Second semester is here, and panic mode immediately sets in. You are trying to solidify your summer internship plans or, even more daunting, your first job. It feels like all your friends have seamlessly secured their summer roles while you are still stuck email stalking everyone you know on LinkedIn for help.
My first recommendation is to take a deep breath. Every single internship I had was confirmed in April and some even in May. And while it’s easy to be envious of your BFF’s internship at E! Network, there are plenty of awesome internships still waiting (and needing) to be filled with ambitious college students like you.
With that being said, this is not the time to sit back and just wait for your dream internship to fall in your lap. This will never, ever happen. You have to balance being proactive, aggressive and determined while also having a bit of patience. I always created a checklist of things to do while looking for my summer internships to make myself a little less crazy. Here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare to apply for internships:
- Double and triple check your resume. Make sure there are no inaccuracies or situations where you may have stretched the truth. Companies want to know the real you and what your real previous experience looks like. Also, typos are a major no-no.
- Make a list of companies you aspire to intern and work for. Look at this list and see if the companies listed match what your potential career goals are. Just because you love a company doesn’t mean it makes sense for you to be apart of their team. For example, I love candy, but working for a chocolatier wouldn’t be beneficial for my fashion career (or my waistline). You want to focus on gaining valuable experience in the field you hope to pursue.
- Look through your contacts on Facebook or LinkedIn. Whether it was a girl a few years older you had Econ with or your good friend’s brother who works in the industry, reach out to those close connections. Ask if he or she can chat with you for 10 minutes about the job hiring process at his or her company. Listen. Take notes. Learn how various companies make new hires.
- Meet with career services and use your university’s connections. Indiana University has great connections with companies such as Target and Macy’s to the point that these companies often reserves a spot or two for an IU student in their summer program. Every school has these types of relationships with companies. Find out which companies your school has access to and utilize this built in connection.
- Get your applications in on time. Don’t dare think of sending it a second later then it’s due. This immediately shows your lack of professional and makes a bad first impression.
- Do your due diligence on the company before the interview. Know who are the decision makers and how they have recently been mentioned in the press. Show that you just don’t care to land an internship, but you want to land an internship at this specific company.
- Bring your A game. This goes without saying. Show up early. Bring clean copies of your resume. Dress professionally. Smile. Shake hands. Be polite. Make your mom proud. You know the drill…
CollegeFashionista recently launched a Career Section focusing on job and internship postings as well as real life experience from industry vets. These companies have specifically wanted to put their internship or job out there to CollegeFashionsta network—that means you! So be sure to check it out as you head out on your journey to securing your summer position.
Happy hunting!