10 Tips to Landing Your Dream Internship

Even though summer isn't around the corner, it is important to understand the process now and start to look for positions sooner rather than later.  If you are anticipating a spring internship, I suggest that you begin applying now if you haven't already.  Time is running out!

Here are my tips on how to successfully complete the internship process:

1. Get your resume checked by a professional, advisor, professor or parent.  Make sure your format is presentable, your grammar and spelling is correct and there are no errors with employment dates or job duties. 
2. Cater your resume and cover  letter to each position you apply to. You should never use the same exact resume or cover letter for multiple internships.  They should be customized to the specific position. If you don't think your resume needs revising, just simply change the objective for the position and company. Another thing you can do is reorder jobs on your resume based on relevance to the internship you are applying to. In the cover letter make sure to include the skills you have that match those they desire in the position description. 
3. Connect with professionals on LinkedIn.  Once you identify companies you want to work for, search for the HR recruiters, managers or directors and employees in the department for which you are applying. This shows that you are interested in the position and took the extra step to get noticed. 
4. Start looking for fall and spring internships at least 3 months prior to when you want to start. However, if you are looking to intern in the summer, I would advise you to start looking in the fall around October (yes, nearly seven months in advance) especially if you are interested in large corporations. They tend to post their positions very early on. Don't miss out on your dream company. Get ahead of the game. 
5. Use school databases and master lists to get contacts and start researching companies. 
6. Ask professors if they have any connections or recommendations. Also, attend internship and job fairs when available. 
   
7. The most popular websites that I suggest for looking for internships are: 
1. Indeed
2. Intern Queen
3. Internships.com
4. Ed2010
5. Levo League 
6. The Muse
7. CareerRookie
8. Media Bistro
9. Experience 
8. In addition to checking the listings on these websites, check corporate career websites for specific companies that your are interested in. Large companies do not always put job listings on job sites. 
9. After finding positions you like, are qualified for and have applied to, follow up with a few you are most interested in within 2-5 weeks if you have not heard anything. You can do this by through email, phone or LinkedIn. Try to contact an HR employee or an employee in the department to which you applied. 
10. Once you get offered an interview, exercise proper email etiquette when responding. Reference my previous blog "12 Email Etiquette Tips".  

*I found my four internships through Internships.com, Indeed, my university's communication master list and actually one through Facebook! Utilize your resources and take initiative. You can do it!*

Good luck with your internship search! Please reach out to me for advice or if you have any specific questions; I would love to assist.