How to land your dream internship

When it comes to getting an internship, everyone needs to start somewhere, and let’s face it: sometimes just starting can be the hardest part. (More Netflix, anyone?)

Although finding a summer internship may seem challenging, I’m here to give you a few tips on how to land your dream ~unpaid~ job and make the task a bit less daunting.

You are more connected than you think you are

So, make it easy on yourself and first reach out to people who you know and respect. Interested in law? Well your best friend’s dad just happens to be a lawyer.

Want to gain experience in advertising? Your cousin just did an advertising internship last summer.

You get the gist.

I found connections within my sorority house

Don’t forget about alumni

Nine times out of ten, alumni from your school want to help their fellow Commodores. Vanderbilt has an actual alumni association, which makes it so easy to connect with Vanderbilt graduates in your area.

Reaching out to graduates from your college or university is a fantastic way to utilize that tuition payment and find an internship.

Look at this happy grad just waiting to help you out!

The Careers Centre is there for a reason

Speaking of utilizing all of your school’s resources, the Center for Student Professional Development has people working there whose actual jobs are to find us jobs.

Incredible right?!

Conveniently located in the SLC for all you Branscomb peeps

You’re never too smart for Google

Sometimes good ol’ fashion Google can be the most helpful tool on your hunt for an internship. And as a bonus, you can do job research as a way to procrastinate on all of your other schoolwork.

The websites typically included the names and emails of people to contact if interested in applying for these internships – too easy.

My friend Alexis Google-ing away!

Be brave

Anyone can type a generic email asking for a job. You cannot expect to get an internship, much less an interview, by doing only this – you have to sell yourself.

If you’re home on a break, instead ask the person if they want to grab a cup of coffee with you so you can talk to them about their career path or to inquire more about what the job entails (spoiler: people love to talk about themselves.)

After meeting with or speaking to the person, send them a handwritten thank you note in which you tell them how you appreciate the time they gave you while continually expressing your interest in the job.

Most companies get hundreds of emails a day from people inquiring about potential jobs, make yourself stand apart!

I recently hit up Paper Source specifically for thank you stationary

And there you have it! Just remember that you have nothing to fear by reaching out because you have nothing to lose. You will be surprised by how willing people are to help you and listen to you, especially if you start reaching out to companies as early as January versus last minute in May.

Also keep in mind that you are offering up your services free of charge (that’s what an internship is, after all) so never settle for a job that has you simply fetching people’s coffee and twiddling your thumbs.

Good luck to all of you out there looking to find that perfect, resume-building summer internship. You’ve got the tips, now go get the job.