“Wasn’t this supposed to be easy?”
That’s the refrain that reverberates in the ears of Beth Hendler-Grunt, president of Next Great Step in Livingston, NJ, who has guided hundreds of students through the internship process.
“A student heads to college, makes connections and applies for an internship to gain valuable summer experience . . . but this is harder than expected,” said Hendler-Grunt, noting that many college students are unprepared for the job market.
“They can’t always communicate their value or speak about their skills in a way that connects. And the competition is fierce.”
Still, with some savvy and strategic planning, it’s more than possible to land the internship of your dreams — even now.
And yes, getting an internship is important for your future vocational prospects.
“College internships can give students the chance to experience different kinds of work in their field, explore career paths and make informed decisions about which direction they want to pursue after graduation,” said Darren Shafae, founder of Santa Barbara, Calif.-based ResumeBlaze, an app that helps job seekers create a clean and professional résumé.
“Internships offer invaluable on-the-job training as well, providing practical knowledge that may not be learned in a classroom setting. These include working closely with professionals, understanding team dynamics, and solving real-world problems — all of which are essential to succeeding in the job market.”
Ahead, career pros chime in on the best way to snag a summer internship if time is of the essence.
Leverage your network
Now’s not the time to be self-conscious about calling in favors, or at the very least utilizing your associations to get you closer to that epic summer internship gig. Even if you’re starting your search only a few weeks before summer, Matthew Warzel, president, MJW Careers, stressed the importance of reaching out to your personal network and leveraging any connections you may have.
“Ask friends, family or alumni from your school if they know of any internship opportunities or can connect you with someone who does. Utilize social media platforms like LinkedIn to search for potential opportunities and make new connections in your desired field,” he said.
Alumni of your college or university, in particular, may be particularly helpful.
“Alumni can be great resources for finding last-minute internships,” said Shafae. You can reach out on LinkedIn, or by searching for their email contact online. (Your school may have an alumni email address format you can use or be able to connect you to grads directly.) “You may even get lucky and land a referral,” he added.
Your school’s career center is another great route to pursue.
Shafae said that career services can be an invaluable resource for finding internships, even if you’re running short on time.
“Many career services have a database of opportunities and staff available to help you find the best fit for your skills and interests,” he said, adding that to fast-track the process, bring a résumé and any other relevant documents to your appointment.
Look for local, part-time internships
Just because it’s part time, doesn’t mean it’s not worthwhile, and more of these opportunities may be available if you’ve waited until now to commence your search.
“Small businesses, nonprofits or startups may have part-time internships available that don’t require a full-time commitment,” said Shafae.
Be engaged
Whether you made it to the interview phase (hooray!) or are sending a cold email inquiry, displaying your genuine interest goes a long way. “College students who know what type of internship they want and why they want it will have more success,” said Hendler-Grunt.
As this New York City-area career guru shared, a head of campus recruiting for a top financial firm recently told her: “We don’t want a candidate who says,
‘I want to be in finance.’ We want them to be specific and express which department they want to work for — securities, investment banking or wealth management.”
Seek out remote internships
“Many companies are now offering virtual internships that can be done from anywhere,” said Warzel, who flagged these gigs as a solid choice if you’re struggling to find an internship in your local area or if you’re facing time constraints. “Look for companies or organizations that offer remote internships in your desired field, and tailor your application to highlight your ability to work independently and remotely.”
Warzel also suggests browsing online job boards that specialize in remote work, such as Remote.co or FlexJobs.
“By expanding your search to include remote internships, you may be able to find a great opportunity that fits your schedule and location constraints.”
… Or those in a different location
In-person internship experiences may serve you better than remote opportunities as it gives you face time with key movers and shakers.
That’s why you may also want to consider casting your geographical net wider when on the internship prowl.
“Expanding your search to other cities or even other countries can greatly increase your chances of finding an internship,” said Warzel. “Look for opportunities in cities or regions that are known for your desired industry or field, and tailor your application to highlight your willingness to relocate for the internship,” he continued.
You can also check out job boards or internship websites that specialize in opportunities in different locations, such as GoAbroad or InternAbroad.
Don’t just stick to your first choice
Some of the jobs that aren’t the sexiest on paper wind up being the most valuable and enriching job opportunities of your life.
To that point, Warzel said to look for opportunities that may not be as popular or competitive as others, such as internships in smaller or lesser-known companies or in less glamorous industries.
“These internships may not be your dream job, but they can still offer valuable experience and skills that can help you stand out in future job applications,” he said, pointing out that these companies may be more likely to accept last-minute applications or have a shorter hiring timeline.
Consider micro-internships
Hendler-Grunt is a fan of this new way for employers to access college students in the workplace.
“Companies have a backload of project-based work that they need help with that may require little training i.e., creating social media content, financial analysis, lead generation, market research,” she said.
“And these work experiences can be one to two weeks experience that take place any time of the year, not just in the summer.”