How to Find a Summer Internship: A Guide for Students
"The best way of learning about anything is by doing." This famous quote by the British entrepreneur and billionaire Richard Branson illustrates the power that practical learning has to success. Similarly, for a student, an internship can be a great way to learn new things from a practical perspective and put everything they got from education into practice.
An internship can be a great introduction to an industry or a specific role related to your career path. Besides gaining experience, you will develop and refine new skills and build a strong resume. Furthermore, if your working experience is positive, you may end up earning a permanent position through your internship.
So, if you're a student looking to explore your career path and work towards your dream job, you may find this article helpful. We focus on answering two main questions for you:
"What is an internship in college?"
"How to find internships as a college student?"
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What Is an Internship in College?
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), internships are a popular form of experiential learning that integrates theory learned in classrooms and knowledge with practical application and skill development in a professional setting. Generally, people pursue internship programs because it is an excellent way to gain professional work experience, connect with people from the same field, learn more about the workforce, and develop skills that will be valuable for them in the future.
Internship programs usually last 10 to 12 weeks, corresponding to an academic semester's span. However, the duration of an internship depends on the organization offering it and its goals; thus, it can last anywhere from only a few weeks to an entire year. There are three main types of internships:
Academic internships
This type of internship is generally regarded as work experience integrated into an academic program. An academic internship might be part of mandatory or elective courses and occurs within an agency approved by the university. Such an internship gives students a way to get academic credit in return for their work.
Paid internships
Paid internships, as the name suggests, offer monetary compensation for the work you do as an intern. Generally, the way student interns are paid throughout the internship is through an hourly rate or in the form of a stipend. In some cases, employers compensate their interns through reimbursement for housing, travel, and other expenses instead of money.
Unpaid internships
Lastly, in an unpaid internship, you have the same position as in any other type of internship, but the difference is that there is no monetary or academic credit compensation for your work. Instead, the aim of such internships is to help you develop your skills and gain experience in the field.
How to Find Summer Internships as a College Student
Finding the perfect internship program as a student is a challenging task. Furthermore, securing that perfect internship after finding it is even more of a challenge. It can feel discouraging to have your application declined or to see a good internship opportunity you are not qualified for.
To make it in today’s competitive job market, you should know how to make the best of every tool available. So, if you are still wondering how to get a summer internship, keep reading as we provide you with a guide on how to find internships as a college student and get them.
Start early
It is never too early to start working toward your dreams. Although you are a student and have many things to worry about regarding your studies and college program, this period of your life is also a perfect time to start thinking about internship programs. Of course, you might not feel ready to commit to it right away, but it would be helpful if you began your research and path toward improving yourself so that you can apply for it whenever you feel ready.
Remember that if you start early with your research and application process, you have additional time to perfect everything and not rush into the application. Furthermore, if you are sure you want to begin an internship program during the summer, you shouldn’t wait until the last moment to start the application process. It would be best if you were especially wary about starting early with your preparations since specific industries have early deadlines for their summer internship programs and may begin the recruitment process in November of the previous year. Best to be safe than sorry!
Consider what you need
Before applying for an internship, you should begin with a self-assessment to learn more about what you are looking for in an internship and, most importantly, what you need from it. Ask yourself questions such as:
How much time can I commit to an internship program?
Will the internship program fit my current school and/or work schedule?
Would I be willing to travel for the internship program?
What are my desired outcomes and objectives of an internship program?
Should I prioritize paid internship opportunities?
It is best that you feel comfortable, happy, and satisfied with your internship position in order to achieve good results and get the best out of this experience. Therefore, it is essential for you to be sure about what you want and need out of your internship before you commit yourself to it.
Prepare a strong resumé and cover letter
When applying for an internship program, your primary goal is to convince the employer that you have the skills, knowledge, willingness, and determination to succeed in the internship role offered. The best way to show your potential is through a strong resume and cover letter.
To write an impressive resume and cover letter that showcases your skills, you should try and keep everything simple. Do not overstuff your resume or cover letter; instead, focus on the achievements, experiences, and skills related to the field and internship position you seek. Lead with a solid objective statement and tailor everything to match what the company is looking for. Remember to proofread everything numerous times and even ask for help from others to give you feedback. You must be honest, concise, and consistent. Think like an employer, and try to highlight the things that best represent you for the best shot of landing the position you are applying for.
Polish your social media
Nowadays, everyone is on social media. Therefore, it is no surprise that, according to data, around 70% of employers check the applicants’ profiles, including sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, as part of their screening process. Furthermore, around 54% of employers report having rejected applicants because of what they found during such a screening process.
Before applying for an internship program, look back at your social media and try to see everything from a prospective employer’s eyes. We would suggest that you keep your accounts private, set an appropriate profile picture, and ensure that each time you express yourself through posts, you do it wisely.
Use online tools and/or enlist in an agency
When looking for an internship program, you can use many online tools and other techniques to make the process quicker. Some of the best online sites that we recommend where you can search for internship opportunities include:
If you have no luck in finding an internship program to your taste through online searching, you can make use of various agencies. Internship agencies are organizations that act as “middlemen” in the process of helping you secure an internship. They help students and young graduates to find, apply to, and secure internships in sectors of their choice.
Network
Networking is a valuable tool you can use to get an internship. If you know contacts that are part of the industries you're interested in, consider reaching out to them and asking them for any internship opportunities they know of.
Networking doesn't only mean connecting with professionals in the field, but the circle can include your professors, friends, and even family members. Anyone hearing about an upcoming internship can let you know when they know you're interested in one.
Furthermore, consider the impact of a personal recommendation on getting an internship. You can collect recommendation letters from people that know you and attach those to your application.
Consult your university
Consulting your university and using their career resources can facilitate finding the perfect internship for you. For example, most universities have a career website where different employers can look for students to hire and a career center where you can get help, guidance, and advice regarding internships.
So you need to speak with professors, college advisors, and career counselors at your college about what type of internship you are interested in. They can guide you and inform you about upcoming internships that are relevant to your degree.
Practice for interviews
Not being prepared for the interview can keep you from getting an internship. So whenever you have an interview, make sure you do your research on these two things: the company and common interview questions.
By checking the company's website and social media, you can learn more about their products or services, milestones, goals, etc. This way you will show that you're well informed and interested in working for the company.
One of the most common interview questions is asking why you want to work there. You can check online for more common questions interviewees tend to ask and practice answering them. Remember to be confident, specific, and optimistic.
Conclusion
A summer internship is an excellent opportunity for students embarking on their career journey. By following this guide, you’ll have the key to finding one and, hopefully, the best summer honing your skills in a field of your interest.