Here are a few proven approaches to get you on the right track in pursuit of your internship:
1. Plan for a marathon, not a sprint. Know that you may get 10 or 20 “no’s” before you get a yes.
Know that you’re going to have to get outside your comfort zone. Appreciate that what you’re attempting to do is difficult and take on a “I refuse to lose” mentality. You can get an internship, but you’re going to have to work hard to do it — and be pleasant and charming along the way to get someone to offer you a great opportunity.
2. Go to your school’s career center. Go early. Go often. In fact, go this week when you’re done with finals.
Ask them what opportunities are out there and what the process is to secure one of them. If you’re an underclassmen, you may find the options limited, but it is worth the trip. Also make sure they have your contact information and know that you’re willing to consider any opportunity so that you’d greatly appreciate them keeping you in mind when they hear of any.
Stopping by (or e-mailing) every week or two is persistence — and it will help make you top of mind when opportunities do pop up. Remember, you’re in “sales mode” here. Be your most charming and friendly self!
3. Plug your nose and network. Networking is a pretty unattractive concept for most students, but it’s the #1 way people get jobs, so it’s time to overcome your fear of it and put yourself out into the marketplace.
Be relentless. Look under every rock. Ask relevant professionals for an interview or to connect you with someone they know who might be able to help you. You can even send a follow up e-mail a week later as a reminder, as people are busy (and forgetful) during the holidays.
4. Contact a relative, a long-time family friend, or a close colleague of your parents and ask if they will “create” an internship for you.
Offer to take a relatively low salary if necessary, work part-time or even work for free as long as you can have exposure to a field you are interested in pursuing as your career.
Not all organizations have formal summer internship programs, but your close contacts might be willing to create one for you as a favor as long as you can convince them that you can be useful and low-maintenance. When the words “summer internship” appear on your resume, no one needs to know how you got it.
5. Talk to your professors about working for them over the summer.
Professors, especially those who are doing research, are often very happy to have student assistants. It’s rarely a paid position, so you might need to pick up a less-than-glamorous paid job on the side, but working for a professor looks great on your resume and gives you a chance to develop the kind of relationship that leads to awesome recommendations letters.
Patrick O’Brien, author of Making College Count, entrepreneur and professor, squares off with career expert Dr. Susan Davis-Ali, founder of Leadhership1, author and Carlson School of Management faculty, on how to achieve success after college.
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