~Internships~
They're vast, fruitful and can help you gain valuable workforce skills … if you find the right ones. If you're clicking on this article chances are you're currently looking for an internship or you are at least considering one and HEY-
that's a good start!
For undergraduates, internships are a great way to gain experience in your field while not spending a lot of money because you know… the college life is the #brokelife. Internship opportunities range from paid to free. I wouldn't advise you to participate in a free internship if you can help it because, in my opinion, your time and effort is worth something. Internships can take a lot of time out of your day and can be stressful
though rewarding. Imagine working hard for a company and still coming home empty handed every day. Nevertheless, if the internship is one that you're genuinely interested in, and you don't mind the lack of money, go for it!
I’ve had an internship every year that I have been in college (so two) and have been accepted to around five in those two years. I also am currently working on securing an internship for summer 2019 just as my summer 2018 internship is ending; I have the feeling I've almost got it! My internship tips and tricks have helped me land most of the opportunities I’ve had thus far and have helped me be selected to fly to New York City and Texas twice (all expenses paid) for the internship I am trying to secure for summer 2019. *Editor’s note: I GOT THE INTERNSHIP!!!* In this article, I will be explaining some strategies I have found to be extremely beneficial to my internship success thus far.
This article is not guaranteeing you anything. If anything, I would look at this article as a getting started guide. Because, if you're not taking these steps already, you're doing yourself a disservice by making your internship searching experience less efficient.
Become more strategic in the way you search for internships and
watch as the results pour in.
If you learn anything valuable from this guide or secure any internships with the help of this guide, PLEASE do not hesitate to email me at (freetheshe123@gmail.com) or comment down below. I will eventually be making a success stories page and you could be featured (;
TIPS:
Figure out what kind of internship you want - Do you want to stay in your town, another state or another country? Do you want to work more on the technical side, business side, or research side? Step one is figuring out the logistics behind what you're willing to do and what you're not. It’s ok to be picky but try not to get too selective. You never know what you could gain from an internship you weren't interested in initially. It’s ok to get out of your comfort zone from time to time.
Do you have a company in mind that will have the internship you're searching for? Look on their website! - Do you have a company you’ve always dreamed of working for? Chances are they have an internship page online! Look it up under their careers page or use good ole Google.
Check school emails + use school resources - I found my first internship through my school's computer science weekly emails. Schools will usually have some professor or director from your major regularly send out opportunities and organizations that may be of interest to their students. Do not ignore those emails. I know they can be sent to you a little too frequently sometimes, but I can almost guarantee that if you pay attention to them, you'll find at least one great opportunity that you're able to secure. If not an internship, maybe a scholarship or club in your major. Scholarships and clubs can also lead to internships, so don’t rule them out! Also, reach out to professors in your area, go to your school's department for your major and ask around! Networking is your superpower.
Go to networking events - Networking events are such an easy way to expand your network of friends, potential business partners, etc. in your industry. I went to an event Facebook was hosting at my school, met a guy who ended up introducing me to a program that sends undergraduates to SXSW for free. I was accepted into that program (Found here: http://hbcuatsxsw.co/) and went to SXSW the same year; Through SXSW, I was chosen for a sponsorship with a top four accounting firm and am now being offered great opportunities through them. This was all because of that first guy I met at the Facebook event. That initial conversation opened the door to an array of incredible opportunities for me. Finding networking events and being active at them is a valuable step in the right direction towards landing your dream internship.
Stem: National Science Foundation Research for Undergraduates - If you're a stem major and are interested in research (undergraduate only) here is the website I have found my last two internships on. The courses vary in pay and expenses covered, but for my previous two computer science research opportunities I've had all expenses paid. So transportation, food, and housing were all covered. We were paid a $5000 stipend for the whole summer as well. That’s way more than I would ever make for a summer at any of my past jobs AND I got to work on stuff that is relevant to my career. That, my friends, is a win-win situation. Link for program here: https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.jsp
Resume: do’s and don'ts - This could be a whole other article. I can’t even count on one hand how many times I’ve been to resume workshops or had my resume looked at by people in the industry. I’ve come to the realization that my resume can always be improved. I think you should have that mentality about yours as well. However, until I can make another article on all that I’ve learned about resumes thus far, I’ll give you some simple do’s and don'ts. Do: update your resume everytime you gain a new experience. Don't: make your resume more than one page (ideally its one page, if you really want it to be two pages you should make it front and back.) Do: Edit your resume to make it specific to the internship you're applying to. Again, this is brief. A full article on this is coming soon.
Interviewing - When you get an interview, try and put your best self forward. In a sense, you're selling yourself. So try and sell someone who is fun to work with, hardworking and reliable. Granted, I am hoping that all these things about you are actually true, but try to give off that vibe whether you're being interviewed on the phone or in person. Show up 10-15 minutes early for your interview. Dress appropriately even if it's a webcam interview. Practice power poses, smile and be attentive. Your body language should show that you are confident and your voice should project.
Here are some YouTube videos I found helpful for practicing for interviews:
How to Seem Confident in an Interview, Even If You Aren't by Dice News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cpoinc9hQs
30 Seconds on Power Poses by Amy Cuddy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4ACeoqEjeA
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