Before graduating college and getting a real-world job, it seems almost necessary that we students gain internship experience before. Trust me, I understand why, but the process for me at first was confusing and a bit scary. I have applied for internships for a year now, and I received some great responses along with some upsetting ones. With all of my “no longer in consideration emails” and my few congratulatory ones, I have learned a thing or two about what to do and what not to do during an internship application.
Cover letter
I like to refer to cover letters as “motivation letters.” These are typically one of the first assets of an application that employers will look at. The one-page document should explain your motivations, a little bit of your work history and why you think you would be a good candidate for the internship.
The biggest mistake I made with cover letters was writing what I thought the employers wanted to hear. You could not get a sense of my personality within the first few cover letters I wrote. When I received updates on my applications that said, “no longer in consideration,” I was confused and hurt. Now that I look back, I realize that my cover letter was the issue. In most cases, it could be the most integral piece of an application.
When writing your cover letter, do not be scared to be out-of-the-box, a bit creative or personal. Anyone could look up a cover letter template on the internet and see a slew of boring letters with obscure language. What will truly help you stand out in your internship application is ensuring that you are being 110% yourself in your writing. Also, check for spelling and grammatical errors — I can not stress this enough. Have peers proofread your cover letters because you can never be too careful with typos!
Résumé
A résumé is a professional document that overviews your experiences.
In my résumé, I made sure to include my previous internship experiences, any work experience, leadership experience at my college, involvements, awards and scholarships. It may seem like a lot to pack into a one-page résumé — that’s because it is. The key to ensuring everything fits and is easy to read is through making the information as concise as possible. Using bullet points in my résumé was one way to consolidate my information.
Something I learned later on in the application game was to not use repetitive language in my résumé. If I describe my duties with Her Campus as “Pitch…,” then the verb “pitch” should not be used anywhere else.
A professional résumé does not have to be boring! My first handful of applications included a standard résumé layout on plain-white paper. If that is your style, then that is fine. However, I have a bubbly and creative personality. So, when I am applying to creative positions, I want the employers to notice that. Consider incorporating color, a different layout, or fun fonts to your résumé if that is your style. Of course, make sure that everything is still legible. Great creative résumé templates can be found on Canva for inspiration!
Portfolio
Online portfolios to display your work have become crucial parts of many applications. Wix, Square Space and Adobe Portfolio are just a few sites to create your portfolio on. My favorite site is Google Sites. Google does a great job at making the process of creating a website as simple as possible and customizable too.
My greatest suggestion when using a portfolio website is to take your time. Do not scrap it together and include everything.
The phone or Zoom interview
Believe it or not, a big issue I had during my first phone interview was sounding cocky. I was attempting to sound confident and sure of myself, and it was misinterpreted as something else. During the phone interview after that, I said “Uhm” for a prolonged period of time before answering a question. It made me seem like I was unsure about what I was talking about.
Try staying as composed as possible during verbal interviews. Beforehand, do your research about the company you are interviewing with and the position you applied for. Jot down practice questions and review them leading up to the interview. Have mock interviews with your family or friends.
Not taking it personally
When employers do not want you, it may feel like you are not good enough or are not cut out for your field. Trust me, I have been there too many times.
Sometimes there is just someone better fit for the position, or the employers saw your strengths better-suited somewhere else. This is OK. Realizing and accepting this will guide you through the process of rejection because it will inevitably happen. So, when a congratulatory acceptance notice radiates across your computer screen, that will be a call for celebration!