How to Land an Internship

Whether you want to get ahead or just get a feel for your field, internships are the perfect way to do that. To be competitive in the workforce and give yourself a leg up in the job search after graduation, it’s necessary to apply for meaningful internships. To figure out what internship to apply for, ask yourself a few questions, such as, “What is an internship?”, “What are you looking to get out of an internship?” and best of all, “how do I even go about getting one?”

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An internship is basically training that relates to your future career, your current field of study, or helps boost your resume. Depending on the company, these can either be paid or unpaid. These can take place through the school year, for credit or for experience, or during the summer, where you can dedicate time to it. Internships usually last six months to a year; it all depends on the program and company that you apply to.

Regardless of the where or how the internship takes place, you’ll pick up on some valuable skills. Those include learning about work environments, networking, mentorships, and deciding if you want to commit to a job such as this. If your bosses like the work you’ve done, you might receive a full-time job after you finish school!

“I think internships teach you responsibility as well as time management and communication skills,” says Ashley Amsler, a RaiseMe Editorial Intern.

The first step in applying or finding an internship is to know what you want. Start looking at industries that you’re interested in and get a feel for what they’re looking for. Make a list of the industries you might want to work in, and then start listing potential internships in each one. Tailor the listings to your skills, so if you are really good at writing, apply for a contributing writer position. That goes for marketing as well — if you are good at promotions, apply to be a campus or sales ambassador.

The next step is to tailor your resume and cover letter to the company. It’s a common misconception that you have to use the same resume and cover letter for every job, but that is not true! Every company that you apply to should receive a personalized cover letter from you. Most recruiters will look over your resume for at most eight seconds, so if you have a tailored resume that highlights your skills that pertain to that job, it’ll stand out!

After you send in your resume and all the necessary application items, take initiative and follow up. Companies might not look at it immediately, but if you send a short email reminding them who you are and what you’re applying for, you’ll be fresh in their mind! Don’t forget to thank them for their time! They’ll get in contact with you soon enough.

Sites such as WayUp and Uloop give internship listings based on your location, which might be remote or on-site. These sites also give tips and information for applying to internships, creating a resume, and after-college resources. There are fantastic resources for high school freshman and sophomores, as well as college students.

“Most places that have internships advertise them well and try to communicate the opportunity to prospective applicants. There are also apps such as Indeed and LinkedIn that can help you find good internships based on your skills,” says Amsler. You could also pick a few companies in the area and check if they have internships, as most of the time local companies won’t advertise as much as larger ones!

If you don’t get the position, don’t worry! There are so many out there. You’re not going to get every internship you apply to. You’re going to receive a lot of messages beginning with “We are sorry to inform you…” and even more opportunities will pass without a response at all.

Depending on the company, not all internships are the same. Try out a few internships, all in different fields or companies, before you decide to settle on a major or job. And while they are all different, during these programs you learn essential skills of the trade that will give you a leg up whatever you do next.