There is a common misconception that it is impossible for college freshmen to get an internship. While it may be disheartening to go to a career fair and get told that the company is only looking for juniors and seniors, don’t give up. There are plenty of companies looking for students with all experience levels, you just may have to work harder to find them.
In this post, I offer my tips and tricks that I’ve learned over the years when it comes to searching for a summer internship.
1. Get involved on campus
The very first step in even being considered for an intern position is getting real-world experience. Companies are looking for students who have experiences that can be applied on the job. This does not necessarily have to mean work experience. It can mean being involved in a student organization or volunteering in your community. Recruiters want to see that you have demonstrated some sort of leadership in the
Ways to get involved on campus:
- Join a student organization
- Become a tutor
- Find a part-time job
- Volunteer
2. Build your resume
Once you have gained some experience, it is time to use your resume to highlight what skills you gained from this. Your resume is what can help to make you stand out among the hundreds of other candidates applying for the same position.
I have an entire post on How to Write a Resume. Read this post to learn more about how to craft your resume to get the internship of your dreams.
A few key tips:
- Triple check for spelling and grammatical errors
- Use action verbs and quantify results when possible
- Keep the formatting consistent throughout
3. Follow the companies that you’re interested in on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a great tool when it comes to your internship search. It is important to be somewhat knowledgeable about the industry that you are interested in. By following select companies that you are considering, you will see when they are mentioned in the news. This can help you to carry a conversation and show that you’ve done your research.
4. Attend events like career fairs, info sessions, and student organization meetings
Your university’s career center is a great place to find out about companies that will be on campus. Companies are constantly looking to recruit new talent, so it’s important to know what events are happening and when.
Student Organization Meetings
Meetings for student organizations are a great way to interact with reps in a smaller setting. Organizations that have an emphasis on professional development tend to often bring in companies to present on topics like interviewing and building a network.
Information Sessions
Information sessions give students the chance to learn more about a particular company and the opportunities that they offer. Typically reps will go more in-depth about the company culture, different programs, and benefits. This is a great chance to ask questions and to find if this place is a good fit for you.
Career Fairs
Career fairs may seem daunting at first, but if you come with a list of companies that you have researched and planned to talk to, it will be a breeze. Stay tuned for an entire post dedicated to career fairs.
5. Stand out from the crowd
As I mentioned before, you are one of hundreds of students applying for a job. What can you do to make yourself stand out among the other highly qualified applicants? Just be yourself. As cliche as it may sound, too many people come with the same exact overly rehearsed elevator pitch that sounds robotic. While this may show that you came prepared, you don’t want to have a perfectly memorized elevator pitch. You want to sound natural, not scripted.
Tips to separate yourself from the crowd:
- Dress for the job you want
- Do your research
- Ask good questions
- Follow up
6. Develop relationships with recruiters
Typically, the same recruiters attend the events on campus so make sure you become familiar with them so that they know you on a name-basis. The more interactions you have, the more you get to know these individuals and they will keep you top of mind when a position opens up.
At the end of the day, recruiters are human just regular people so you
7. Ask the right questions
If you are speaking with a representative from a company at a career fair, never ever ask “What does your company do?”. While you may have not had the intentions of coming up to this table, this question can come across as you being lazy. All it takes is a quick Google search while you stand in line to become better informed about what products/services the company offers.
Questions to ask a recruiter at a career fair or networking event:
- What do you enjoy most about working at ____?
- How would you describe the company culture?
- What have past interns done that made them stand out?
- What does the interview process entail?
- What is one of the biggest challenges people in this role face?
8. Use your network!
There’s the saying we’ve all heard dozens of times – “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”. I have found this to be very true throughout my college experience. Connections are everything. Reach out to your peers, professors, advisors, and family and express to them that you are searching for an internship. It is likely that someone will be able to connect you with the appropriate resources and contacts.
Another way to find out about internship opportunities or to boost your chances of your application being reviewed is through cold calls. Except not calls…more like emails and Linkedin messages.
Reach out to individuals that work at the companies you’re interested in. You can find these people by searching through the company’s employees on LinkedIn. Send them a message that clearly states your purpose and what you hope to gain. **Be sure to update your profile if you do this.
Example of a message:
Hello (employee),
I am a junior at Michigan State University with a passion for using my skills and experiences to develop innovative and customer-centric solutions. This passion is what draws me to (ABC company). I would love to connect and learn more about (internship opportunities at ABC company).
9. Follow up
Recruiters are meeting hundreds of other students who likely have the same qualifications as yourself. Out of these hundreds of people, a small percent of them will make the extra effort to thank the recruiter for their time by following up with an email, LinkedIn message, or even a handwritten note. Be sure to ask for their contact information (email, business card, LinkedIn) so that you have a way of getting back in touch with them.
After you have a conversation with a recruiter, interviewer, or any representative from a company, it is crucial that you follow up if you hope to gain something from this interaction.
10. Be open to opportunities outside of your major
Finally, while there are many internships out there for freshmen, your options will be somewhat limited. You should search for opportunities outside of your particular major. For example, I am studying marketing but I include keywords like communications, PR, and advertising when searching for internships/jobs. Remember that some experience is better than no experience at all.
I wish you the best of luck in your search for a summer internship!
