Originally Posted: Oct 9, 2017
Last Updated: Jan 8, 2020
Internships are a great way to enhance your résumé. Not only do they allow you to become more comfortable in a professional environment, but they can also help you get a job after you graduate! Molly goes over other reasons internships are important and offers five tips to landing one in high school and college.
Double and triple-check your résumé (0:33)
Print out a bunch of copies of your résumé and hand them out to your friends, family, guidance counselor, student advisor, etc. It is important to have several different opinions on what you can add or change on your résumé, because everyone has different ideas about what itshould look like! It is also recommended that you take your résumé to your school’s career center (if you have one) because these employees/students specialize in all things job preparation.
Apply to as many internships as possible (1:30)
The more internships you apply to, the more likely you are to get an interview and ultimately get hired! Apply to internships in subjects you love, industries you are curious about, and positions you know will challenge you. You can’t apply to too many internships—trust me! It takes a lot of persistence, but it is always worth it.
Go on mock interviews (2:25)
A lot of career centers offer mock interviews to help you strengthen your interviewing skills. Even if you prepare with a friend, parent, professor, or anyone willing to help you out, it is super helpful. The more you practice, the better you’ll get for the real thing.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket (3:15)
If you receive multiple offers, keep your options open, and refrain from accepting your first offer immediately! Lay out all your options and put deep thought into which internship is the best for you as well as the most realistic. A lot of times getting an internship is a time crunch. Plan ahead and make sure that you have time to sort through your choices.
Always follow up after an interview (4:26)
It is important to establish a relationship even after your interview or internship is over. If you maintain a positive relationship, you are more likely to be a candidate for a full-time position. You may have the upperhand against other candidates because they already know how amazing you are!
Looking for more internship advice? Check out the Internships and Careers section on CollegeXpress!
