Landing an internship is just like landing a job. You have to go through the stressful process of applying, waiting to hear back from the companies you apply to, and yes, you’re going to experience rejection.
Prior to Internship
This part of the process can be very intimidating. If you receive a rejection from a company, don’t get discouraged. Rejection is normal. If you learn from it, it can help you as you continue to send out those applications. Keep applying and the right one will come along!
One thing to keep in mind, just because you’re invited to interview with a company doesn’t mean it’s a done deal. There is still a long way to go. The interview process can be even more intimidating than the waiting period, but don’t worry – we’ve got some tips to help you interview well and get that internship you want.
- When applying, make sure your resume is presentable and up to date. This is your chance to “market” yourself as a potential candidate since this is the first thing recruiters see.
- Research the company you’re interested in and create a list of questions to ask to make sure they’re a good fit for you.
- Always show up 5-10 minutes early, whether it’s for an in-person or online interview.
- Dress professionally from head to toe, even if the interview is online.
- Practice some commonly asked interview questions to give you an idea of how to answer them. If you don’t know something, be honest, but express your desire to learn and grow.
- Relax! The interviewer is human too and understands that your knowledge is broadening each day. They don’t expect you to know everything they do yet.
During Your Internship
You got it! You grabbed the recruiter’s attention with your resume and impressed the interviewer, now’s your chance to really shine.
Work Hard
Be a hard worker and establish yourself as the employee that gets the job done no matter what. If you don’t understand something, ask questions! Never be afraid to ask if you don’t understand all the details about a task. This shows that you actually want to learn and become better at what you’re doing. Your supervisors will notice and you’ll stand out to them.
Culture
Another very important part of whether you’ll enjoy your experience or not is the company’s culture. Culture refers to the values of the company and what they expect from their employees. The greater the shared beliefs between the company and its employees, the better the culture. Making sure your values align with those of the company will result in a sense of belonging and make you excited for work. This will also be beneficial to the company as it increases productivity.
Communicate
Develop a strong relationship with your supervisor. Prioritize meetings, whether weekly, bi-weekly, or whatever you both agree on, to discuss your tasks, strengths, and even weaknesses that you may need to work on. Also, take some time during the meetings to not talk about work and get to know each other a little bit more. You don’t have to become BFFs, but you can use this one-on-one time to ease the tension that sometimes exists with new supervisor-supervisee relationships.
Express Future Interest
If you’re enjoying your internship and would like to stay on full-time, express this desire. The worst thing that could happen is that they don’t reciprocate the same feelings. If this happens, don’t be glum. You’ve gained experience and skills that you can take with you to a place that’s a better fit for you. However, if the company does express the desire to hire you permanently, you’re ready for the next phase of your career!
Post Internship
Transitioning into post-college life can be challenging; but for the most part, the corporate world isn’t as bad as people think. You’ve put in the work, gotten the job, now go have some fun and don’t forget to follow you dreams!
