Finding a summer internship can seem daunting and impossible, especially this early in the year. Keep an open mind and follow these tips to find a summer gig that’s perfect for you.
1. START EARLY
Make looking for an internship a priority early in the semester so you aren’t scrambling by finals! Do your research ahead of time so you can have resumes, cover letters, and references ready right away.
2. If you aren’t sure where to look, start with the career center
It may seem daunting or too grown-up, but everyone at the career center is ready and willing to help you. Even if you have absolutely no idea where to start, they can give you some resources for fixing up your resume, finding opportunities in your field, or showing you how to reach out to local alumni. There’s nothing they can’t help you with, so take advantage while you have this resource on campus!
3. Apply, then follow up
If you haven’t heard anything from one of your top choices a few weeks after the application deadline, don’t be afraid to call and follow-up. You can simply ask if they need any more materials from you or if they have an estimate of notification dates, mostly so they’re thinking about your proactive phone call once they are making decisions.
4. RESEARCH
DO NOT write a cover letter or show up for an interview without having thoroughly researched the company ahead of time. You should understand what position you’re applying for, the general structure and mission of the company, and some current projects you could potentially be working on. A knowledgeable candidate is the best type of candidate, and they’ll likely appreciate how invested you are in landing the internship.
5. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
No matter how perfect an internship may seem or how qualified you may be, there’s always a chance that something won’t work out. Since there are probably hundreds of students applying for all of the same positions as you, make sure to diversify and apply to as many places as possible! This will be great practice for applying for jobs later in life and will help you understand what types of positions are available in your field.
6. Leave your options open
Just because a company has desire to go another way for this summer does not mean you shouldn’t apply in the future! If you are cordial through the whole application process, it may pan out in the form of an internship or job once you have more experience.
7. Stay positive
No matter where you end up interning, stay positive! There’s something to learn wherever you end up working, even if it’s that you aren’t interested in that field. The internship culture is pretty competitive, so don’t sweat if it doesn’t work out perfectly this time around.