It is that time of year when you should be thinking about an internship.
According to the most recent National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) study, new college graduates who participate in internship do far better in the job market than graduates who do not have this experience. Furthermore, responding employers indicated that while 31 percent of their new employees came from their own internship programs, 62 percent had internship experience of some kind.
As an added benefit to you we’d like to remind you about The Vault; which offers you access to all of the tools you will need to help find and land your dream internship. The Vault internship resources include:
- internship advice articles
- an internship database that is searchable by location, industry, pay, qualifications, diversity, intern function, application deadlines, and number of interns
- internship rankings
- internship job postings
To help you prepare for your search and to secure your ideal internship, here are The Vault’s Top 5 Tips for Securing Your Ideal Internship:
- Know what you want and what’s important to you – Choosing an internship program to apply to will take some time and thought. For some students, the top criteria for choosing an internship program is that it is with a high profile company while other students feel that the type of training and level of responsibility they will experience during the internship is more important. Perhaps the main reason for choosing an internship is to figure out if a particular industry is the right choice for a future career. Whatever your reason for seeking an internship, you need to be aware of it before you apply.
- Create a resume that highlights your strengths and internship objectives – When applying for an internship, focus on your unique strengths in order to stand out from the other applicants. In addition to listing your academic achievements, your resume should include an area that clearly explains your objective for seeking this particular internship. This means customizing your resume for each opportunity you are applying for. Be sure to focus on your strongest skills and list them prominently in your resume instead of summarizing them at the end of the document. These may include your knowledge of various computer programs and software, your time management skills, and teamwork and leadership experience. Of course, always have a friend or two proofread your resume for typos before you submit it.
- Start early and do your research – Many great internship programs either begin to interview candidates months in advance or only conduct interviews a few times a year. You can search the Vault Internship Database to learn more about the internship opportunities available in your area that are specific to your major or speak with your faculty advisor or career center to find out application deadlines. You can also find great internship opportunities at internship fairs. If there is a particular company you are really interested in interning for, contact them directly to learn more about their internship programs and application requirements.
- Always follow up after your interviews – Something as simple as a handwritten thank you note or courteous email can go a long way in establishing your professionalism. Even if you don’t end up getting the internship, you never want to leave a future potential employer or networking resource with a bad impression. Who knows when your paths may cross again in the business world?
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions to get a clearer idea of what the internship entails – Working for your “dream” company will quickly turn into a nightmare if your internship is limited to filing paperwork and getting your boss coffee. Ask questions about the general day-to-day tasks or projects you’ll be working on, who you’ll be reporting to, travel requirements, and any other concerns you have about the internship. You should also perform independent research on The Vault to learn more about the companies you are applying to in order to determine if they are a good match for you and your internship goals.
Good luck with your search!