The semester may have just started, but before you know it, it will be time to start applying for summer internships. Some organizations have already started accepting summer internship applications, and well, you know what they say—the early bird gets the worm. Start preparing yourself now so that you can start applying as soon as possible. Never applied for an internship before? Never fear, read on for eight tips to help you land your first internship. Even if you have applied for internships before, read on, and you might find some helpful information as well.
1. If you haven’t already, create a resume. If you have one, be sure to update it.
The process of creating your first resume might seem daunting at first, but as a college student, you have tons of helpful resources at your fingertips. UNC-Chapel Hill’s Career Services has a whole page filled with tools to help you with your resume. Additionally, sites like Forbes, Business Insider, and online trade publications have tons of articles on writing the perfect resume.
2. Create a LinkedIn if you haven’t already.
In the growing digital world that we live in, professionals expect internship applicants to have a LinkedIn profile. When making your profile, start with your resume and expand from there. The great thing about LinkedIn is that it’s much more than a resume. LinkedIn allows you to breathe life into your resume and take it to a whole new level. Do you write for a publication at your university? Post a link to it. Are you an art student? Post links to some of your best work. LinkedIn also allows you to connect and network with individuals in your field.
3. If you have any work samples, make a portfolio.
These samples can be from classes or student organizations. For some internships, interviewers expect to see this portfolio. Even if the organization doesn’t explicitly ask to see a portfolio, it’s a good tool to have. Throughout the interview, you can use the portfolio to further illustrate your skills and experiences. It’s also helpful to make copies of some of your key portfolio pieces and to make a “leave behind packet” for the interviewer. Whether they end up looking at it or not, this will make you look better as an applicant and make you look more professional. Additionally, you should make an online portfolio. According to Forbes, 56 percent of all hiring managers are more impressed by an online portfolio than by any other personal branding tool. However, only 7 percent of job seekers have one. Being one of the few applicants with an online portfolio can set you apart from the crowd, and websites like WordPress, Wix, and others make creating an online portfolio fairly easy.
4. Meet with your university’s Career Services
Career Services will look over your resume and help you perfect it. They can also be a good resource for starting out your internship search. Ultimately, Career Services can help you with anything in your application process. They are full of great advice, knowledge and connections.
5. Find the internship
Sometimes just finding places to apply to can be one of the hardest parts. Career Services is definitely a great place to start. I also recommend looking at lists from the business journal located in the area where you want to intern. For example, when I was searching for my first summer internship, I started by looking at the Triangle Business Journal’s list of public relations firms. There are also websites, like InternMatch, that post listings of internships. Your university probably also has a website for internship listings.
6. Apply!
Make sure to write a cover letter for each different application. This letter should express why you are interested in the specific internship you are applying for and also give an idea of what you could offer as an intern. Even if the organization only asks for a resume, use the cover letter as the body of your email.
7. Interview
Be sure to have professional business attire for the interview. Dressing well is an easy way to show interviewers that you are professional and serious about the internship. Be sure to keep jewelry and makeup to a minimum as well. Sticking to pearl earrings and a nice watch is always a good choice. In addition to looking your best, be sure to get a good understanding of the kinds of work the organization you’re interviewing for has done. Interviewers will be impressed if you demonstrating a knowledge and interest in their work.
8. Say thank you
After the interview, show your thanks by sending a thank you card to your interviewer. Interviewers will appreciate this small gesture, and it can set you apart from the crowd. You can also show thanks and interest in the organization by following them on social media sites like LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. Following the organization will also be helpful for you in your own decision process.
I hope these tips help, and I wish you the best of luck with your internship search. Applying for that first internship is a bit of a frightening yet exciting process, and once you land an internship, you’ll be glad of all the hard work you put into the process. Internships are the best ways to apply what you’re learning in class and to grow professionally. The skills you will learn in the internship process are critical for finding a job after graduation. Hiring managers recognize this and expect job seekers to have had at least a few internships before graduation. So what are you waiting for? Start applying and good luck!
What are your tips for landing that first internship? Share with us in the comments below!