People tell you that college is supposed to be the best time of your life, but when do those people say anything about the stress of juggling academics and applying for internships at the same time? Spring semester can get overwhelming. With a little bit of summer internship application timeline planning, you’re a lot more likely to slay the game and land yourself a job.
Everyone has a preferred style to plan ahead, but one easy way to tackle your to-do list is to take it month by month. Dividing up your spring semester into four or five pieces, and setting goals and deadlines for each one, makes the process a lot less intimidating. This way, you can also be sure not to miss deadlines for those coveted internships.
There are also so many fun life organizers, whether you want to go digital with an app like Notion, or stick to color-coded planners. The season doesn’t have to be scary, and ideally you should also have time to decompress from any stress. To give you a head start this semester, I’m giving you a timeline for how to best organize the next few months.
January
If you plan to apply for summer internships and haven’t done your research yet, that’s your first step this January. According to Indeed, you ideally shouldn’t be starting your summer applications later than January. Deadlines for applications will vary and depend on what type of organization you’re applying to. Bigger companies are often more streamlined and have earlier deadlines, whereas smaller ones might be more flexible with their application process. Some competitive internship applications even open a year and a half before the summer the internship starts.
If you have specific companies in mind, browse their websites and sign up for email newsletters to stay up-to-date on internship openings. Set filters on job search engines like Indeed and LinkedIn for “summer internships” and you may stumble across interesting internships you hadn’t considered before.
This month, make a master list of all the internships you want to apply to, and write down each one’s deadline. Also, make a note about when employers will review applications. If they start reviewing before the deadline on a rolling basis, you can increase your chances of getting the internship by turning in your application well before the deadline. Keep all of this information in the same place, like in an Excel spreadsheet or big calendar at your desk — you can even use a summer internship application tracker that’s pre-built.
This is also a good time to freshen up your resume, and to visit your career counseling center if you need help. At the very least, get another set of eyes on your resume and cover letters to check for typos. And obviously, apply for any internships that have January deadlines at this time!
February
Schoolwork might be ramping up around this time, so it’s important to stay on top of your grades while you’re still completing applications. Try to make time for office hours if you aren’t understanding something. During this time, it’s also helpful to block out each day with a couple hours dedicated separately for schoolwork and applications.
If you have time, keep an eye out for job fairs and networking opportunities this month. This process can be helpful if you aren’t sure of your career path yet. Reaching out to people who work in sectors you’re interested in and chatting about their day-to-day work life can hone down your internship search process as you discover what fits you best. You can also reach out to people who previously interned at the places you’re applying to. It’s especially helpful to find people on LinkedIn with a common connection or interest, like someone who went to the same college as you. If you get a conversation, ask them what they got out of the internship, and what their typical day was like.
March
Since most summer internships start around June, and employers often get back to you up to three months before the start date, keep an eye on your email inbox this month. This is also when you might start getting interview requests. Even though a lot of the heavy lifting was done when you sent in your application, you still need to slot time to prepare for interviews. A few days before each interview, schedule a couple of hours to practice commonly asked questions and research the company.
Don’t stop applying to internships if you aren’t getting the results you want! Many applications will still be open in March.
April
If you’ve made it to the final stages, this is when you might start getting offers. Again, each company is different and there is no way to predict exactly when everything is going to happen. During interviews, you can ask about next steps and when the company will make decisions.
When offers are on the table, it’s good to take time to consider which offer is most feasible and the best fit. Perhaps you’re deciding between an internship that pays well, or an unpaid one that seems more exciting. Company culture and values are important to keep in mind, even though it’s just a few months of your life, because internships can lead to job offers later on. Make pros and cons lists and plan out your finances accordingly. It is possible to negotiate salary, even as an intern.
With the application processes largely done by this time of year, it’s perfect timing to take that much-needed spring break trip, and then get your head down for finals. Don’t let yourself hit a wall, because you’re in the final stretch. Keeping up with daily planning and goal-setting is still important. Schedule in time for the gym, walks, yoga, or whatever clears your head. Taking time to relax is important any time of year.
Don’t worry if you don’t land the exact internship you want. You can always try again for something at that company, and you may land another great internship instead. Good luck with all the business and excitement spring semester brings — you’ll be amazing.