Internships. You hear that word all the time these days. Internships are key to landing your dream job after graduation, here are some helpful tips to help you land an internship.
Let your parents, professors, the Career Center, etc. know you are looking for an internship.
When looking for an internship do not be shy, but do not be too brash about it either. Talk with parents, professors, or anyone else in your life that may have worked in a career that you are interested in pursuing. They can give you valuable advice, as well as, point you in the right direction.
Meet the guest speakers.
If one of your classes has an interesting speaker or you listen to an interesting School of Business lecture don’t be afraid to go up and briefly introduce yourself. They can give you insight into how they got where they are and even help you build your network.
Go to career fairs.
There are so many employers looking for interns at events like these, so polish up your elevator pitch and start handing out some resumes.
Go to the Career Center.
The best bit of advice I can give you is go to the Career Center. The Career Center staff is incredibly knowledgeable on the subject and can help you throughout the process. A special thanks to Suzanne O’Connor for helping me land mine with Tauck Tours this summer.
Use your online resources.
Put yourself out there on LinkedIn, LookSharp, WayUp, and Internships.com. It’s important in the information age to have an online presences. Fill out each site’s account in great detail and make sure to utilize the different types of filters and tags, so when employers search for interns and job seekers they will be able to view your accounts.
Plan ahead
Start looking for internships early. For example, if you are looking for an internship in the summer, start your search in October. It’s important to know what’s out there and when deadlines are.
Apply to Many
Just like colleges, do not just apply to one internship. Find several internships in the areas you want and the field you want and apply to them. It’s good to have many options to choose from since not every application leads to an interview and not every interview leads to an internship.
Don’t be upset if it doesn’t work out…Keep Trying!
Not every application will lead to an internship, nor will every interview be successful; that’s just the reality of it. However, do not become discouraged if your first round of applications do not get you an internship. Be patient, and do not give up.