How To Get Your First Internship

By Amanda Brown

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve heard about the perks of an internship. An internship gives you the opportunity to explore your interests and gain on the job experience. So how do you get your first internship? Where do you start?  

Read on for a few tips to help you land your first internship with ease.

1. Get clear on what you want

Before you begin searching for your first internship, it’s crucial to know what it is you’re looking for. Know what industry you want to work in and narrow it down to the position you’re after. Find people who are doing what you aspire to do and learn how they got their start. Consider what you want to learn and what skills you would like to gain from an internship.

Then, start your search. Be judicious–don’t chase after everything that sounds cool in the moment. If you want to work toward a viable career path, you need to hone the skills you’ll need to be successful in that path.

2. Research

Once you have a good idea of what kind of internship you’re looking for, it’s time to do some research. Start by putting together a list of all the companies you are interested in interning for. Then browse through each companies website to become familiar with what they do and their core values.

Note that often times, companies will take on interns even if they don’t have an opening listed right on their website. So if you find the perfect company where you think you would be a great fit, but they don’t have any openings listed on their site, don’t be afraid to reach out (politely) to ask if they would accept an application.

3. Touch up your resume

Don’t stress about having a ton of experience on your resume. The point of an internship is to help you build experience in your area of interest. Instead, design your resume to focus on the skillset you’re learning in school and how you can apply those skills to the position you’re applying for.

Relevant experience is valuable, but don’t list every single restaurant and coffee shop job you’ve ever had.

4. Stay organized

Staying organized will make internship hunting go by smoother and help you stay on your A-game.

Start by keeping everything internship related in one binder and have a folder for each application. Save each internship listing as you go and list each internship you plan to apply for or have already applied to. Write down important deadlines, keep track of when you submitted your application, and note when you expect to hear back from them. Also make sure to hold onto the contact information for each recruiter so you can easily contact them to check up on your application.

5. Be persistent

Recruiters often don’t have time to thoroughly review each application because they receive so many emails on a daily basis. This is why it’s important to follow up on your application and make an effort to get in contact with someone from the company.

Being (politely) persistent shows that you are interested in the position and raises your odds of getting the gig.

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