There is no standard internship application process that all employers follow. Instead,
you will come to realize that employers have early deadlines and begin their recruitment
process on a specific schedule every year, so don't procrastinate. Internships do
not start and end according to what fits your schedule. Many students miss out on
an internship because they simply waited too long to start their search.
Identify why you want an internship and what are your priorities. It will also help
for you to list what your current skills, what skills and abilities you can offer
a prospective employer, and what skills you hope to improve. List how you developed
those skills. Did you develop those skills through your education, internship, volunteer
opportunity, and/or a job? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Identify what things
interests you and what things don't. Do you want to intern part-time or full-time?
What type of work schedule do you want to work? How far are you willing to commute
to your internship and what type of work environment do you prefer? Are you willing
to take on an unpaid internship? (Note paid internships are limited in availability)
These are questions you want to know before you actually begin searching for an internship.
The job search process can wear you out. Therefore, it is important to maintain a
positive mind-set.
Write out a list of what you want from your future career. Research jobs in different
career fields. Identify what things interests you and what things don't. Knowing this
criteria ahead of time can impact the direction of your search, by helping you to
identify potential careers and jobs more clearly. You will also have a general understanding
of what you might experience and what you can expect. This research can also help
you market yourself more strategically, therefore making you a more competitive applicant.
If you are not sure how to narrow down your career goals or feel overwhelmed, don't
worry, many students have been in your shoes. You can always reach out to the Career Services Center for help with this process.
You've narrow down your career goals. You've done your research. If you start to see
a number of gaps between what employers are looking for on internship descriptions
and your resume, you may not be ready for that particular role, at this point in time.
Reach out to the Career Services Center for help in filling those voids. Sometimes you might need to seek out additional
training and/or education to add value to your resume. While other times, you might
need to gain the requisite skills at your current place of employment, another internship
or volunteer opportunity.
Most internship applications require a resume/CV, cover letter, and depending on the
industry, a portfolio. This can take a lot of time to develop. Make sure these documents
are up to date. You will need a separate cover letter and resume for each internship
application, as what you list on these documents must be relevant to each internship
position. Don't forget to also contact and identify 3 to 5 people who will agree to
serve as your professional reference. It is also helpful to make sure you have at
least one professional-looking interview outfit ready to go, a short elevator speech
designed to introduce and sell yourself and a professional voicemail message, email
address and email signature.
What you don't realize is that most companies utilize an applicant tracking system
(ATS) software. Applications are now being rejected before even being seen by human
eyes. Employers use an ATS to collect, sort, scan and rank applicants they receive
for their open positions. The systems scans for specific keywords to determine if
the applicant should be pass along to the employer. Therefore, it is important to
read the internship posting and use keywords in your resume. If the internship description
states you need experience with x, y, and z, then make sure you list x, y, and z experiences.
Make good use of your time and avoid being rejected by an ATS.
Take some time to make sure your online presence (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn,
TikTok, etc.) is professional and can help you with your internship search. Your online
presence is essentially what someone sees when they look you up online. The internet
is forever, so be aware that what you do and say in the cyberspace can follow you
throughout your career. There are many people who have lost their jobs because of
what they have posted or what others have posted about them. Just note that employers
typically conduct a social media search while they are vetting an candidate for a
position. Posting content might help you develop rapport with like-minded folks, but
it can also as easily close door with others.
Internship searches have a lot of contacts, follow-ups and actions you have to complete.
We recommend that you create one centralized document which you can use to keep track
of what internships you have submitted, which applications are still pending, any
anticipated deadlines, who you have reached out to for informational interviews, referrals,
etc. Some people create spreadsheets while others use software applications. Use what
works for you.
Contact the Career Services Center and we can provide you with online resources you might need in order to find an internship
as well as how to receive academic credit for your internship experience. We can also
help you update your resume and cover letter as well as prepare you for any interviews
you may be offered. You can also visit HireSMC, the online employer portal for the SMC community and find internship opportunities.
In addition to reaching to the Career Services Center, you might also want to connect
with your your family, friends, professors, mentors, former employers, academic counselors,
places you have volunteered at, SMC alums, etc. Networking is an often overlooked strategy, but may be one of your best resources
for information. By networking, you might be able to connect you with people willing
to conduct informational interviews with you or have valuable information on career and internship opportunities. Be
sure to also thank these individuals for their time and knowledge.
Attend a Career Fair or event sponsored by the Career Services Center. This is a great
way to meet and network with professionals in your potential career fields. However,
before you attend a fair and/or event, make sure to take a look at who will be present
and be ready to quickly introduce yourself/give them your elevator pitch. This is
roughly 30 to 60 seconds, where you introduce yourself, your interest in the organization
and what they do, and what you want. Depending on the type of event, you may also
want to provide them with your resume. Always, politely ask for their business card/contact
information, and follow up with them right after the event. These are great opportunities
for you to find an internship or ask for an informational interview. Make sure to dress professionally.
After you have utilized the Career Services Center and your personal network, search
online every day for new internships opportunities. Competition for internships is
fierce. Search HireSMC, professional organizations, major job boards like Indeed and Linkedin, local career
fairs and networking events, etc. You can also reach out directly to companies who
you think may be a good fit and who don't provide a list of internship opportunities
on their company website. However, understand that not all internships are good internships.
If you find an internship and you want to make sure it isn't fraudulent/scam, check with the Career Services Center before submitting an application or contacting the employer.
Sometimes companies are too busy to invest time in developing an official Internship
Program. However, they might welcome a proposal from a highly motivated applicant
who is willing to put in time and effort. Reach out to smaller companies and nonprofits.
They may be interested in looking for students to assist them with short-term projects.
You can always reach out to the Career Services Center for help with this process.