These days, summer internships are becoming more and more important. Firstly, as more people get access to higher education, having a degree itself won’t guarantee a high-paying job. Having summer internship experience sets you out from the crowd as you already have developed crucial skills that are beneficial in the workplace. Secondly, interning gives you a possibility to get a taste of how it is to work in the firm or in the field in general, so that you won’t have to start a full-time job right away in a field you have no real experience in.
Now, internships are also becoming more and more popular, so it is not always easy to find one. I have struggled with the summer internship hunt in the past as well, so now I am sharing my tips on how I managed to get my internships.
1. Start Applying in the fall
This is a general rule of thumb, as most firms start recruiting around September – October. So we are in the season right now!
If you are applying for a non-summer internship, usually applying around six months before the internship starting date is ideal.
No need to start earlier than that, because usually there aren’t many opportunities posted over a year in advance. I went to check online in July for example, only to find nothing. I realized I can kick off and relax for a couple more months 🙂
2. But don’t worry too much
What if you didn’t get a summer internship offer by the end of the year? Don’t worry, the game isn’t over! I actually got my internship in March, so just two months before the starting date. Was it stressful? Absolutely.
If you weren’t lucky enough to get an internship in the fall, just keep looking. Even though most firms start recruiting in September – November timeframe for the summer, there will be a lot of open positions even in March sometimes! Also, some firms accept applications on a rolling basis, so you could have a change even after the main recruiting season.
3. Apply to many Summer Internships, but don’t go overboard
This is a tip I got very recently from one of my mentors. It’s definitely important that you apply to more than just that one dream internship. You need to have backups. But similar to any other applications, if you apply to way too many, you lose focus, and they will all be bad. No one has time to craft 100 well-thought cover letters or prepare for 50 interviews. Moderation is key. You likely have schoolwork, extracurriculars, and whatnot, so don’t waste countless hours just doing applications.
Last year, I applied for around 15-20 internships. After all, you only need one offer. Especially if you apply to big, competitive firms, you need to take those applications very seriously to even dream of landing an offer. Then, have a few backups if you get unlucky with your top choices.
If you are struggling with your resume or cover letter, don’t worry. I will be posting more content about creating killer resumes and cover letters very soon, so stay tuned!
4. Be proactive and ask for help
Okay, so last year I got my internship quite late, and the thought of getting an internship started to feel more and more impossible each day. The reason for this was that I was at first applying to internships all around Europe and North America, before deciding I want to go home for the summer and do an internship there.
I checked new open positions daily, but couldn’t find not too many things.
So what did I do?
I posted on LinkedIn that I’m looking for a summer internship.
The post went something like this:
I am Rosanna, a second-year undergraduate student at Harvard University studying Economics and Government. I am looking for a summer internship in consulting, finance, politics, or similar fields. I’m open to either an in-person position in the Helsinki metropolitan area or a remote opportunity. As an executive in distinguished student organizations at Harvard such as the Harvard Undergraduate Law Review and Harvard Undergraduate Women In Business (HUWIB), I have experience in leadership, research, writing, and public speaking, and I am results-driven and ready for new challenges. I’m excited to bring my unique background to help find creative solutions to various problems.
I would appreciate it if you can interact with this post to make it more visible, and contact me with any opportunities or leads! Thank you!
Did that LinkedIn post work? Yes!
An employee at a Venture Capital firm approached me and told me they have a position open for the summer.
Guess who got the job? Yep, that’s right, me 🙂
Oddly enough, the job didn’t show up on some of the major websites that list open positions. That’s why it’s important to be proactive to find opportunities that are not well-known.
And if you know which firms you want to apply to, it can never hurt to reach out to them to ask more!
5. Cultivate networks
This one goes hand-in-hand with the previous point. Without my LinkedIn network, I probably would not have gotten an internship, or at least not one that I was really passionate about.
These days having a strong LinkedIn connection base is key, but it’s not enough on its own.
How I connected with employers:
Attend events by firms you want to intern at. I have been to both virtual and in-person, but in-person events arguably offer more ways to network and be remembered. I have gotten a lot of valuable connections from events, as well as student friends who share similar interests.
Reach out to people. Scary! I know. But so effective. For example, I once randomly noticed someone from Harvard who worked at one of my favorite consulting firms in my hometown. I messaged her, and soon enough I was having lunch with the team leader to hear more about the firm and its recruiting plans.
Sign up for mentorship programs. Check out your school’s resources, or google around for mentorship organizations in your area. I currently have a mentor from a consulting firm that I got through my volunteer position at Project Access. Also, some firms assign you a mentor or a “buddy” to help you with interview prep once you have applied for an internship or a job.
6. Apply even if you don’t meet 100% of the requirements
I think this piece of advice has gained popularity lately a lot, and I really agree with it. For example, my last internship was actually intended for graduate students, but I got it as a second-year undergraduate! Unless the requirements have to do with legal constraints (required age, visa status, and so on), more often than not the “perfect candidate” who ticks all the boxes is really hard to find. You learn so much on the job, so don’t worry about the exhaustive lists some firms attach to their job post. As long as you meet the basic requirements, you can charm them with an effective cover letter, an impressive resume, and following up and reaching out to show your interest.
This goes for any job. When I was 17 and in desperate need of a summer job to fund my school trip to New York City, I managed to get a job at a cafe. Later on, the boss told me that she chose me because I showed so much interest, even though I was the youngest and least experienced applicant!