Written by: Jasey Black, Intern Account Manager
Hi, everyone! It's Jasey with Designedbycarla. For my first post as an intern, I wanted to cover one of the most challenging parts of being a college student: finding an internship. Every time I go home or tell someone my fast approaching graduation date, it feels like I'm asked a dozen questions about my next step:
"So, what are you doing after graduation?" "Do you have any offers yet?" "Have you made any plans for the future?"
While I agree it's vital to know the answers to these questions, sometimes, I still feel like the nervous eighteen-year-old freshman who didn't know how to find the dining hall. Now, I’m expected to have an idea of my five-year plan with concrete steps to achieve it. I feel that not everyone has it figured out (even if they have the appearance of being completely put together). It can be daunting to watch others land their dream internships or field graduate school offers before you've even figured out where to start. But don't panic; I've collected a few tried and true techniques sure to get you on your way to the perfect internship or job.
Top Three Tried and True Methods to Landing Your Dream Internship
1. Start your search EARLY:
Getting hired for a position is about finding the best fit based on your skills and get your name in front of job hunters. It gets harder the longer you wait, so you have to begin looking into opportunities. I was determined to work on my internship search and list everything I wanted in a future job. This can be different for everyone, but an essential list should include where you want to work in terms of location, whether you'll need a paid or unpaid position, and what you want your everyday role to look like at your future job.
2. Apply for every position that interests you:
After you've made a list for your internship or co-op, work on applying for listings that match those qualities. I benefited in my job search and scholarship application process by applying for everything I was interested in or had any qualifications for based on my list. During my initial meeting with Designdbycarla, Carla mentioned, "Make them tell you no."
3. Sell yourself:
It's time to step up and apply for jobs even if the answer is "No." However, when employers give you the chance to prove why you're the right fit for their company, you have to be able to sell yourself. Walk into your interview with confidence, ready to answer questions, and prove that you're the best candidate for the job. You can learn a lot about yourself, especially if you're when entering the job market. So, write down some ways you feel you would succeed in that job (and not just based on your resume). Are you good at getting teams of people to work together? Were you known in your last job for consistent, quality results? Tell them that! Communicate your strengths and show them you care enough about the job to work on any weaknesses.
Everyone has a different path to follow after graduation and in their job search. First and foremost, you need to be confident in who you are and know what you have to offer as an employee. Before you can succeed in your internship search, you have to know what you are looking for, apply with determination, and have confidence in your abilities. Utilizing these skills will give you the upper hand in your search and make you stand out as a candidate. In the end, making an impression will make a big difference in whether or not you secure a position worth your while. Good luck!
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