Tips For Applying To An Internship
As a current intern, I can attest to the process of applying for an internship! I currently work at Socialite Media as a Social Media Marketing Intern. I create and develop content for local Chicago organizations and businesses to grow their platform and introduce them to new audiences. I have loved my experience as an intern, and am so grateful for the position. I was 1 of 5 interns accepted from over 300 applicants. This is my advice on how to get that job:
1. Make sure your resume is up to date!
Listing your relevant experience on your resume is very important! If you dont have a lot of work experience, you can list notable things you’ve accomplished as a student and projects you’ve worked on.
2. Gather Letters of Recommendation
Asking former employers and/or your professors for a letter of recommendation can be very important in helping the hiring team learn more about your character and work ethic. Letters of recommendation are not always required, but having them cannot hurt!
3. Decide what is more important to you: money or experience
Many internships are unpaid or a small stipend. When applying, you need to decide what is more important to you: the money or experience. There is no wrong answer here and this varies from person to person. If you are in a financial position to take an unpaid or lower paid position than you can widen your search to these types of internships.
4. Search Handshake and LinkedIn
These websites are great resources in searching for a position. I found my role on LinkedIn. These websites allow you to specify the industry and location of jobs you’re looking for, and using them gave me so many options to apply to!
5. Do Interview Prep
It is so important that you are prepared for your interview! There is a YouTube channel called Intern Queen, who gives tips and tricks on interviews, and I watched a few of these to prep! You can also ask a friend or family member to go over mock questions with you. I did both of these and by the end of my prep I felt so ready to ace my interview!
~ Marina