Finding your First Internship
So, you’re preparing to dive headfirst into your career, and you want to give yourself the best chance at landing your dream job - and as you’ve probably heard, a great way to do this is by finding an internship and gaining some experience. These roles can provide an amazing opportunity for you to learn more about your field, develop your skills, and even better, can make you more employable.
But with how highly competitive the job market is, how can you manage to land an internship? Let’s go over 3 simple tips that can help you get the role you want!
Get Creative in How You Apply
Traditionally, most people choose to apply directly through websites like Glassdoor, Seek, or Indeed, which are filled with a variety of job postings and opportunities. While you should definitely do this, as applying to jobs this way can secure an internship, there are other methods that make you stand out a bit more - and as a result, can make you more likely to land the job.
Once you find a job posting, try finding the recruiters from these companies on LinkedIn. Introduce yourself, state your interest in the role advertised and let them know about how excited you would be to join their team. This can give you an edge over other applicants, as it shows you have initiative and ambition, as well as good social skills - qualities that many companies value in an employee.
Also, make sure that when you are submitting your job application - whether it be directly to a recruiter or through an online job posting - that you always try to personalise it. This means including a cover letter that you’ve written especially for the company, in which you specify what makes you interested in that corporation in particular. Make sure to personalise your resume too, making sure the skills, experience and objectives that you have listed on there are relevant to the job.
Go The Extra Mile in Interviews
So, your application impressed the recruiter, and now you’ve been invited to an interview. Depending on what company you applied to, there may be only one interview throughout the hiring process, or there could be a few more - I went through 4 rounds of interviews before landing my most recent internship, so trust me, the process can be extensive!
Regardless of how many interviews you may have to go through, it’s important to try and make yourself stand out throughout the entirety of the process. Do your research beforehand - learn about the company’s values and objectives, as well as the products they offer - and bring this knowledge up when answering the questions in your interview. This shows that you know the company well, and signifies that you truly do have an interest in the business, which is something employers love to see.
Another way to really stand out in your interviews is to bring something a bit extra along to show off to the hiring manager. For example, if you have been asked to attend a behavioural or values-based interview, you could use your research on the company to your advantage; prepare a presentation that shows how you have demonstrated each of these company values in your everyday life. This really shows how you are a perfect fit for the business!
Don’t Forget to Say Thank You
Once you’ve finished up with your interview, make sure to send through a quick ‘thank you’ to the person who conducted your meeting. This can be done via email, or if you would prefer to be more old school, you can even drop off a note at the front desk of the company office. Try and do this within the first couple days after the interview too - this will really leave a great impression with the company, as it again shows your inititative and drive.
Now, you just have to sit back, relax and wait to find out if you got the internship - good luck!