Winter is coming to an end, which means it’s time to solidify your summer internship plans. UW is crazy competitive, making “LinkedIn” a toxic place to be right now. It’s all about who can find the best summer internship opportunities and who can make the best post about it. Yes, internships are extremely important, but it is not worth comparing yourself to the success of others.
However, I was able to score an internship that I am extremely proud of and excited for, and I have some tips to share explaining how I did it. The world of internships is scary and hard to navigate, so it’s very helpful to hear the perspectives of others who have had success.
My biggest piece of advice is to dedicate a weekend (or at least a day) entirely to applying for internships. It’s a simple concept, but the more you apply to, the more likely you are going to be able to get one. Go on “Handshake”, “go on Indeed”, type in your field or career internships, and apply to them all. I know this sounds daunting, but I promise you it works.
I recommend that you spend a few hours just working on your resume, making sure it is updated and plays to all your strengths. You can find the Foster School of Business resume template on their website! It is a great template to start with, and all you have to do is fill it in with your information! I’m pretty sure every student at UW uses the same resume template, but it’s a good one.
Make sure you are applying for internships at small companies, start-ups, and small businesses, as well as the large, well-known companies. It is much easier to get your foot in the door at a small company, especially if it is your first type of work experience in that field. If this is your first-ever internship, I recommend spending a few hours searching on “Handshake” and “Indeed” for different internships at small companies in your field of choice. An internship is an internship, no matter the size of the company.
Lastly, practice your interview skills with a friend before the big moment! Think about what you’re looking for in an internship, the type of skills you’d like to learn, and the type of skills that you will bring to the table. Make sure you can vocalize these skills and explain them well to the interviewer. This is why I really recommend practicing with a friend!
I wish you the best of luck on your summer internship search and I cannot wait to see what you all accomplish!