HCBU’s Guide to Landing a Summer Internship

Internships: the holy grail of one’s college career. Everyone wants one, and now’s the time to secure one. Being on the hunt for an internship myself, I’ve come up with a little guide to “making it.”  Just remember – we’re all in this together.
 
Resume Tips

• It should be attractive! Your resume is the employer’s first impression of you. You wouldn’t walk into an office looking like crap, so don’t allow your resume to look lousy, either. It doesn’t need to be a singing telegram, but it should at least look clean, neat and organized.
• If you’re only in college, the sad truth is that your professional life probably doesn’t amount to more than one page. And it doesn’t need to. Keep it short and sweet about your most relevant and recent experience.
• Don’t include your physical address! You can never be sure who is reading your resume or where they’re sending it off. Plus, you don’t want the employer trying to calculate your commute.
• You’re a social networking butterfly – show it off! If you’ve got the best Twitter or LinkedIn in the game, include it on your resume! It shows personality.
• Include your interests and life experiences. So what if you haven’t worked a real job before? Maybe you’ve traveled the world or enjoy playing guitar in your free time, and you should tell your employer that! Be different. Oftentimes, it will give you and your interviewer something interesting to talk about, and sharing a common interest with a potential employer is always a plus.

Getting In The Game

• Start early. If you’re looking for a summer internship, February is the time to start poking around. I know you’re not Internet illiterate. Start googling internships in your area of interest, make a list of them and their deadlines and get cracking.
• Network, network, network. That neighbor who had you babysit their cats once could be the best friend of the CEO at your dream job. The world is small. Talk to people.
• Career Services is there to help you. Without you bothering them, what are they supposed to do all day? Take your resumes and cover letters to them, and they will turn the
  m into gold. Trust me.
• Read your BU emails! Everyone gets sent those mass emails all the time from career link or COM careers services. They always have loads of internship and job opportunities in them, so take advantage of what’s already being handed to you!
• Apply to lots of places. You’ve got to cast a wide net if you want to be sure you’ll get something to occupy your summer. Just as when you searched for colleges, apply to your dream internship, apply to a few “reach” ones and apply to a few that you know you could probably get. You never know what can happen, but it’s good to have options if your number one plan falls through.

 
Once You Get The Internship

• SMILE.  Friendliness is a necessary skill for every job environment. From the head of the company to the janitor emptying your trashcan, being polite is the first rule of professionalism.
• Be open. You’re here to learn! If you end up doing something you’re not interested in, reflect on how the experience will help you later on in your professional and personal life. Every skill has a benefit.  
• Keep on connecting! Your networking skills shouldn’t be flushed away after you’ve got the job. Your colleagues could be of great assistance down the road, so get to know them and their jobs, which could be yours one day.
• Never say no. Every opportunity that your employer gives you is an opportunity for you to grow and learn new skills. It’s scary sometimes, but volunteering yourself for big tasks definitely makes you stand out to your employer, and you never know who’s seeing your enthusiasm.

 
 
Finally, as cliché as it is, breathe. Breathe throughout the whole process – no breaks. Finding an internship is a stressful process, but it’s also an important learning experience for how a job search will probably be later in life. Take these tips, and get out there, woman!