If you are looking to dive into your first internship, the experience may seem daunting at first glance. You will have a limited amount of time to immerse yourself in a professional role, and all this is happening pretty early on in your career journey. However, internships are great learning opportunities and exploration time, so here are some tips you can use to earn the most out of your internship journey!
- Starting by reflecting on what your interests are can help you figure out what careers fulfill those interests! Look back on what you accomplished and what you took away as the most important facets of your professional interests, and then do research on jobs that incorporate these skills. From there, it is helpful to set internship goals. Write down everything you would want to gain from an internship, whether it be soft or hard skills, so that you can narrow your search. If you are currently interning, write down goals you have for your work. This can include meeting certain deadlines or goals for applications.
- Update your resume! You are constantly learning and growing at this point in your life, and you want to make sure your resume reflects this period of growth on your end. You can also work with your counselor on phrasing new accomplishments to better reflect your skills. Be sure to use the Empowerly Resume Template!
- Start researching and applying to internships! Similar to the first tip, research certain industries that match well with your skills. A tangible goal is to write down three industries you are interested in so you can tailor your search when it comes to SIP. Learning the art of tailoring your resume with each job application is also crucial. You should look at what the job description entails and adjust your experiences to those facets so that you can show the hiring manager that you are right for the role.
- It is never too early to prepare for interviews, this is a skill that will carry you far! Take a look at Empowerly’s interview guide and conduct some mock interviews. You can set aside some time to answer commonly asked questions, such as “Tell us about yourself,” “Why us?” and “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” One pro tip: remember that each company is different. Just like you would tailor your resume to showcase different skills according to the demands of the internship, your interview response questions should not always be rehearsed. You want to be prepared, but also genuine and passionate about the jobs you apply to, so the answers to these questions can differ based on the company.
- Be prepared to document your process. Whether you are an Excel wizard or you use a physical planner, it is helpful to know where you are at in your process. You can have a google sheet with a tab of internships you applied to, their deadlines, your stage (interview scheduled, accepted, deferred, etc.), and the contacts you have at this work place. This practice of documentation will help you remain organized and on top of your deadlines, while also setting you up for success when you start your internship. Getting in the process of documenting allows you to have solid evidence of the work and learning you have done, which is so important in early careers as you reflect on your experiences and use them to move forward in your journey!
Internships may only last a few months or weeks, but the habits and skills you build during this time can shape the rest of your career. By reflecting on your interests and strength while setting goals preparing with intention, you will gracefully step into each opportunity ready to grow. This is just the beginning of your professional journey, so approach it with curiosity and openness towards the future you are building!