1. Seek out a mentor. Getting advice and learning about someone else's experiences is extremely beneficial. Your mentor can be a professor, school advisor, athletic coach, club leader, an older, upperclassman friend or anyone else you has had more experience in the industry or field that you desire to be a part of. A mentor can give you advice, answer any questions you have, offer guidance and provide feedback for anything you partake in. It's important to hear others' perspectives because it will help you determine what you want the most. Identify someone in your life that would be an ideal mentor and talk to them about your ideas for mentor-mentee relationship. Most people enjoy helping others and would be honored if asked. It is suggested that you create a small contract that outlines your goals and expectations of the relationship.
2. Attend networking events, conferences or workshops. It's never too early to start making new connections or learn from professionals. Seek out some events on your campus or nearby that relate to your values and could help you learn more about a particular industry or skill. Many events are free, especially on your college campus. Check out your university's website, Eventbrite, Meetup or your local newspaper or magazine for upcoming events. Look into your specific college's event calendar or Career Center's calendar. There are always plenty of events in the fall and spring during the semesters!
3. Schedule informational interviews. Setting up informational interviews with industry professionals is invaluable. You will get to ask these professionals any questions you want, which can really help you understand more about their company and determine if a particular industry is the right fit for you. Get contacts from LinkedIN, your advisor, a professor or through a university database and reach out to a few professionals via email. Briefly tell them about yourself and ask if they would be available to grab coffee or meet for 30 minutes for an informational interview. If they agree to meet or chat, have some questions ready and take notes. This interview is strictly for more information about their job responsibilities, the industry and corporate culture so take advantage of what they divulge!
4. Start a blog or personal website. Having an online presence and showcasing your talents and writing skills is super impressive to employers. It shows that you took initiative to do something that you like for your benefit and is not required by your university. Start a blog about anything - food, sports, beauty, fashion, fitness - and put the link on your resume. Your blog should be a fun new hobby that would be beneficial to your readers and be of interest to recruiters. Just make sure to watch out for misspellings or grammatical errors and keep it appropriate!
5. Join your university's Her Campus chapter or start your own! HerCampus.com is an online magazine for college women that offers great tools and skills to help make you a successful student. You can write for any of the six sections of the magazine or contribute to the marketing, public relations or social media teams. Being in Her Campus shows that you can work well with a team, meet deadlines and communicate effectively. Whether you're journalism, PR, marketing or communication, being a part of Her Campus will be a worthy asset on your resume.
6. Write for your school's newspaper. If you love your school and want to show some pride, reach out to the newspaper's Editor-In-Chief to cover some news. Pitch them an idea for a monthly column, offer to attend events and recap them, or write features. Just like Her Campus, you will need to meet strict deadlines and work effectively with others. It will also help you be aware of what's happening on campus and who the university's influential people are since they are most likely reported about in the paper.
7. Create a professional portfolio. Even if you are only a underclassmen, it is important to start compiling pieces now! Get a one-inch binder and start putting in things that showcase your work, skills or achievements. If you made Dean's List, put the letter in there. If you got an A on your final paper, include it. If you won an award or received a kudos email from a professor, add it. You can keep making changes as time goes on, but start it now to monitor your success and progress. This is something you should absolutely bring on an interview! It will make you stand out and presenting this to an interviewer sets you aside from other candidates.
I strongly suggest implementing some of these tips since they will help you become a more well-rounded, successful internship candidate. If you have any questions, please leave a comment. Good luck jump starting your success!
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