5 Essential Tips to Successfully Secure An Internship Job

Internships are invaluable. As college students, it is ideal to apply for internships and complete at least one (if not multiple) during your study breaks. One of the main benefits of internships is that they give you work experience. Most employers now want new hires to have some work experience in the industry or job that they would like to pursue.

Applying and completing internships also allows you to acquire more well-rounded experiences; you also get to see first-hand how companies function on a day-to-day basis. More importantly, the experiences provide you with an invaluable understanding of the business and industry in which you want to work in once you graduate. Internships also help you grow in confidence, build your professional network, or even get you hired right out of college!

Here are five tips that will help you to get the internship of your dreams.

1. Figure yourself out

Assuming this is your first internship search, the first thing you want to do is to figure out a few important things first.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What do I really want from this internship and the organisation I’ll be working for?
• What kind of job should I be applying to, and in which industry?
• Honestly, what do I want/need to learn from this internship?
  • Note: Really think through why you want an internship and what you personally hope to get out of it.
• When exactly do I need to start and end the internship? How long should my internship last? (Most internships typically last three months, but the rule of thumb is the longer, the better — to prove your worth.)
• How long am I willing to commute daily to get to and from work? What are my financial needs?
• Am I willing to move out of my city or country to pursue the internship?

If you can figure out the answers to these questions, then you will be able to streamline the companies you want to apply to. These answers will also come in handy during your job interviews.Read more: 5 Clever Tips to Help You Stand Out Among Other Job Candidates.

2. Look everywhere

It’s never too early to start thinking about your career. Use every resource you possibly can to find the right internship. Work with your school’s career counsellors. Let your professors know you are looking for an internship. Ask fellow students where they did their internships. Use your school’s network alumni. Tap into the resources your parents and friends might have.

Scour the employment websites, such as JobStreet, for internship postings. Go to career fairs, talks, and events in the field of your interest. Introduce yourself and network with people in the industry at these events and let them know you are looking for an internship. Make an effort to be at the right place and at the right time.

Don’t limit yourself to just one job specification or one industry or type of organisation. Keep an open mind, especially towards companies, locations, and industries. You may end up finding passion in a place you never expected! If you stay open to the right opportunities, great experiences will follow.

Read more: 4 Benefits of a Solid Internship Program

3.  Make that resume shine!

One of the first things you want to do even before actively searching for an internship is to build a strong resume and cover letter. You want to make sure that your resume is absolutely pristine. That means no grammatical errors!

In addition to making sure that the resume and applications are error-free, you must make sure that you include information that employers frequently want to know about such as relevant experience you have in the industry, as well as any special knowledge you may have acquired in the field thus far, preferably toward the top of the document or in some other prominent place.

Keep it short and concise! Two pages are enough. If you’re having a hard time compressing your resume, cut out the least important details. Also, cut out anything that is from high school or not relevant to your degree/career. Always write a cover letter in addition to submitting your resume. Tailor your cover letter with details on what makes you a good fit and why you chose this company for an internship.

Pro tip: Create your profile with JobStreet and use a resume format that most employers prefer. It’s free, convenient, and customisable. Once done, you can start applying for internships and even print it out when going out for interviews.

4. Apply early

Most companies have deadlines for internship applications, which are oftentimes months before the start of the internship itself. Missing the application date for an internship that you really wanted can be devastating and will likely take you out of the running before you even have the chance to apply.

If the internship you are applying for is a requirement by your faculty, chances are there will be plenty of paperwork that will need to be submitted. You want to give yourself, the faculty, and the organisation you are applying for enough time to process each document.

Even if you have not missed any deadlines yet, you still don’t want the entire process to be rushed. Not only will this make you a stressed out mess, but it also increases the chances of accidentally missing out required documents and materials or sending out the wrong one without having enough time to rectify the mistake.

Pro tip: Be sure to check out JobStreet’s Career Resources page, which is packed with the latest career tips and guides.

5. Impress at the interviews

You are here because your resume and application have impressed a future employer, and this is the time to shine… brighter than a diamond. You never get a second chance to make a first impression. You will want to do whatever you can to impress the people you are interviewing with. This can be done through the language that you use, the clothing that you wear, and how you approach the questions.

Research the company before interviewing. Find out their values and buzzwords. Use references to those values and buzzwords in your interview. Get acquainted with common interview questions and how to answer them. There are many standard questions that tend to get asked and how you answer them is important.

Ask a friend or family or even your college’s career services department to help you prepare for the interview. Having a few mock interviews with someone you’re comfortable with can help you prepare for the real thing when the time comes.

When searching for internships, remember that it’s never too early to start thinking about your career, and that any experience helps.

Read more: Make a Good Impression: How to Practise Etiquette in Job Interviews

Finding the perfect internship is every college student's dream. Even more important, is the impact that it will have on your overall career. If you miss out on an internship with your dream company, don’t let that stop you from re-applying in the future. When you fail, try again! With time and diligence, your efforts will pay off — in an internship that gives you the experience you need to land the future job you want.

Create a Jobstreet account of your own on our website!