GETTING YOUR IDEAL INTERNSHIP - Universum

Getting Your Ideal Internship
CHAPTER 1
Internships:
The Big Picture
CHAPTER 2
The Search
CHAPTER 3
Getting Hired
CHAPTER 4
Navigating
Your Internship
CHAPTER 5
real intern
profiles
CHAPTER 5
For Your
Reference
Timeline: Landing
an Internship
› You want to start thinking about your internship
well in advance—as much as a year ahead. Here’s
a rough idea of the various steps you’ll need to take and
when you’ll need to take them.
Spring/Summer (The Year Before)
and Fall Semesters
• Assess your interests; know your skills; set realistic
job goals; and develop a plan of action.
• Attend cover letter and job search workshops offered
by university career services centers.
• Prepare your resume.
• Check the job listings on your school’s career center
website, preferably twice a week. New jobs and
internships are listed daily throughout the semester.
Note that companies have various deadlines for
applications.
• Attend job fairs and career symposiums to make
employer contacts, conduct informational interviews,
and to pick up information about the organization.
(Note that interviews may take place at job
fairs, in which case you should contact employers a
week to a month before to submit resumes.)
• Research potential employers. Set up informational
interviews for your breaks. You can find potential
sources through your school’s alumni database or
LinkedIn.
• Start applying for summer opportunities.
Fall Break, Thanksgiving, and Winter Break
• Start your networking in earnest. Let your family,
friends, relatives, former teachers and coaches know
you’re looking for summer opportunities.
• Attend on-campus employer information sessions.
• Identify and research local employers while home
during the break.
Spring Semester
• Review the Fall Semester items listed above, noting
that some companies have earlier deadlines for
applications.
• Continue to check the job listings on the career
website, preferably twice a week...new jobs and
internships are listed daily throughout the semester.
• Apply for summer jobs or internships.
• After submitting an application, cover letter and
resume, call the employer to be sure your materials
arrived (allow sufficient time for applications to
get to their destinations before calling); ask if the
employer needs any further information from you.
• If the employer isn’t coming to campus, schedule
an interview over spring break or whenever you can
arrange to meet; most employers will want to meet
with you before offering you a position.
• Always send a thank-you letter after each interview.
This is not only a courtesy, it’s a confirmation of
your sincere interest in the position.
Buzz Killers
Remember, the interviewing process isn’t
designed just to find the right candidates;
it also screens out the wrong ones. Here are
some mistakes that can throw you out of the
running:
• A resume that’s
poorly organized or
doesn’t reflect the
skills required for
the position
• A generic cover
letter. If it uses
phrases such as
your company or
this position, they’ll
smell a rat.
• Poor grooming and
sloppy attire
• Substandard
written or oral
communication
skills: Bad grammar
and misspellings
can sink your
chances.
• Bad manners
• Lack of enthusiasm
• Arrogance
• Timidity
18 WETFEET INSIDER GUIDE
GYII_FNL_11.21HS.indd 18
12/7/11 12:34 PM