How to Find the Right Internship During College
Throughout your time in college you’ll learn valuable skills and concepts that will help you in your career. However, there is nothing quite like real-world experience to truly get a feel for what working in your chosen field will be like. Completing an internship allows you to gain crucial knowledge of your field, while enhancing your resume at the same time. Internships also show future employers that you’ve been exposed to a work environment, giving you one foot in the door when applying to full-time jobs.
Looking for internships can be stressful and overwhelming. Keep reading on to find out how to get an internship in college that will help launch your career.
How to find the right internship during college
Finding an internship takes time, patience, and plenty of researching, but the end result is well worth it. To help you find an internship during the school year, check out these tips:
1) Decide your career goals
Before you even start looking for internships, you should decide what your professional goals are. Think about the types of classes you’ve taken, what interests you, and what your ultimate aspirations are. You can then create a list of goals you want to accomplish through your career, and begin researching different positions. Remember, it’s okay if you change your mind multiple times throughout your time in college.
2) Start your search early
Depending on the field you’re interested in, internships are typically offered all year round. However, if you’re completing one for credit, or trying to secure a position for the summer, you want to make sure you leave yourself plenty of time. Waiting until the last minute to start your search can greatly limit your options. You may miss the deadline for registering your job with your university, or have trouble finding open postings when summer begins. It’s critical that you stay ahead of the game so you aren’t in the position where you can’t find an internship.
Many companies tend to post their summer internships in late fall or winter, and keep the application process open for 30 days. Occasionally, companies will post their summer internships as early as October. Fall and spring internships usually open mid-summer or early fall. This largely depends on whether the position is for a semester or the full academic year. Start your search early and make a list of the internships you want to apply to, their application deadlines, and even the status of your application.
3) Network
No matter how times you’ve heard this before, we’re going to say it again — network, network, network. When you network, you’re building important connections that can be a game changer when it comes to interning and ultimately finding a job in your field. Although you may think networking can only occur in a professional setting, college is actually one of the best places to get an internship.
Start by building relationships with your professors. Your professors most likely can shed some light on where you should be looking to intern, and may even be able to get you in-touch with the right people. It’s also worth talking with your friends and classmates who are interested in a similar career. You never know who you might meet and what that person may be able to lead you to. Finally, consider reaching out to alumni. This could be through mutual friends, professors, or advisors. Having an immediate similarity such as attending the same college can be a huge advantage when applying for internships.
4) Consider the time commitment
Although internships are the stepping stone to a full-time career, don’t forget that you’re also still a college student. This means you’re going to have to be conscious of your schedule and learn how to manage your time. When looking into possible internship opportunities, make sure to consider their time commitment requirements. If a posting is asking for 20 hours each week, think about whether that will leave you with enough time to get your schoolwork done and study for exams. You don’t want to overload your schedule, leaving you stressed, overwhelmed, and burnt-out.
One common piece of internship advice for college students is to look for internships that require no more than 10-15 hours/week. Now, every single college student is different. You might be in a position to take on a larger time commitment, and if that’s the case, go for it. Remember that everything is relative to your major, field, personal life, and interests.
5) Ask your career services for help
You should also make sure to visit your campus career development services for additional ideas, tips, and some help to spruce up your resume and cover letter. Counselors who work in career services are able to tell you what information should go in these documents, how to write it in a competitive and compelling way, and what information can be left out. They’ll also be able to help you find internship opportunities through your university’s student jobs and internships site, as well as through established connections to employers.
6) Attend career fairs
One of the biggest mistakes you can make during your time in college is skipping the career fairs. Most schools host career fairs once or twice a year where you can network with top employers, collect business cards, and hand out your resume. Come prepared with extra copies of your resume and a few talking points. You’ll also want to dress professionally and put together a short 60-second introduction for potential employers ready to hire talented interns and employees.
Find your perfect internship with NJIT
Before graduating college, you should aim to complete at least one internship. The experience you gain during your internship will help prepare you for post-grad life — you’ll have the chance to work right in your desired industry, surrounded by other industry professionals. These opportunities can also guide you in learning about what type of work you are interested in by allowing you to try out different areas.
Stay connected with your NJIT career advisor to land the perfect internship that may even lead to a wonderful job.