Leaves are fading, snow is falling, and the sun is setting earlier and earlier — for most of the professional world, this means that a holiday break is upon us, but for college students, this time of year also means that spring and summer internship applications are approaching.
This time of year can be spooky, but it is also exciting! There is a world of possibilities ahead and opportunities that are just waiting to be grasped by eager and excited students.
As I look back on my own experiences with internships, I have been incredibly lucky with the opportunities I have had in professional spaces, but there have also been a fair share of lessons I have had to learn. With a few years of professional experience and four internships under my belt, I am certainly no pre-professional expert, but for the purposes of this piece, you can consider me your experienced big sister with one or two pieces of advice for you!
1. Update Your Resume, Cover Letter, and LinkedIn at Least Once Every Semester.
Between rushing to update all my application materials while also meeting deadlines, it is safe to say that applying to job opportunities has certainly elevated my blood pressure at times. While it may be easy to put it off until the last minute, I have learned over the past few years to give myself grace and have the foresight to update my materials with enough notice to have friends and family look everything over beforehand.
Pro Tip: Take advantage of the Career Center on campus where student and professional employees can give your materials a critical and helpful look before sending in that important application.
As a Television and Film Student, my application materials range all the way from a portfolio website to my very active LinkedIn page, but I like to think that this piece of advice can help students of all concentrations, from business to health to communications, and more.
2. Make an Effort to Connect (Online and In-Person).
As someone who regularly hosts interviews for pre-professional opportunities, it is so much easier to go into an interview when I know the interviewee beforehand. Getting to know someone deeper than just their resume is all part of the job, but when an interviewee reaches out beforehand to get to know more about the position and opportunity, it speaks to their character and drive.
Knowing this, I try to always reach out to interviewers or Ithaca College alumni who have connections with the company before an interview — or even before I apply. This has given me the opportunity to express my sincere interest in the position and the company’s mission, as well as the time to connect with team members on a more personal level.
About a year ago, I first reached out to an Ithaca alumni who worked at American High, a production company that specializes in high school and college comedies based in Liverpool, NY. We did not know each other personally when he attended Ithaca, but getting to know him and more about the company was such a special experience. Six months after our initial call, I was accepted into American High’s summer internship program, and I have been with the company ever since. If it wasn’t for our fun and personal conversation a year ago, I am not sure if I would have fallen in love with American High as much as I have.
3. Get Outside Your Comfort Zone.
Reaching out to professionals in your field and putting yourself out there can be daunting, but there is nothing more rewarding than having success in something you were nervous about. You won’t always yield the results you want, but the more you open yourself up, you will consistently see your confidence grow.
When I first started applying to job opportunities at 18 or 19, I was passionate about what I wanted to do, but I lacked the confidence to put my expertise out there. As corny as it may sound, the quote, “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,” really changed my mindset once I took it more seriously.
I first motivated myself to start small as an Orientation Leader at Ithaca, connecting with new students and their families, and even this test of my self-confidence proved to be a wonderful opportunity for leadership growth. I began seeing a change in how I carried myself at work, and soon enough, I started seeing a change in how I was viewed as a leader and professional.
4. Learn From Your Experiences (And Mistakes).
Part of growing up is learning from both your experiences and mistakes. I am of the mindset that ruminating on every mistake is not only unproductive, but also unhealthy. As your professional big sister, I am telling you now not to let yourself be put down by everything that may not go the way you expected. You are entitled to be upset and maybe even shed a few tears, but life is too short to let yourself wallow in missed opportunities or rejections.
Just last year, I applied to over 75 internships and job opportunities for the summer, and even with a resume that I thought was nearly perfect, I only got three interviews. Of course, I was disappointed and thought it was the end for me (which I cried about to my mom on the phone), but instead of letting it get to me, I continued to push on. I eventually came across the best internship I could have asked for and had the summer of my dreams.
5. Prioritize Yourself and Your Journey.
Similar to my fourth tip, prioritizing yourself is essential to a productive professional life, especially during application season. Making sure to find small moments every day to relax and take care of yourself mentally and physically will ensure a better attitude and outlook for yourself and your future.
Personally, I like to have at least 30 to 45 minutes every day to either doom scroll, read, or workout to remove myself from the stress of academics and internship applications. While I love my classes and internships, I think it’s safe to say that professional work is not always self-care.
While every experience or piece of advice may not be exactly right for you, I hope that I can give you an idea or two that you will carry forward professionally, academically, and personally. Application season is upon us, but remember that it doesn’t have to overtake you!