Breaking into a new industry from the ground floor can be intimidating, but the best way to integrate yourself into the fast-paced world of any field is to land yourself an internship!
However, that can be easier said than done. If you need help, five remarkable college students are sharing their advice on how they landed the internships of their dreams. If you take their tips, hopefully you can too.
1. Never discount who you meet in your classes—or in line at Starbucks.
“I got the internship through a friend that I met early my freshman year who is going into the same field that I am. In the music industry it is really really important to make connections and know many different people with different skill sets. You never know what opportunities will come up!” – Danielle, University of Oregon ‘19
You never know who is connected to whom; the student sitting next to you in a lecture hall of 300 might be an open door to a dozen great opportunities, or potentially be your future coworker, boss, or client. Always be friendly, positive, and courteous to everyone.
2. Don’t just talk to family only during the holidays.
“I was able to get this internship with the help of my sister flagging my application as she is the Assistant Manager of Domestic Theatrical Media Marketing [at 20th Century Fox]. I learned how incredibly important networking and keeping in contact with people [is] because I now know people my age who will go work for other companies and could drop my name. I also was able to have “meet and greets” with people in other fields such as publicity and got my foot in the door for other internships next summer.” – Allison, University of Oregon ‘19
Never be afraid to utilize those connections especially if you have a relative or family friend that can dog-ear your application and put in a good recommendation for you!
And once again, it’s always important to make and maintain those connections that you make on and off the job. You can learn more about building and maintaining connections here.
3. Know exactly what you want and why.
“My supervisor later told me that I was chosen over other applicants because I told them what I was passionate [about]. Other people didn’t specify what unit they wanted to work in and they were passed over…be clear with what you want and know what you want to get out of an internship. For my senior year I am back at [the Department for Human Services] for the whole year. I now have a better idea of where I want my career to go and where I see myself in the future.” – Sarah, University of Oregon ‘19
Prove that you’ve done your research: You know exactly what you want, where you want to be, and how you’re going to get there career-wise. Also emphasize that this internship is going to be your first stepping stone to fulfilling those aspirations. People want to work with those who clearly want to be there, and not just so they can add another bullet point to their resume.
Another important point: Just because you know what you want doesn’t mean you should be picky. Often students will put all their internship eggs in one proverbial basket, when in reality it takes quite a few applications to hit the mark.
4. Reach out to professors, teachers, and leaders in your community.
“Getting an internship was a requirement for my degree and at the time I thought I had a really solid resume compared to most. With past job experience, clubs, and a high GPA, I thought there wouldn’t be a problem finding something. But all the companies I had applied to never got back to me, even after I followed up with a phone call. So I talked to my professor about it, and right away he offered me this really cool position through his network of professionals. I ended up getting an internship way better than any of the ones I initially applied to.” – Monica, USC ‘17
Asking around might feel like a last resort, but it shouldn’t. Professors are probably the best resource for a student looking to break into a specific industry, because your professor most likely has a huge circle of professional contacts looking for young college interns to help with their latest research, campaign, or project. (It’s also a good motivator for participating more in class and showing up to office hours often too!)
5. Ask for help from friends and peers.
“My friend had worked for this tech company before and it was something that I was interested in doing so she showed me their website, what to apply for, and she helped me apply for a position. Within a couple of days I received a phone call from the company and I was scheduled for an interview later that week.” – Franklin, University of Oregon ‘18
Maybe filling out applications and writing a cover letter about “the best of you” isn’t exactly your strongest suit. If a friend or peer already has experience working with professionals in the same industry you’re looking to jump in, and knows exactly what the employer is looking for, then allow them to help you articulate your strengths and skills.
It’s all about finding the right wording, which achievements to elaborate on, and which items of your resume you should just leave out (regardless of how proud you are about winning that hot dog eating contest). You want to put your best foot forward, and with the help of a friend who clearly knows what they’re doing, you’ll figure it out soon enough too.
No excuses now, time to get off mom’s couch and go find yourself an internship!
