Gone are the days when academic excellence would suffice to land you a good job. The ever-evolving demands of the job market have been raising the bar for job seekers. Consequently, there’s a need to distinguish your skills, experience, and learnings from others now more than ever. Internships can help you stand out and build an image as a prospective employee.
But how do you fetch a good internship- one in your dream company?
Look no further! This article will sweep you through all the details.
10 Ways to Find and Get Your Dream Internship
1. Identify Your Skills
Before anything else, it is imperative on your part to discover your interests and goals. Very often, the interests of the students show a deviation from the degree they are pursuing in college. It is a result of unseriousness, lack of research, and ‘take-it-as-it-come’ behavior. However, a great approach would be to identify your skills in the first place.
Take up hands-on projects in college, join student clubs, and involve in all activities that align with your interests. Whether you are from a tech or non-tech background, this approach will surely help you pin down your key skills.
2. Create a LinkedIn Profile
A critical tool for an internship or job seekers, LinkedIn is the new age professional spin. It’s a passageway to potential employment opportunities globally. Moreover, a Linkedin profile is synonymous with having a personal brand- your strengths, weakness, experience, achievements, and honors– all in one place. Consider it as your digital resume.
As a sincere internship seeker, you must complete your profile, including a headshot picture, up-to-date experience, and all other relevant information that may support your application. Moreover, a 3–4-line bio to describe yourself and your career goals will give your employers a hint of your fit within the organization.
3. Shortlist Your Preferred Employers
We know you are here to get your dream internship. However, it is best to have a backup plan. You must create a list of 5-6 companies that align with your skills and career goals.
Research the company, its culture, and overall reviews. The company’s website and LinkedIn profile can be the best platforms to learn about all the companies. Furthermore, some companies even have Instagram or Facebook accounts, which may adequately provide you with the information you are looking for.
4. Build a Strong Resume
‘’A single piece of paper cannot decide my future?’’- Nah! Your Resume can. It is a small handy document that summarises your past working experience, education, skills, and achievements. Generally, a recruiter takes no more than 6 seconds to skim through your Resume, so make sure you optimize it to one page.
Being an internship seeker, prepare a chronological Resume that may effectively convey your skill set and ability to do justice to the role. Make sure to get your draft reviewed by a senior to finally get a stellar output.
If you’re looking for an online resume maker that can create you an ATS-proof resume in under 10 mins or less, look no further from here. Create your new resume with GeeksforGeeks’ Online Resume Builder. To know more about it, read this article on GFG’s free resume builder.
You can also check out these related articles to build a strong resume:
5. Prepare a Cover Letter
In a fact, 90% of jobs or internships require a cover letter along with a Resume in support of your application. Even if the job posting shows an ‘optional’ requirement for a cover letter, it’s best to enclose it. In your cover letter, you must briefly explain how you would be a good fit for the concerned position.
Since a cover letter speaks your story, don’t forget to mention your relevant skills and previous experience.
WARNING: Do NOT use Chat GPT to write your cover letter, as an AI detector may automatically disqualify your application. You can read this article on how to write a cover letter to write a better CV that can land you your dream internship.
6. Networking
The era of LinkedIn has made us realize the importance of building networks. Unlike the old-world in-person ally, you can form meaningful professional connections with just a click. For those seeking internships or jobs, you must invest some time to find existing employees from the companies you are targeting.
Send them a connection request on LinkedIn with a personalized message to make your request sound more credible. The more people you can get in touch with, the more chances are getting referrals for job openings.
7. Practice Interview
Whether you are seeking a job or internship, it’s impossible to escape the interview. While the interview questions for interns are not harsh, it is still a good practice to sit for mock interviews. You can refer to YouTube or other educational blogs to get an idea. Moreover, contact a senior who can help you walk through the process, do’s and don’ts in an interview.
As a general rule, go prepared with the company’s mission, how your interests align with them, and how you can be the best fit for the role. Practice in front of the mirror till you are satisfied with your tone, speech, and expressions.
8. Send Cold Emails
Remember how an Indian guy was able to land a role in the World Bank just by cold emailing? Well, that’s how momentous cold-emailing has become. Even if your dream company is not hiring for internships, don’t hesitate to reach out. In your email, you must pitch yourself. Mention why you are interested in the role and how it relates to your future career goals. A good cold email must reflect your creativity and enthusiasm to join the company.
9. Attend Workshops and Career Fairs
Most college campuses organize career fairs and workshops to better equip students with the information they should know. Since these sessions involve activities like mock interviews, resume-building tips, free resume view, etc., they can be fruitful.
Moreover, a lot of educational institutes are coming up with on-campus career centers where students can clear their apprehensions about their future goals and secure strong placements. Avail of these free services, and we’re sure you’ll not go disappointed!
10. Keep a Watchful Eye
With so many organizations/institutions/companies, it becomes difficult to keep a tab on all job boards. The catch lies in identifying your broader areas of interest and the companies resonating with your goals. Be active in your internship search on social media platforms and career centers.
Browse the opportunities at least twice a day, and apply as soon as possible. Most internship opportunities are open for not more than a week, whereas some shortlist on a first-come-first-serve basis. The earlier you apply, the better. Furthermore, you can keep track of all the internships that you are applying for in an Excel sheet to make your life easier.
Conclusion
Internships can be really helpful when it comes to familiarising students with work ethics and culture. The increasing awareness and competition in almost every industry have made the process overwhelming and difficult. Nonetheless, if you follow the tips actively, there’s nothing that could stop you from joining your dream company. Keep up with the latest developments in your field, know the job sector, and stay hawkeyed while looking for opportunities. All the best!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Should I go for paid or unpaid internships?
While there are plenty of opinions on either side, we strongly suggest you do not go after the money. If you are a high school or undergraduate student, the biggest money you can make is ‘experience and skills.’ The more you learn about the workplace environment, the easier would it be for you to adapt to a future job. However, if you are a postgraduate, you should look for paid opportunities.
2. Should I intern during college vacations or regular semester days?
Your college break can be the best time for the internship. This allows you to have a mind free from academia and enjoy your experience in the company. Otherwise, most students face exhaustion while juggling between internship and semester classes. A friendly suggestion, however, would be to keep browsing the internship opportunities throughout. Since most companies take time to process the application, it would be advisable to start applying at least three months before college break.
3. What would be the top 5 things you would look for in an internship?
When looking for an internship, you should consider these 5 things:
- Does the internship provide the experience you want?
- Will you have mentors to guide and help you?
- Can you meet and network with people in your field?
- Will you have interesting and challenging projects to work on?
- What kind of pay and benefits will you receive?
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