Securing a summer internship can be a great stepping stone in your career journey, offering invaluable experience and opportunities for growth. This article gives you the essential tips to land your internship, ensuring you stand out in a competitive job market.
1. Join Talent Networks
Talent Networks such as SEO London, Bright Network, RateMyPlacement and Girls Are Investors make the application process more accessible. Joining such organisations can open you up to a wealth of opportunities, with work experiences in law, media, charities, banking, and more available. These organisations also provide CV guidance, mentorship, and allow you a chance to network with sponsoring firms, as well as enhancing your visibility in the job market and connecting you with potential employers.
2. Keep up with industry news
Whether it be Asset Management, the Public Sector, Law, or Engineering, commercial awareness is key when it comes to interviews. Email newsletters such as the Morning Brew are an easy way to stay up to date with industry trends.
3. Attend open days and insight events
Whether they be virtual or in-person, participating in insight events allows you to get your foot in the door and hear about all the routes your degree can take you down. These open days also give you an insight into a company’s culture and operations, and are often used by employers to identify potential candidates. There are also short courses available too, such as with Forage – who showcase free work experience programmes with top employers that look great on your CV! University of Bristol’s Women in Finance Society also offer lots of opportunities to explore career paths.
4. Don’t Ditch your extracurricular activities
Be it writing, sport, painting, or knitting – recruiters want to know what you do outside of your academics. Participating in extracurricular activities demonstrates your commitment and well-rounded interests, indicating a diverse skill set. Questions about your extracurriculars can often crop up in interviews!
5. Take Every opportunity
Don’t limit your options. Be open minded to new places, new experiences, and embrace every opportunity that comes your way. You may be pleasantly surprised – perhaps a career you weren’t interested in at all suddenly becomes something you now want to pursue!
6. Network, network, network!
LinkedIn is a great asset when it comes to networking and gaining a deeper understanding of the internship application journey. Contact former interns within your chosen field to seek guidance on how to fine-tune your application approach and cultivate connections at the same time. It is also another great way to improve your commercial awareness, as LinkedIn allows you to follow companies and groups for their latest insights.
7. tAILOR YOUR APPLICATION
Tailor your CV and cover letters to showcase your genuine interest and alignment with the company’s values and goals. When applying for internships, quality trumps quantity. Rather than sending out generic applications to every company possible, take the time to research a company thoroughly. Websites like Investopedia can provide you with valuable insights into the finance industry and also help you navigate the jargon often encountered in that field.
8. Remember that your skills and abilities extend beyond your degree
Many companies are looking for candidates with a diverse skill set, so don’t underestimate the value of your degree. Opportunities exist in various divisions, including those that are not directly related to your field of study. Internships are available from as varied companies as Sky News, Penguin Publishing, Channel 4, MI5, and P&G – not just the typical corporate law and finance opportunities! Remember – you aren’t expected to know everything from the outset. Employers are more interested in your transferable skills and eagerness to learn, so seize the chance to explore diverse internship opportunities!
9. Embrace Rejection
Perhaps the most important thing to remember from this article is that rejection is a natural part of the application process. It’s easy to feel disheartened when you receive a rejection email, but remain resilient and view rejection as an opportunity for growth, as well as to improve your future applications and interviews. It is a pivotal aspect of your internship application process, and how you respond to it can define your success. Use rejection as a springboard for growth, a source of feedback, and a reminder that perseverance is often the key!
