Student-run groups in Park – Her Campus, PRSSA and Hi-Fashion Studios – sponsored an internship panel Tuesday night to help students score their dream internships. With a panel of 14 students with internship experience at companies like E!, Zac Posen, Focus Features and NBC Universal, there was an endless supply of advice to be heard. Questions were asked by moderators and answered in a casual form by the panelists. As a panelist myself, I not only was more than willing to share what I learned from my internship experience, but I also learned an incredible amount. If you couldn’t make it, don’t fret! We’re here to give you the play-by-play of what went down.
Question: First off, where did you find the internships that you applied to?
Panelist Responses:
– “The internship database was a great help in finding opportunities for internships.”
– “The offices upstairs in the Park School – everyone there is more than willing to help you.”
– “Internship websites like Intern Queen and Intern Sushi.”
– “Get on Linked In! It’s a great way to make connections to people in the industry.”
Q: It’s time to send your resume in; any tips and tricks?
Panelist Responses:
– “Put a little of yourself into it – I got my internship for a creative position because of the creative layout that I presented my resume on.”
– “When applying online and there is a textbox to put you resume in instead of an attachment, take the time to write it out in the box. DO NOT just copy and paste – this can lead to some pretty ugly results when your possible employer prints it out.”
– “Put your most important facts at the top and include dates for everything, making it easy to read.”
Q: Everyone dreads the cover letter – how can we master it?
Panelist Responses:
– “You want to be professional in your cover letter and explain why you would be a good addition to the company, but don’t be afraid to add some personality! My employer really appreciated a pun that I included about my work ethic.”
– “Address your letter to a specific person instead of the company. This could be the person in charge of the internship program or someone in HR.”
– “PROOFREAD. One minor mistake is just a reason for an employer to toss your application rather than read it.”
Q: Nailing the interview: Help!
Panelist Responses:
– “It’s always better to overdress.”
– “Do your research and know your stuff about the company. It’s necessary.”
– “Stress how much you want to learn – about the company, the industry, etc. They will be impressed by how motivated and ready-to-go you are.”
– “Ask questions! When they ask you at the end if you have any questions, don’t just say no. By asking the interviewer about their personal experience with the company or something about the company’s history or future, it will show how interested you are.”
Q: Is it appropriate to follow up?
Panelist Responses:
– “You can absolutely shoot an email to your interviewer or someone in charge of the internship program to check up on things; just don’t be annoying. Sorry, there’s no other way to say it.”
Q: Have you had any interesting experiences at the companies you’ve worked at?
Panelist Responses:
– “One day I had to be a stand-in for a shoot and they told me to get on the ground, then proceeded to bury me in sand. I went through it all with a smile on my face and it became the story of the week.”
– “One morning my boss called me in for a special job: to do his daughter’s school project. That day I walked around the city with a giant cardboard cutout – people on the subway loved me.”
Q: What are some extra tips that you would give someone?
– “Respect who you work for. Listen to your supervisor, ask if they need help and turn to them when you have a question. They’re your supervisor for a reason.”
– “Get there early, leave late.”
– “A lot of companies require you to work for credit, but if they don’t, go for it! Even if you’re not getting school credit, it’s still a great thing to put on your resume – and you’re paying to work.”
– “Be open-minded – a lot of the time, you’ll be helping out in areas that are not what you were hired for. Be willing to help in whatever way you can, and you’ll learn a lot!”
– “Whatever you do, do it with a smile.”
There you have it! May the odds be ever in your favor.