by Lily Clark
Happy internship application season! I know this time of the year is full of stress for many of us, from exams and projects to resumes and cover letters. I wanted to write this blog post to impart some helpful tips I have learned over the years about managing internship applications.
Get networking! LinkedIn will be your best friend when applying to internships; with LinkedIn, you can reach out to people you know or who have had that job before you. Most of the time these people would be willing to talk to you, whether it is offering advice, reviewing resumes or even holding a mock interview.
Consider reaching out to previous interns, especially if this is a position you are very serious about. It may be of use to hear from someone who has held the spot before. You can ask them things such as what the company culture is like, what are your day-to-day tasks and how they think you could stand out as an applicant. Most of the time, at least from my experience, people will be more than happy to talk to you, especially if they
are UT alumni.
Keep track of deadlines! This may sound like a simple thing to remember, but I have missed
quite a few deadlines after forgetting to write them on my calendar. It is a terrible feeling to
realize you didn’t get the opportunity to apply to an internship you really wanted because you forgot the deadline.
Take your time to read over your application for discontinuities or grammatical errors. Always double-check things like your email address, misspelling, or punctuation issues.
Don’t overlook the cover letter. This should not just be a recap of your resume but should provide meaningful insight into who you are. Answer questions such as, why you want to work for that company, why you believe you are qualified, what makes you stand out from other candidates and most importantly what you hope the position will give you.
One of the most impactful things I have been told on my career journey is that jobs are a two-way street. Yes, you should bring expertise and knowledge into your position, but you should also be learning and gaining meaningful experience at the company.
Overall, do not stress! This is supposed to be a time where you really think about what you want to do for the rest of your life. If you get an internship and don’t end up liking it, well at least now you know what you don’t like to do.
Now go get that internship!