Landing your first internship can be an arduous task. When I was searching for my first internship, I often times felt as if I was on a conquest for the holy grail. Luckily there are some tips that can help you land an internship at a great company.
Polishing your Resume
Before you surf the classifieds, make sure that your resume reflects any skills that future employers may be interested in. If you don’t have any work experience in the industry that you are seeking a position in, this may be challenging. Take the time to think about what you can highlight about what your past work history that is worth mentioning. If you were hiring an intern for the position you are applying for, what skills would you look for?
Decide What You Are Searching For (and Stick To It)
Looking to work with a Fortune 500 company with a massive ad spend? Or perhaps something not so corporate better suits your preference. Whatever you are aiming for, write down the qualities of your ideal company to work for. Decide which qualities you are firm on and which ones are flexible. When you see a company is hiring, ask yourself, “Is this the company for me?” Not all internships are worth your time. Being selective about which companies you choose to apply to will save a lot of time and headache in the long run.
Navigating the Jungle
After you have decided what kind of company you would like to work for, create a list of specific companies that you think would be a good fit. A company’s Linkedin profile and social media can usually give you a good idea of what it is like to work there. Smaller companies will usually post all of their open positions on their site as well as a 3rd party site like indeed.com. If a company that you wish to work for is currently hiring, then awesome- send them your resume and cover letter (more on that later). If they aren’t hiring, still send them your resume and cover letter. Explain in your cover letter that you understand that they aren’t currently hiring, but you are interested in working for them, and make sure to mention what position you are interested in. Following this strategy will ensure that you find an internship that fits your needs.
Check Your Network
I know you are sick and tired of hearing about the importance of networking, but there is no quicker way to find employment than to network with people who are currently employed. Put a post on social media that you are looking for a job in a specific field. You never know who may work at a company that you are interested in.
The Cover Letter
This, in my opinion, is the most important part of the application process. If the listing says that cover letters are optional, I am here to tell you that they aren’t. A cover letter is your first initial impression with the hiring manager. Botch this and your resume won’t get a single glance. Your cover letter should do all of the following:
-Showcase your writing skills
-Convey why you are interested in both the position and the company
-Elaborate on some skills listed in your resume
-Show some personality
One last thing I would like to mention about your cover letter is to keep them short! I was taught in my business writing class that cover letters are 1000+ word documents that are to be signed in blood and sent by carrier pigeon. This is no longer the case. Ensure that your cover letter is concise. Once I shortened my cover letter from a full page of text to three short (2-3 sentence) paragraphs, I started to get a lot more inquiries from hirers.
Keeping Tabs
Make sure that you have a list of places you have applied to. I like to send a follow-up email if I haven’t heard back from a hiring rep after about two weeks. Many hiring reps are excited to see that you have initiative, and they may re-visit your resume and decide to call you even if they passed on your resume.
Set a Schedule
How many jobs are you going to apply to each week? When are you going to search for jobs, write cover letters, and send out applications? Understand that applying for an internship takes a lot of time. It may be necessary to cut back on your hours at your current job (if you have one) to allow enough time to send out applications.
Keep At It
I have talked with students that applied to 50+ companies before they ever got hired. If you feel burned out from looking for an internship, ask yourself if you can improve your resume or cover letter, or if you can be more flexible about what kind of company you are looking for. If you keep pushing, you will get the job you are looking for. If you are in need of a boost of inspiration, please click to watch the video featuring my personal life mentor, Bicycle Kid. His sage words of wisdom will surely give you the boost you need to get back on track.