Seven Steps to Landing a Summer Internship
CareerBuilder.com
It's not too late to land a
summer internship at a great company according to career counselors and
corporate recruiters. Don't assume that all good internships are already
filled. It's never too late to seek out summer opportunities as major
companies, small businesses and non-profits often do not recognize the need for
an intern until summer has begun. All you need is an action plan and a little
creativity to get going. Before you know it, you'll be negotiating this
summer's start date.
Step 1: Talk with your professors and guidance counselors about your
desire to land a summer internship at a company that specializes in your field
of study. You may be surprised by the number of contacts they have. This is no
time to be shy. Ask him or her directly about any opportunities they know about
in your field and for their help in putting you in touch with people who may be
able to help you land a summer internship. If they suggest you call someone
they know, ask for permission to use their name and be sure to use it!
Step 2: Surf the 'net. Log on to an Internet job search site such as
CareerBuilder.com. Use CareerBuilder.com's Quick Job Search feature to locate
summer internship opportunities by using the keywords "internship" or
"summer." You'll find thousands of openings across the nation at
great companies like Lockheed Martin, Ernst & Young, Motorola and more.
Step 3: Use your network of friends, family members and neighbors.
Experts agree that using a contact to help you get your foot in the door before
a position is advertised is one of the keys to success. Contact them and let
them know you are looking for a summer internship. Ask them if they know of any
openings or have a contact in your field of interest. One college freshman
shared her interest in landing an internship in genetics with a neighbor while
at her brother's soccer game. Turns out the neighbor has several clients in the
biotechnology field and was able to put the student in touch with a number of
top firms.
Step 4: Reach out to the community. If necessary, expand your network to
other people you know in your community such as church members, fellow athletic
team members, former employers and fellow volunteers. Tell them you are looking
for a summer internship in your field and ask for their help. Most people won't
be able to resist helping a hard-working college student find summer
employment.
Step 5: Find a personal connection within the company with which you
would like to work. Use your "personal hook" in your contact with the
prospective employer. You can find a hook by researching the company on the
Internet and looking for clues that could lead to a personal connection with
someone in the company. Suppose you research the company's executives and find
that the chief information officer attended your university. Use this
connection by calling him or her directly, identify yourself as a student of
his or her alma mater and communicate your desire for an internship at the
company. Chances are, they'll be happy to help you by either paving your way to
their company's human resources contacts or by putting you in touch with their
fellow industry contacts.
Step 6: Look into non-profits for opportunities. Nearly every student -
regardless of their major - would benefit from a summer internship at a
non-profit organization or company. Many internships at non-profits often
provide opportunities not available to student interns at traditional
companies. Because staffing is often tight and budgets are even tighter,
non-profit organizations are eager to find student interns with a desire to
head up projects or put their knowledge to work on a variety of high impact and
meaningful tasks. Students gain real world experience and valuable skills, and
the organization benefits from the student's contribution.
Step 7: Contact small businesses in your area and propose a possible
internship. Although the local print shop may appear to be running smoothly,
you may not realize that its owners are struggling with the need to market
their business, establish better pricing methodologies and improve their
antiquated bookkeeping methods. Local consulting firms may have experts in
their field, but lack the money or expertise to hire a full-time business
manager. They would certainly benefit from a summer intern who is majoring in business
administration or marketing. Watch your local newspaper for chamber of commerce
and other business association meetings to make contacts within your community.