Getting your first internship can feel overwhelming,
especially if you're applying with no job experience.
You might even ask yourself, where do I start?
In this video, I'll explain what employers
are looking for from a potential intern
and provide tips for identifying internship opportunities,
creating a great resume, networking
to amplify your odds, and interviewing successfully.
Make sure to stick around till the end for of the most common
mistakes that you should avoid.
You don't want to miss this.
First of all, let's explain what employers are looking
for from internship candidates.
Now, if you're nervous about how to get your foot in the door
without experience, just remember
that internships are meant to be an introduction to an industry.
Internships give you a taste of what
working in a particular role or field
is like, while employers benefit by having someone perform
entry level work that's likely below the scope
of a permanent employee.
All that's to say employers aren't expecting interns
to have much, if any experience.
Instead, they'll closely be looking
at the quality of your resume, extracurricular involvement,
leadership experience, coursework,
and GPA, and dependent projects, and, of course, professionalism
during your interactions.
So now that we know what employers are looking for,
let's talk about how to land an internship.
Step 1: Determine your interests.
To eliminate that overwhelming feeling of where do I start,
first make a list of the job titles or fields
that you want to learn more about.
Now if nothing comes to mind immediately,
consider companies that you admire
or the skills that you want to build.
You could also lean on older friends
or upperclassmen to hear about their internship experiences,
or look into where the people that you admire
got their start.
Remember that an internship is ultimately
a learning experience that allows
you to see if you really are interested in a similar
permanent opportunity.
So it's OK and even encouraged to cast a wide net
by applying to many internships across multiple interests.
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Step 2: Strategically identify your target opportunities.
Now Indeed is a fantastic place to start!
Navigate to Indeed.com.
Then enter the companies, industries,
or job titles in the WHAT search bar to see what's out there.
You can even refine your search to only remote opportunities
by typing "remote" in the WHERE search box.
To ensure the jobs that you're seeing
are internships, click the Job Type button
and select Internship.
As you're finding opportunities that you'd like to apply for,
consider how competitive each internship could be.
Just like college applications, it's
wise to have a few that are a reach, some that
feel like good targets, and a couple of safeties,
internships that you think that you'd
have a really good shot at.
Typically, big name companies with a lot of public awareness
attract the most competition.
And they can be the hardest for freshmen to get.
So while you should certainly apply to some big companies,
if you're interested, don't hesitate
to check out mid-size small or even start-up opportunities.
Not only are these companies often a bit less competitive.
You may have more room to shine and take
on bigger responsibilities that can help to boost your resume.
And here's a Pro Tip: Many schools
have recruiting pipelines with employers already.
These employers want to hire an intern from your school
specifically.
That means you've likely have a better shot
at those internships, because they
aren't casting as wide a net.
So take these opportunities seriously,
because that existing relationship with your school
can give you a leg up.
Aim to leverage your school's resources,
such as career pages that list internship opportunities.
Sometimes those pages will even provide in-depth information
about what that company is looking for,
such as skills, GPA, or school year requirements.
Keep a special eye out for internships
that are specifically for students
in your year of college.
And if your school has career fairs, take advantage of them.
They can lead to internship interviews.
And you might even discover a company or interest
that you'd like to explore in the future.
Next, I'll share some tips for your application.
Even if you're initially seeing what opportunities
are out there, you should always have your application materials
ready to quickly share when your networking
for a particular job.
Step 3: Build a stand out resume.
And when in doubt submit a cover letter.
To learn everything about hacking
your resume, from what sections to include, formatting tips,
and how to create strong bullet points,
be sure to check out this video right here.
But I want to boil down to a few quick tips
specific for students.
Bring in all relevant experience, even unpaid.
Since it's common not to have extensive work
experience as a student, your resume
may have a lot of whitespace.
To avoid this, think creatively about what
you can include to help build out a compelling one page
resume.
Now this could be independent projects, relevant coursework,
club involvement, skills, extracurriculars,
and even scholarships.
And just remember, relevant experience
doesn't always mean paid experience.
Tailor your resume for each internship.
Try to go beyond explaining what you've done in the past
and instead demonstrate why you're the best
fit for the particular role.
A resume summary beneath your contact information
is a great place to do this, because you
can explain how you're seeking to contribute
to this particular company's business goals or mission.
And this may feel tedious at first,
but once you've made a resume for each
of the general industries that you're applying for,
you may find that tailoring it becomes a lot easier.
Here's a Pro Tip: Keep one master copy
your resume that includes all of your experience
that you can pull from to create a tailored
resume for each role.
Borrow words from the job posting.
Most employers use an Applicant Tracking System, or an ATS,
to scan resumes for keywords that they
want to potential hire to have included.
These keywords are often the same words
that are emphasized or frequently repeated
in the job posting, like hard and soft skills.
Now it's not wise to put the keywords on her resume
if they aren't actually true to your apply experience,
but do your best to describe any overlapping skills
in the exact same language.
