Tired of that lifeguard or retail job you go back to every summer? Ever thought of an internship in a career field you’re interested in? A summer internship can be full of new experiences and is a good way to ‘test drive’ a career field. But how do you snag that coveted internship? These few steps will get you on your way:
Have a good looking resume.
Don’t have a resume? Start here. Make sure it looks clean and polished. Many employers do not spend much time reviewing resumes, sometimes even less than a minute. Ask a couple of friends or family members to read over your resume to make sure there are no typos or spelling errors. Even a small error can make or break your candidacy for the job.
Talk to people in the field.
Not sure where to even start looking? Ask around. Talk to people you know and let them know what specifically you are looking for. There are so many opportunities out there, but oftentimes, people don’t ask the right questions or even let others know that they are searching for an internship.
When an opportunity fell through for me as I was graduating college, I was devastated. I had no idea where I was going to go or what I was going to do. But a passing conversation with a former supervisor led to a connection with a job in New York, and a few weeks later I was packing my bags to move there.
Do your research.
It is never good to put all of your eggs in one basket. Look at multiple internship sites. Find out who is coordinating the internship and address your cover letter to them. Send an email and ask a couple of questions about the position before you apply. A little extra can go a long way, and getting your name out there in multiple ways is definitely a positive thing.
Does your dream internship site not have anything listed? Try alternative methods to see what they have to offer. Call and ask if they are looking for volunteers. Sometimes starting at the bottom can help you secure other opportunities. Look on websites like Craigslist, and go to job fairs. You never know what you might find.
Do you have a summer internship? How did you land it? What tips do you have on finding great summer internships?
