5 tips for internships & a few open roles
It’s that time of the year when we’re on the hunt for internships that will help us expand our experience as students into the professional world. Searching for an internship can be a difficult journey. With so many resources available and different perspectives on how to approach your internship, it can be hard to know which direction to move in. Thankfully, our team polled some experts in the field to pull together some great tips for our members. Whether you’re in your first year of college or last, these tips will help set you up to get the most out of your internship search and experience.
TOP TIPS FOR YOUR INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE
TIP 1: CONSIDER YOUR OBJECTIVES
You may not have clarity on what you want for your career quite yet, and that’s OK! But having objectives in mind can help you choose an internship you’ll get the most out of. Consider a few areas you’ve been interested in exploring and review some of the job descriptions for your ideal role (not your internship). Try to identify some of the top skills and experience you’ll need for that role and use this criteria to identify internships that can help you strengthen those areas.
TIP 2: START SEARCHING NOW
It may seem early in the semester to be looking for internships, particularly if you’re interested in Spring or Summer Internships. a 3 to 6 month lead time is a good target, since some hiring processes can take a bit longer and can be extremely competitive. If you wait until too close to summer or your desired start date, internship roles may be filled.
TIP 3: LOOK EVERYWHERE FOR THEM
Job boards and websites are helpful tools for finding internships, but there are other ways you can find great internships. Your school may likely have a Career Center, and you can also visit company websites directly to see their open job postings. Additionally, you can network with fellow classmates or with professionals in the space at events to create connections and relationships who may have referrals.
TIP 4: GET YOUR RÉSUMÉ REVIEWED
One of the biggest mistakes we see students make is overlooking the importance of a professional and well-written résumé. A good résumé does more than simply list your experience, interests and majors. A good résumé helps the hiring manager get to know you. A great first impression is key to being invited to interview, and HOW you present your passion, interests, and experiences can make a big difference.
TIP 5: COMPILE RECOMMENDATIONS
Hiring managers will almost always ask for letters of recommendation or references. Sometimes they will have criteria for the type of references they want you to submit. Having these references compiled ahead of time will not only save you time in the application process, it will present you as prepared and leave a good impression. A good list of references will include 3-5 references spanning managers you’ve had or colleagues you’ve worked with who can vouch for your character and work ethic.
A Few Internships We Found
RiskTakers Fellowship aims to explore possibilities and what-ifs that enable to re-imagine the status quo through a wide range of voices and perspectives.
The White House is looking for candidates for the office of Science and Technology Policy to help maximize the benefits of science and technology.
The Obama Foundation is accepting applicants who plan to pursue a career in public service.