Getting an internship can be one of the most important steps in getting a job after graduation. Here are some of the benefits to an internship
So, there's clear benefits to getting an internship, especially with high paying firms and companies you'd like to work at. But with many of these internships, you won't be the only one applying; you'll be 1 in 1000. So, how do you still get the job?
When it comes to internships, you have to start at base one, which is school. Location is a big point. If you have an internship in a hub(NY, SF, LA, Chicago), you'll have a lot more opportunities to get internships. This is very simply because it's easier to get internships when you're around companies. You can network more(Which will be covered later), you can interview in person, job fairs are more abundent and filled with big companies, and you just hear about more opportunities in a big city than a small one. Now, this doesn't mean you can't get a big city job from a smaller, rural school; otherwise, Cornell wouldn't be a great school. The biggest thing is to find a large metro area near you and be open and willing to travel. You likely won't miss out on a ton of big company internships, as they recruit everywhere, and have offices in most metro areas. You should just not expect to work in the exact office you want to. Goldman rarely recruits for NY in California, and Google rarely recruits for Mountain View in NY, but both will recuit for offices in their respective areas. The biggest opportunities you'll miss out on is the small companies you've never heard of, or the city governments. These companies rarely post on LinkedIn, and if they do, they usually look for people who live in the area where they're headquartered.
Your resume is the first impression you give to a potential employer, and there's a lot of misconceptions here. First, 1 page Max. You're in school; there's no way you have enough to fill out more than 1 page, as most people need to work for decades before they need even a second page. For formatting, look up WSO Resume template. That should give you a solid base to work with. None of this fancy stuff; keep it clear and simple. You should include any work, relevent classes, and GPA if it's above a 3.4. Relevent skills(Customer service, specific programming skills, ect) can be very helpful, but most employers aren't expecting something huge here. Just make sure you have a clear, readable, well polished resume. A resume is, after all, your first impression on a company.
Ah yes, networking. No one wants to admit it, but networking can really suck. Here's how to make it suck a bit less as a student. First, reach out to alumni. They're gonna be way more receptive to people who they have a relation/connection with. When structuring a LinkedIn message(Or some other way to reach out), try to include just a few things.
It really can be that simple. When doing the chat, make sure to ask open questions, not just about work, but things in general. Make some small talk. The biggest error people make in networking is thinking that they need to get something from it, but the point of networking is to build a relationship with others. If you had a good chat with the person, just give a quick request to pass on your resume, or give you the info of another higher up. Usually, if things went well, they'll be more than willing to help you out. People like to help people they like. From there, you can utilize this network to get internal recs, which are very strong for getting jobs.
Having projects and clubs can really help get internships. If you're going for a creative position, like creative marketing, or a graphic designer, you'll want a creative portfolio. For programmers, you'll want to have a list of projects. There isn't a major out there where you can't have something to show applicable skills in some way.
Clubs are also great because they provide a clear passion, great network, and give you opportunities you've likely never heard of. A great example of this is investment banking. In banking, clubs make a huge difference because they provide coffee chats, interview prep, and they can help get your foot in the door.
The interview is the most nerve-racking part of any internship application. You really need to properly prep for these. Practice will really help to dispel any doubt about your ability to succeed. Most behavioural interviews are just the same old "What is an example of a struggle in your life" or something random about you and your personality. Realistically, if you know what the interviewer will ask and such, you'll be fine in behavioural. The biggest issues will be in technicals. Many jobs(especially STEM) require technical interviews to help figure out if you can actually do the job. If your degree/job doesn't require technicals, then you should be fine to focus on the other aspects. The biggest thing here is to research exactly what your specific degree/job requires. Being prepared for any interview is extremely important. You shouldn't be dissuaded by rejections; you'll be rejected many many more times than accepted. Remember, it only takes one offer to get an internship. Learn from mistakes in interviews, and push on.
Well, if you've followed everything, you should have a reasonably decent path to get an internship. Make sure to keep pushing on no matter what, and you'll succeed one way or another. Good luck!