Internships are the kickstarters of a student’s professional career. They are the first instance of the real-world corporate culture for future software engineers or hospital settings for the aspiring doctor. Therefore, it is important to be intentional and selective for your summer internships. It can be exciting and challenging at the same time. But one thing is true each time – a summer internship can make all the difference to your career prospects right after graduating. A career is a long journey, but internships are a short chapter that can start yours off on the right note. Learn how to secure a great one with our complete breakdown below!
How-to Guide to Secure a Great Summer Internship
Choose a Skill Set
Before you begin with the hunt, it is important to identify your goals. The following points will help you in doing so:
- Find your interest: Honestly speaking, academics and interests are different things. There are many instances of career transitioning because people do not understand their calling before they have the taste of real-world experience. So, figure out what you want to do and can do for the rest of your life. Begin your search there!
- Understand your aspirations: Work culture at different organizations can vary greatly, and so can your experiences with it. Work-life balance completely depends on the kind of industry that you are in, as well as the organization you’re working for. Therefore, understand your strengths and life objectives before applying for an internship. Research the company carefully, through platforms like Glassdoor and LinkedIn, to understand what you’re getting yourself into.
- The money factor: It’s a constantly changing world. You should look two steps ahead to appreciate the jobs of tomorrow. The higher the demand, the better the pay. Keep up to date with industry shifts and trends, and invest in developing skills that companies you want to work with are looking for.
Search for Internships
It is advisable to begin with summer internships in the early days of your degree. Starting early ensures you begin accruing valuable work experience early in your career. Additionally, it also helps you try out first-hand different aspects of future careers to help you understand what you see yourself doing professionally after graduation. Here are a few routes you can take to secure internship opportunities:
Campus employment centers:
University in-house facilities are a great point to begin the job hunting process. First, you can ask for vacancies in university departments in HR, IT, data analytics, administration, library, teaching assistant, or other positions of interest. Second, you can inquire about the campus recruitment drive for interns. Many big companies often visit reputable universities to hire candidates.
Search on online platforms:
Search for positions of your choice on platforms like LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Indeed, Internshala, or Google Jobs. Make sure your profile is up-to-date for quick screening by companies. You can post on topics relevant to your sector on platforms like LinkedIn, and network with individuals in careers and companies that you are interested in.
Job fairs:
One venue, many companies, multiple opportunities in one go – that’s a job fair. Companies participate in such job fairs to recruit freshmen and interns with quick interview sessions and preliminary exams. Keep an eye out for fairs that your university or other nearby institutions are hosting and make sure to attend them to scout out opportunities.
Alumni network:
Your seniors and professors are the best guides during your academic years. Make the best of these connections by asking leads to potential internships in their workplaces or your target sector. Ask for guidance and referrals from seniors in high-leadership positions. Discuss your skill set and ambitions with mentors who are supporting your job search. This helps you build a good reputation and strengthen your professional network.
Searching for internships can be a tiresome process. As you work through it, you can filter out your options by:
- Paid internships vs unpaid internships
- Remote or in-office opportunities
- Day-shift or night-time work
Make a Resume
Your resume is a summary of your experience and competencies. It is a quick bite for recruiters to identify your skill set and your suitability for summer internships. Therefore, it should be as crisp as possible. Make sure to highlight a few important things in your resume:
- Education History
- Skills
- Previous work experience, if any
- Extracurricular achievements
- Social work experience
You can consult your seniors while preparing the resume. They can help you make it ATS-friendly and eye-catching.
While applying to companies, customize your cover letter as per their job descriptions and motives. This will increase your chances of getting the internship.
If you are applying for content writing, video editing, graphic designing, or similar roles, you can also send samples of your work for reference.
Exams and Interviews
A company does not just hire an employee – they recruit an asset who can contribute to the growth of the company. So, they may run you through a rigorous set of exams to assess your caliber and potential.
Many companies begin with a brainstorming exercise. You might have a deadline set to submit this assignment. The second step is the interview round, where you directly interact with the recruiters. Alumni from the recruiting company can help you prepare for the interview. Reach out to them politely and professionally to request advice.
Keep track of the application deadlines and results. Staying consistent with your efforts will bring the most satisfactory results.
Things to Expect During Your Internships
Once you score your internship, it’s time to start your professional career. All your academic knowledge will now be put to use. However, being diligent is the key to making the most out of summer internships.
A few things that will help you learn the most in internships are as follows:
- Clear intentions: It is the beginning of your career here. Taking long routes for simple tasks will be lessons you learn for life. Be precise with your ambitions and work in the direction that takes you there.
- Mentorship: During your internship, you will learn while under the mentorship of an expert for each task. Utilize this time to sharpen your skills, learning through experience. Network with colleagues and mentors.
- Soft skills: You can learn hands-on skills by practicing them on the job. People acquire soft skills only when they apply them in real situations. Focus on communication, time management, team-work, and leadership skills while working with your team.
During your internship, you can take initiatives beyond your role. This will help you explore other arenas as well and indicate your proactiveness to learn to your managers. Take regular feedback from your mentors. Work on this and improvise accordingly.
Concluding Remarks
Summer internships should be on every university student’s to-do list. They help you build up critical work experience that can make all the difference when applying for jobs after graduation. So, be smart in selecting the right opportunity. Stay in touch with seniors to gain personal insights, keep researching posts, companies, and roles, and train your skill set to match your dream job. Apply carefully and study hard to build your dream career.
