Internship-hunting is incredibly daunting. Don’t stress! I’ve broken it down for you. I got the process down to a good science in my college years, and this is what I send to my friends’ younger siblings as they start the internship hunt. As long as you strategize and keep a level head, everything will work out just fine.
- Get in the right mindset
- This process is very rewarding and requires a lot of energy. Don’t get caught off guard by the amount of time and effort it’ll take. Lots of students say that job-hunting is like a 5 unit class, so make sure that you book the actual time in your schedule to research, apply, prep, and interview.
- That said, it can be incredibly stressful to do “job stuff” 7 days a week. Just block out a few hours in your schedule for job-hunting and prepping (say, Wednesday and Thursday night) and don’t think about it for the rest of the week. If you’re constantly online looking for jobs, it feels like it’s taking over your life. Compartmentalizing is key.
- Understand your stage in the journey
- It’s going to be harder to find an internship as a freshman/sophomore in college. Lots of big companies use the junior year internship as a way to find full-time hires. It’s not your fault, so just know that it’s not worth your time to apply to jobs that are hiring for a specific college year that you’re not in.
- If you’re a freshman/sophomore, keep an eye out for smaller startups and businesses. You can get excellent training and experience in smaller environments, with even more mentorship.
- Figure out what you’re looking for
- Pinpoint a few industries and roles that excite you.
- Industries are a sector of the economy (e.g. tech, fashion, hospitality).
- Roles are specific functions (e.g. email marketing, social media marketing).
- Pinpoint a few industries and roles that excite you.
- Organize your search with spreadsheets and plans
- Don’t try to keep everything in your head. You’ll have so much to keep track of, so make a spreadsheet and plan in advance.
- Check out the free downloadable here!
- Set job alerts
- These are amazing. Job boards such as LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, and Google Jobs will let you save a search, and will send you email digests when similar jobs come up. Put the interesting ones in your spreadsheet.
- For example, I’ve saved “ecommerce marketing” alerts specifically in Los Angeles, California. Whenever new jobs are posted that meet those parameters, I receive them in an email digest.
- Talk to friends in the industry
- If you have friends who have worked in the industries or roles you’ve pinpointed, grab a coffee or hop on the phone with them. Ask them about their experience, what they learned, and what they wish they had known before starting.
- Just knowing the industry vocabulary and stories will help in the interview process.
- Talk to professionals in the space (also known as informational interviews or coffee meetings)
- Reach out to people who are full-time in the industries or roles you’re thinking about. Are there any fellow college alums who work there now? See if they’d be willing to chat!
- Warm intros are great, but cold-outreach are totally fine too. If you find someone on LinkedIn who seems interesting, send a message or email!
- Some people might be happy to talk on the phone, and some people might be more comfortable answering your questions by email.
- Start applying
- Send out those resumes!
- If you’re applying to more than one type of job (i.e. consulting, banking, marketing), you should definitely tailor your resume. More on that here.
- Cover letters are a drag – but if it gives you space to submit one, do it. Check out some advice on that here.
- Interview
- Interviewing is a gigantic topic – check out this link for our guide to interview prep.
- Keep up with professional communication
- Even though you’re crazy-busy, keep up with the emails in your inbox. Respond to recruiting-related emails within 24 hours. You want to stay in these interviewers’ minds.
- Reject and accept offers
- You’re at the end! Now you have some great options. People generally don’t negotiate intern salaries, but you could ask for relocation assistance or transportation reimbursement.
- Make sure that you close out of the offers you don’t want. Thank them for their time and offer. Definitely don’t ghost them – you might cross paths later!
All of the links from this article:
- Free downloadable: Job application tracking spreadsheet
- List: Great marketing internships
- List: My favorite job boards
- Guide to informational interviews
- How to write a resume
- How to tailor your resume
- How to write cover letters
- Guide to interview prep
