The below is a blog post from Claire Dawkins, Internship Manager at the College of Business Administration.
Happy National Internship Day! It’s the best day of the year for an Internship Manager! For those participating in internships this summer, I hope you’re celebrating your successes today!
As I meet with students throughout the year, I’m reminded of my own internship journey. Oh man, it was not my favorite! I had so many questions. How do I stay competitive? What do I do if I’m not sure what kind of internship I want? And how does everyone else seem to have everything together? Finding an internship hasn’t gotten any easier over the years because these are the exact questions students ask me now.
The good news? I have some helpful tips to cure your internship blues!
- Compete against yourself. Yes, you are up against other candidates in your internship search. However, remember, you’re never going to be totally sure what other students have on their resumes or their interview strengths and weaknesses. Instead of worrying about everyone else, think of yourself. How can I fill out my resume with professional and educational experiences I enjoy? How can I leverage my skills and improve during an interview? Your mission: make each job application and interview better than the last.
- Try the vegetables. So, maybe you don’t like asparagus or the idea of working at a smaller, local company. Well… have you tried it? Be open to opportunities and internships that aren’t at the top of your list. By doing this, you’re submitting more applications, building your network, and you’ll probably end up surprised at amazing internships you hadn’t previously considered. Whether it’s a specific field, location, or company size, don’t knock it until you try it!
- Stay in your lane. You got this. Really, you do. Stop looking at everyone else in your class and living in comparison! They’ve already landed an internship because they’re a different major! Or because they have a different network! If you’re going to pay attention to all of the celebratory internship posts on LinkedIn, let it fuel you to meet with a career advisor, work hard during a resume review with a Professional Development Consultant (PDC) in the Tafel Center, or start applying to internships more seriously.
We are so excited that you’ll be returning to campus very soon! Keep an eye out for the dates for the fall Career Development Conference.
