How to Land an Internship: A Few Tips and Tricks

By Feneyda Guerrero on October 25, 2016

pictigar.com

Internships are an essential part of the college experience and probably one of the most important due to the fact that most jobs nowadays require one or more internships within a student’s field of study. There is definitely no way around it: you must participate in at least one internship (obviously the more internships you have, the more your application will stand out) in order to be considered for any job once you graduate from college.

Deciding what internships to apply for, the application, and the subsequent interview process can be very stressful and hectic, but there are some things that you can do to help cement your chances of getting the internship you want.

Finding an Internship

Finding an internship and finding one that is right for you is time consuming. However, there is a plethora of websites that you can use to find ones just for you. WayUp and Vocate are two great resources; they are websites that are designed to match students with internships and entry-level positions. Just create a profile and look at the internships available to you that fall into your interests and studies.

The Dreaded Application/Resume

Not every application is the same, but every place will always require you to submit a resume. A good trick that I find helpful is to alter your resume and cater it towards the company for which you are applying. For example, my resume includes relevant coursework and experience I have completed. My resume for IndieHouse SF (an independent film company) included my experience with video and audio production, and my resume for Uloop included my writing experience. I have a basic template of my resume and change it according to the company and position I apply for, therefore, I have multiple versions of my resume and it is perfectly okay.

Another good tip is to make sure that everything on your resume is accurate (I have heard stories in which students have blatantly lied on their resume and are under fire at their internship/job because they do not have experience doing certain things). Lying or being intentionally misleading on your resume is not good and will ultimately bite you in the butt, because it will eventually come out that not everything on your resume is accurate.

The Interview

You will probably have to go to a million interviews before you land a job or internship. The best and most effective advice I’ve ever been given is to just relax and do not be afraid to be yourself. I would not be surprised to learn that my interview with my bosses at IndieHouse SF liked me because I was relaxed and was not afraid to say what was on my mind. Saying what’s on your mind is great because it shows that you are honest and are not afraid to say anything; however, just know what is and what isn’t appropriate to say. And always ask questions!

Make sure that you always follow up with the people who interviewed you. You may do so by calling or emailing them. This shows initiative and determination, two very important traits most companies would like to see in their employees.

I hope this article helps and good luck to you!

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