How To Get That Internship, All Summer 18'
The school year is almost over, and summer is around the corner. For some college students that means going back to their hometown to relax and catch up with old friends and family and for others that may mean working full-time and getting their paper up. Either way, the Live Civil team wants to make sure that all of our scholars are utilizing their free time and filling it with productivity.
A great way to remain productive during the summer is to get an internship. Whether you’re a freshman or senior in college, internships are one of the most important and influential activities to partake in before you start “adulting” and diving into your career post college.
Statistics show that students who interned during their college career are 13% more likely to find full-time employment. This means a lot considering the fact that getting a job post-graduation can be one of the most difficult tasks to complete after college. With an internship under your belt, you are more likely to get hired over your competitor because it gives you the “experience” that companies are always looking for.
Interning helps build confidence in the workplace, interns get an opportunity to work with the “big dogs” of the company. This is your time to have a seat at the table. You get a chance to shine without having “major” responsibilities. You can be a student (aka young Grass Hopper) and soak up all of the information you need to know about a company and your career of choice. Sometimes we aren’t 100% sure of what we want to do in life and that’s okay. Internships will help you figure that out before it’s time to officially get into your first “real” job and career path.
Now that you know the importance of internships the next step is getting one. You are already ahead of the competition if you’re reading this, so let’s dive into the steps you need to take to secure the bag. Here is how you get that internship:
The Cover Letter
Applying for an internship with the company of your dreams is nothing like applying for a job at your local grocery store or favorite clothing store. Keep in mind that you are not the only one applying for this position, there are hundreds of other students just like you that are waiting to get their foot in the door. With that being said, how can you separate yourself from the pack?
When it comes to cover letters we advise you to be as unique and professional as possible. When creating your cover letter be sure to tell your story, create a narrative. Let the company you are applying for know why you are a perfect fit for the job beyond the skills and qualifications that they have listed on the job post. Research the companies culture and how it aligns with your personal morals and core values. Google cover letter templates for help and spice it up to make it sparkle with your own magic.
The Resume
Resumes are pretty basic and universal. The resume is where you showcase your specific technical skills and qualifications, google a template and go to work. If you don’t have much experience that’s okay, list your previous jobs and curate a detailed list of the work that you did. When curating the detailed summary of your work experience you want to make sure that you include tasks that relate to the job that you are applying to.
For example, if you are applying for an internship in marketing and you previously worked as an associate at a clothing store you can say that one of your duties was to communicate with customers and get them to buy merchandise. Communication and being a “people person” is key when it comes to marketing, so in actuality, you do have experience in marketing just on a smaller scale. Companies will appreciate you for connecting the dots and thinking outside of the box.
If you are involved in any on-campus organizations, mention it. This will show ambition. Tons of students go to college and get their degree but not all students flourish on campus and participate in extracurricular activities that aren’t a part of their degree plan. It takes a special student to go a step further and give their time to organizations, this shows that you are not a mediocre candidate.
Lastly, make your resume stand out. Read closely because this is a #MAJORKEY to securing the bag. Companies get hundreds of black and white basic resumes. How can you make your resume pop? Google unique/different resume styles and create a resume that aesthetically looks bomb! If you are applying for a content creator or digital marketing position show your skills with your resume. Don’t be afraid to step outside of the box, add color, fun fonts, and borders to your resume. Trust us, the HR lady will be forced to take a 2nd look at your dope resume and will realize your efforts. A great website for one of a king resume templates is Canva.com.
Keep it simple and sassy.
The Follow Up
You’re done with your cover letter and resume, Congrats! Now you can chill and wait for someone to call you for an interview…SIKE! The process is not over yet, now it’s time to follow up and show some persistence and determination. A week after you turn in your application you want to send an email to “follow up”. The best person to send this email to is the hiring manager, search high and low for their contact information. In this email you are going to introduce yourself, let them know that you applied for a position with their company and would love to set up an interview at their earliest convenience. Once again, google a basic follow-up email and make it your own.
If you don’t receive a call from the company a week following your follow-up email it is time for the follow-up call. Don’t know what to say? You know we’ve got your back…
Don’t know what to say? You know we’ve got your back…
HR: Hello, this is the marketing company of your dreams, how may I help you?
You: Hello, My name is (BLANK). I sent an email to you earlier this week about (COMPANY NAME’s JOB TITLE opening. Do you have a minute to talk? ( WAIT FOR RESPONSE)
I applied online for the position, but I also wanted to reach out to you personally because I’m so interested in the position and I feel I am uniquely suited for the role. I am highly experience at the (MOST IMPORTANT JOB REQUIREMENT) and have extensive (SECOND MOST IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT) experience in the (NAME OF THE INDUSTRY).
I would love to speak with you in person about the opportunity. When might be a good time to talk? I am available this week. Let me know what works for you. Thank you.
After you’ve followed up, the waiting game commences. If you are able to personally take your resume and cover letter to the front desk at the companies office, do that! Going the extra mile will set you apart from other candidates. Companies love to see determination and persistence. Do you really want this position? If you do you will do whatever it takes to get that interview, and we advise you to go beyond yourself and do so! (But don’t be a pest)
The Internship
Now you’ve got the internship, but guess what? The bag is not fully secured. Now it’s time to work your butt off and prove yourself. Honestly, it sucks that most internships are not paid, but it is what it is. Getting the job and living the life of your dreams requires sacrifice, blood, sweat, and tears. If you aren’t about that life you can go and get hired at a measly mediocre job that pays you just enough to make rent. If you are about that life, it’s time to hustle. Give 110 % while participating in your internship. Ask your supervisors for extra work. Be nice, be friendly, make friends, connect, and most importantly be your authentic self! Nobody likes an obnoxious ass-kisser or a show-off. Do your job and do it right. Do more, say less, and be humble.
Now that you’ve got the keys to get an internship and succeed, go out there and kick ass! Remember that nothing good in this life comes easy, you must earn it. If you need interview assitance check out our previous article that covers “The Rights & Wrongs For Having A Succesful Job Interview”. Good luck and happy internship hunting!
