to events in any area that interests you. Many clubs and societies at St Andrews host lots of events with speakers that are great for networking. This is also where knowing your lectures comes in handy, as they often know of opportunities you can take advantage of!
If you’re just beginning your university journey– or are further along– I know it’s intimidating to start thinking about internships, jobs, or postgraduate education. But trust me, you will thank me later, and it’s only an advantage to get started as early as you can. Start researching opportunities you may want, build your CV, and get close with lecturers. But also keep in mind, not everything is about a job or an internship, so make sure you’re still enjoying your time at university!Â