Getting an internship these days is a very competitive process. If you want to work at the best of the best companies, you have to put in the work. I am here to tell you what things you need to do to get the internship of your dreams. I was once in your shoes, applying to a bunch of companies and crossing my finger that I would get an offer. As a sophomore in college, I was able to get an internship at a global company for the summer and the next summer I landed an internship at not only a Fortune 500 company but the largest bank in the U.S. Before we get started, download my internship checklist here! A little preview:
Hard work pays off
I am extremely grateful for the opportunities I got to experience. I could tell you all about my experience, but instead I am here to help you chase your dream. You that you can do anything you set your mind to! Was getting my internships easy? Absolutely not, but the work pays off and it is so worth it.
Steps to take to get an internship
1. Preparation: The first thing you need to do to get an internship is to prepare yourself. You must prepare yourself academically and take any opportunity that is given to you. Don’t wait until the last minute to study for a test, turn in your projects early, and get your work done. You will also want to get involved at you school. What organizations can you join? What leadership opportunities can you take on? You can also get jobs off-campus or become a campus rep for Amazon, Kendra Scott, among many others! By doing these things, you are ensuring you are well-rounded and building a strong personal brand.
2. Write a strong resume: After you commit yourself to your academics and get involved, then you can start to write a strong resume. This is a crucial step. A lot of resumes are scanned by a computer system and if you do not have a strong resume then you will not even be considered for the position. A couple things your resume should include:
- Personal Information
- School you attend and graduation date
- Experience (jobs, past internships, etc.)
- Awards and Involvement
When writing your resume, make sure you include numbers in the description of the job. Instead of saying “worked with a team” say “worked with 4 team members.” Lastly, use strong action verbs in the descriptions. You can find a link to a list of action verbs here. I shared 4 resume tips you must know + a free resume template that you can read here.
3. Apply for jobs: It is time to apply to internships! You can utilize your college’s career resources such as Handshake (this is where I got both of my internships). You can also go directly to a company’s website to find out how to apply for their internship program. I also highly recommend you go to career fairs and NETWORK. A lot of job offers can come out of going to a career fair! When applying to a job, make sure you check your application over and proofread it. After you apply, you can start networking on LinkedIn. Do an advanced search to find alumni from your school who work at the company you applied for and send them a message. You can also find people who had the internship you applied for to see what the interview was like.
4. Prepare for the interview: You just got an interview! So what’s next? You must prepare for the interview even if it is just a short phone interview. Make sure you have a thorough understanding of the company (explore their website). You will also want to come with questions to ask the interviewer. Do not make the mistake of not asking at least 1 question at the end! Next, prepare some STAR stories. Don’t know what those are? Check out this link here. It is okay to come to the interview with some notes. You want to make sure you can speak to every point you wrote on your resume. My biggest piece of advice for going into an interview is to be confident and excited. An employer can tell if you do not want to be there!
5. Post interview: You just rocked that interview, now what? Follow up with a thank you email! I cannot stress this enough. It does not have to be long, but you want to make sure you thank everyone you talked to for their time (recruiter and interviewers). Lastly, if you do not hear back from the employer in two weeks you can send a follow up email. In this email, re-iterate why you want the position, why you want to work for the company, and why you are a good fit.
A must have: Internship checklist
To make sure you are following these steps download my printable internship checklist here! I included a preview of it down below!
Time to get the internship of your dreams!
As I said in the beginning, getting an internship is hard work, but you can do it. If you are feeling discouraged right now, do not give up! If you follow these steps, the right opportunity will come to you at the right time. Be confident in who you are and the skills you can bring to a company.
Don’t forget to download my internship checklist here!
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Check out my last post where I share 4 tips to write a strong resume + I am providing you with a free resume template (that got me jobs at some of the largest companies)!
Staying styled, southern, and sweet-
Casey
