Reading internship postings is stressful and exciting. Even if you feel confident in your abilities, it can be scary to approach an industry professional. However, you can impress your future mentor before you even meet him or her, and here’s what you need to do it!
Netiquette: Your emails need to sound professional and appreciative. Always include a greeting, introduce yourself and end with an appropriate closing. We prefer “Sincerely,” “Kind Regards” or “Thank you” to leave a meaningful impression.
Powerful Cover Letter: You have three paragraphs to describe all your great accomplishments, go! A cover letter is about showing, not telling. You can mention one of your relevant accomplishments and then describe the steps you took to achieve it. Talk about what you’re doing now to help any kind of organization and improve your skill set.
Killer Resume: Your resume should never be longer than a page! Employers don’t have time to read that much. Keep it concise. Your high school education is obvious and irrelevant; don’t include it. Use that space for something more valuable! Also, all of the info on your resume should be relevant to the position for which you’re applying. If it’s not, ask yourself: why do I have this job/experience on here? What will it tell an industry professional? If you’re not sure, delete it. You also don’t need to include “references upon request.” If they want your references, they’ll just ask. Lastly, try to keep your resume constantly updated and have a few different formats, say one for scholarships, one for professional positions and one for creative opportunities. Each resume should be tailored for the industry and position.
Portfolio or Web site: How cool is it to hand in a professional, impressive collection of your best work at an interview, or to have a personalized web URL, such as myname.com, right under your resume header where an employer can view your creations? It’s a great way to show you’re serious and have a physical display of your skills. Your interviewer will likely be impressed—with your work, your confidence and your preparation.
Beyond the technical stuff, you need to look like you know how to look when you meet a potential mentor or professional in your industry. That means you’re well and appropriately dressed for the occasion and the company and you speak with eloquence. Have a little confidence in yourself! We believe in you and know you’ll do great!