Internship application season is here–if you’re stressed about getting the perfect one, we totally get it. Internships are important, and the application and interview process can be intimidating. But we’re here to help. Here are 10 tips to help you navigate the process and land the internship to kickstart your career.
1. Do some housekeeping
It’s always important to give a great first impression in every professional setting you are in, even when they aren’t in person! Make sure that your LinkedIn profile and resume are up to date, polished, edited, and worded as best as possible. And don’t be afraid to get a second or third opinion–you never want to write ‘detail oriented’ as a skill if your resume has a typo!
2. Do your research
What kinds of career paths are you interested in? What programs do these paths offer students of your grade level? What qualifications or classes will you need in order to be considered? Knowing this information early is a great advantage, so make sure you are constantly looking for more opportunities, and always staying up to date on what the requirements are! This will ensure that you don’t miss the deadlines or forget to apply for something that could have been a great experience.
3. Take advantage of your school’s career center services
Familiarize yourself with the resources your school provides. If you’re at NYU, absolutely set an appointment with the Wasserman Center for Career Development. Get insight about what a career looks like in your industry of choice. Attend the campus visits and career fairs! The professionals who come to these networking events WANT to hire you and are getting PAID to do so, so make sure you actually show up so you can even be considered! Remember, you are not the only one benefitting if they find that you’re an ideal fit, so make sure to perfect your pitch, because they truly are looking to find someone for their open positions.
4. Grow your network
Never underestimate the power of making a connection. Whether it be through attending networking events, or going to office hours and speaking with your professor about potential opportunities in their field, networking is something that will always hold great value and power in your professional world. Even something as easy as adding your friends on LinkedIn is a great first step so you can start to grow your connections and start talking to people within your field.
5. Talk to people in your field
After you’ve started to build that network, don’t be afraid to use it! Reach out to people you meet at networking events and ask to buy them a coffee to learn more about what they do. Gaining insight in this way is much more personal, which allows for deeper and more meaningful questions that can actually help you hone in on your career goals, and understand how to successfully go about reaching them.
6. Mass apply
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket! You never know if the person reading your resume is just having an off day or just doesn’t think you fit the company’s culture. Maximize your chances by applying to many similar positions that you are equally qualified for, and also apply to some backups, just so that you have a large pool and greater odds when decisions come around. Definitely take advantage of postings in your school to get this done–always check out NYU’s Careernet for jobs. Some programs also have listservs you can sign up for.
7. Focus on your strengths
Utilize your strengths as much as you can. If you’re good with numbers, make that known in your resume, and be ready to back that up in an interview. If you have great interpersonal skills, practice answering typical questions so you can go above and beyond in your interview and compensate for a potential lack in hard skills. Recognize what your assets are, and leverage them accordingly.
8. Be open to unpaid opportunities
Look at the big picture. If an internship will provide you with valuable work or industry experience, then maybe a lack of pay right now will result in a higher pay in the future. Some schools even offer credit for unpaid internships, as well as scholarships, so look into these so that you don’t simply discount the opportunities without an immediate payout! For example, NYU offers a grant for unpaid internships, so look into your options before turning down an unpaid offer.
9. Join clubs that relate to your desired internships
Sometimes organizations have access to industry tools that individuals can’t access on their own, such as the ability to organize panel discussions for their members. Join clubs that bring in professionals within your field so you can get insight and also start networking with like-minded people, as well as professionals. Attending a couple meetings a month can really pay off in the long run.
10. Don’t give up!
This process is arduous, and that’s simply an immutable fact. However, with persistence and strategy, you are guaranteed to find something that is the right fit for you. Goodluck!