Beginning the Internship Hunt
Beginning the Internship Hunt: What You Need to Know
By: Eleanor Hoover
There is no doubt that summer internships are highly coveted positions for students who will spend the glorious summer days fetching coffee and making copies. For some fields like finance, tech, and law, summer internships are crucial, as interns become the direct hiring pool, basically turning a 10-week internship period into a 10-week trial-run for a job. However, in other fields such as fashion, marketing, or any creative industry, internships can be more beneficial for the intern: you.
Why? Internships allow you to not only evaluate the company but the industry as a whole. Do you see yourself there? Do you like the work environment? How about the people? These questions are important to ask before becoming a full-fledged employee, consumed by whatever industry you may be considering.
Meg Rice interned for Fresh Ink a Jackson, MS based wedding and personal stationary design business. Fresh Ink is the leading designer stationery business in Mississippi.
If you have now decided you want to spend the summer of 2021 as an intern, the next step is figuring out how to secure your dream job. Internships with big names in the finance and tech industries may be long-gone as their recruiting cycle typically ends in November with positions filled in December. But, do not fret, because there are always options.
For those looking at creative industries--be that on either the corporate or hands-on sides--there are a plethora of opportunities at your disposal. A good way to begin the search is by making a list of companies you admire and would want to potentially work for. Next, find smaller companies with similar goals as they will tend to have a smaller applicant pool. Once you have your list, it is time to research each of their internship opportunities and find an application timeline. This deep-dive may lead you to social networking sites like LinkedIn or Indeed that often provide additional information from previous interns or employees. Getting the basic information may be time-consuming but the last thing you want is to miss an application deadline.
Rachel Long interned for JONESWORKS, a NYC based PR and Marketing agency, during summer 2019. She worked with clients like Ocean Spray, Tom Brady, and Scooter Braun.
The next step is networking. In a 2019 Forbes article, businesswoman Bianca Miller Cole explains, “For many individuals that have succeeded in their career, the causes have largely been contributed to the strong networking channels they have created over time.” Concerning internships, networking allows you to have an “in” at a company you may be interested in. This becomes ever so important if the company uses an automated program to sort through applications when they are submitted. Having a recommendation from an employee can pull your application from the general pool of applicants, which is a crucial step in getting to the interview phase.
So how do you find people to network with? Start with LinkedIn or your school’s alumni network. Having a common thread such as an alma mater, hometown, or mutual friend is the best way to build connections that turn into conversations. Cold emailing, or reaching out with no previous connection, is difficult--but can work. The key here is to ensure you are not only asking, but also contributing. Cole wrote in her Forbes article, “First study how you can contribute to their success, in addition to how you stand to benefit from their knowledge.” Requests for conversations must be a two-way-street to grab someone’s attention and to stand out in their inbox. Always remember to use your best manners and stay in touch with anyone you speak to!
After you have made connections, the next step is to apply, apply, apply. You can never apply for too many internships. Putting all your eggs in one basket is risky, so it is best to have your bases covered. Remember, experience in the industry is the key here, so try not to get bogged down if you are not invited to an interview with your top choice.
Olivia Laws interned for Danielle Brown, a NYC based designer bad company. Olivia was a social media intern during the 2020 summer. Due to the pandemic, Olivia completed her internship remotely.
Once a company contacts you for an interview, the heavy lifting begins. Research and thought shows and interviewers will be able to tell if you come unprepared. It is best to be over-prepared with extra information than underprepared and flustered. Additionally, make sure you have practiced and reviewed answers for the following questions:
Walk me through your resume.
Why do you want to work at our company?
Tell me about a time you were a leader.
Tell me about a time you faced a challenge and overcame it.
What will you bring to our company?
At the end of an interview, you will likely be asked if you have any questions. Do not say you do not have any questions. You must always have questions! Interviewers want you to ask questions, and if you genuinely want to work for the company, you should have questions to ask!
A great resource for interview tips is Indeed.com -- check them out here for additional resources and interview tips! https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing
After an interview, if you are provided with the interviewer’s email, send a thank you message that is reflective of your conversation. This small step shows extra interest on your part and allows your name to pop up once again.
Karen Nguyen is interning virtually for 28ROW, a network of influential college women, during the 2020-2021 school year. She is their social media intern and helps create all in-feed content.
This process can be time-consuming and exhausting, but it is a taste of the real world. If I were to leave you with one piece of advice, it would be to network every chance you get. Those meaningful conversations with people can lead to opportunities that never would have been possible were it not for a quick phone call. Summer 2021 internships are open now and, depending on the field and company, will get into full swing in the winter months. Be on the lookout for ones that interest you and follow these steps to ensure a smooth process!
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