For example, if you have that you're
an advanced native speaker on your resume,
and they're looking for a native Spanish proficiency,
put native Spanish proficiency on your resume
so that the ATS can easily identify that you
have that qualification.
As for cover letters, it's helpful to know that most cover
letters typically don't get read by recruiters,
especially when the cover letter is listed as optional.
However, writing a cover letter can show great initiative.
And it allows you to make a case for yourself when
you don't have much experience.
For intern candidates without experience,
employers often put more emphasis on softer skills,
like being motivated and taking initiative.
So writing a cover letter is a perfect way
to demonstrate these traits.
It's also a good idea to write a cover
letter for a competitive internship
as a way to stand out from other candidates
and emphasize what makes you the best suited for the role.
And if you choose to submit a cover letter
know that, like a resume, it should be
tailored for each internship.
Step 4: Network.
Take the time to get a referral.
Now networking may feel intimidating, exhausting,
or even unnecessary.
However, internships for top companies
are so competitive that even a very impressive resume can
easily get buried in a pile.
You still have a chance of getting an internship
without networking, but a referral can significantly
boost your application's odds of getting reviewed by human eyes.
That's why it's worth the effort to find somebody
who either works with the company or is
within the company's network to support your application.
Start with the people closest to you
as they're often going to be your strongest advocates.
Reach out to family members, close friends,
and trusted professors and advisors
to see if they have connections at the company
that you're interested in, or even
see if there's an opportunity elsewhere that they believe
would be a great fit for you.
And importantly, help them help you.
For example, if you see on social media
that your advisor is a mutual friend of an employee
at your target company, you might say,
I notice that you're connected with somebody at a company
that I'm interested in learning more about,
would you feel comfortable introducing me to them?
Then if needed, expand your efforts
to a broader circle, such as upperclassmen
who may have formerly held internships
at the target company.
If they don't feel that they can reach out
directly to help your application,
they may at least be able to provide some tips
on how they landed their role.
After that, consider speaking with your school's alumni
network or more distance acquaintances
before reaching out to people at your target company
with whom you're not otherwise connected.
And finally, find common ground before asking for help.
If you choose to reach out to people
you aren't connected with send a short message that points out
a commonality, or a shared interest when possible.
Explain that you'd like to learn more about what they do,
rather than jumping in to asking them to help you
with your application.
And don't be discouraged by radio silence.
It's likely that they won't respond
to a stranger's message, but you never know where reaching out
may lead.
And here's a pro tip.
Network at non-networking events.
As I mentioned earlier, some employers
may have an established relationship with your school.
Alumni often give back by posting information sessions
or presentations to classes or student groups.
Now attending these events are a great way
to learn more about the company, introduce yourself, and get
facetime with potential employers.
Step 5: Prepare for the interview.
Now this is typically the last step
in the process for an internship application.
For a comprehensive video on how to successfully interview,
be sure to check out this video right here.
Otherwise, here are the key takeaways:
#1: Present yourself professionally
by showing up early, bringing your proofread application
materials, and dressing for success.
#2: Get clear on your pitch.
Consider the key accomplishment skills
and the qualities that make you the best
candidate for the role.
#3: Research the company's business goals
and mission, as well as the job description.
#4: Prepare your responses to common interview questions,
especially questions about your resume,
and how this internship supports your career goals.
#5: Get ready to ask the interviewer several questions.
Now beyond those tips, don't forget
that you're evaluating this employer, just
as much as the employer is evaluating you.
During the interview, take note of whether you
feel you would benefit from the knowledge
and the connections gained from this internship.
And assess what kind of deliverables or projects
you could add to your resume when
the internship is concluded.
Finally, let's conclude with the top 3 mistakes
that people make when applying for an internship.
#1: Starting late.
While a number of employers do begin
recruiting for summer internships as late as spring,
many employers begin recruiting in the fall.
Try to begin your search early so that you can benefit
from any rolling applications and avoid last minute
submissions.
#2: Responding slowly.
The pace of school although very demanding
is a bit different than how the business operates.
If you receive an email or a call from potential employer,
aim to thoughtfully respond as soon as possible,
typically within 24-hours.
#3: Limiting your application to posted positions.
If you're interested in the smaller company,
but they don't have any internship openings,
don't be afraid to reach out over email.
They may never formally develop an internship program
that they're recruiting for, but if the opportunity presents
itself, they may decide that they would like the extra help,
and that's a win.
We've just covered a lot.
To recap the main points, the best
way to score a college internship is to #1:
Determine your interests. #2: Strategically
identify target opportunities.
Remember, you can search specifically for internships
on Indeed.
#3: Build a standout resume.
And when in doubt, submit a cover letter.
#4: Network.
Getting a referral is one of the best ways
to get your foot in the door.
#5: Prepare for the interview.
Now if you found this video helpful,
please hit the Like button down below,
and subscribe to our channel right here.
For more career advice, I recommend
checking out this playlist.
And for a video on how to answer the 10 trickiest interview
questions, be sure to click right here.
Thank you so much for watching.
We'll see you next time.