“What are you planning to do this summer?” is probably the most dreaded question for college students. Most students plan on getting an internship, yet it is much easier said then done. That’s why we interviewed Hana Seligman. Currently a senior at Santa Clara, she has held internships at Synopsys, Apple, Viacom (VH1), and Google, so its safe to say she knows a few tricks of the trade. Here’s the inside scoop:
1. There’s so many websites, like BroncoLink, internship.com, and LinkedIn, where you can apply for jobs. Which one is the best?
I think it’s important to diversify the places you look for internships/jobs since the more you apply to the better. BroncoLink is valuable because those companies post at SCU specifically because they want to hire SCU students, so you’re more likely to get a response. I got two of my big internships through BroncoLink (Synopsys & Apple).
2. After applying online do you reach out to the companies?
I’ve never done that, but if you’re super interested in a specific company or industry I think it’s a good idea to reach out to alumni or other connections there to get more insight on what they’re looking for in an employee, since that’s an easier gateway than just reaching out normally.
3. Interviews can be really nerve-racking and scary. How do you prepare and stay calm?
No matter what, interviews make a person nervous, so I think it’s important to learn to channel that into confidence. The people interviewing you can’t read your nerves/mind, so it’s important to speak calmly, smile a lot, and make sure you’re communicating your qualifications well. I make sure to know my experience thoroughly and have a good understanding of how that applies to the role I am interviewing for. Apart from this, you can look up possible interview questions and prepare answers ahead of time. It’s also important to have good questions to ask your interviewers!
4. Some people say its luck; others say its connection. What is your biggest tip for getting your foot in the door?
I don’t think it can be directly tied to luck or connection but ambition, skill, and effort. If you have a dream company, figure out what they look for in a candidate and how you can position yourself and your set of skills to fit the role you want. Having connections can help to get your foot in the door, but you’re still going to need the qualifications to suit the role/company. Silicon Valley is competitive so I think it’s valuable to figure out what’s unique about your personality and experience and convey that through your resume and interviews.
Good luck on your internship hunt!