The idea that internships during college are crucial is one that has constantly been drilled in my head. However, navigating the job market as a college student can be tricky and I had no idea where to begin. Through lots of searching, I’ve found these are the tips that have helped me the most. Hopefully they will give you a good place to start!
1. Google summer internships in your major.
This sounds very basic, but I was weary of simply googling my major and internships. However, Handshake didn’t help me as much as I thought it would in securing internships. The majority of interviews I received for summer internships were originally found from a quick google search. Google will show you a wide array of internship opportunities near you from different hiring websites. It’s easy to see all of the options available, and it saves time from going through each website one by one. I also used Indeed.com to find a few internships that I liked!
2. Reach out, and keep reaching out.
One of the main reasons that I obtained an internship amid the pandemic was my persistence. Name recognition is so important. However, being professional about your check-ins is paramount. Make sure you keep them accountable in your emails, saying things like “I look forward to hearing back from you soon,” or, “I’ll check back in with you in a few weeks,”. It shows your interest and that you are taking this seriously.
3. Use your professional network.
Does your family know people in the field you plan on pursuing, or is one of your family members in that field? Talk to people that you know, and see who they know. The majority of my connections have come through that, and I have been very surprised to see who my friends and family know. Once you have that information, don’t be afraid to reach out. My biggest hurdle was asking these people I knew for help because I was afraid. However, I have come to learn that most adults are very eager to help college students.
4. Create a good resume.
This is crucial in order to be considered.I used a website called Resume.io. It was so easy to make and looked very professional. It asks you for your name, your LinkedIn so that it can autofill, and then presents you with tons of great looking resumes already auto filled. This really saved me a lot of time and took a big weight off of my shoulders.
5. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people you don’t know.
I was also really nervous about this for a while, because I hate rejection. However, I always remind myself that the worst thing they can do is say no. Typically I have a list of people I would like to get into contact with, then I have a script of what to say. I googled people in my field from my area and just reached out, because my hometown is relatively small. While it’s important to be polite, it is also important to not beat around the bush as to the reasoning of your calling. Be direct and concise, and don’t be afraid to ask for what you want.
I definitely benefited so much from these tips and I don’t think I would have gotten an internship without them. Just remember to be confident and believe in yourself- you have everything you need to succeed and you are so capable!