Summer internships are an excellent opportunity for getting your feet wet in a particular field, establishing connections and getting a head start on your career search before you actually graduate. If you want to land a summer internship you will need to make sure that you get started well in advance of summer. In many cases, application deadlines will need to be met months in advance. In addition, you should keep in mind that not only will you be likely competing with students from your own university, but you will also be competing with others from around the nation, especially for coveted internships. This is why you need to make sure that you get started early and follow all of the right steps in order to land an internship.
First, make sure you begin at the right time. The best time to begin applying for internships is before the end of the fall semester. Summer may be months away but you will need to make sure that you complete all application deadlines. If you are not sure of the internship options that will be available to you, discuss it with your career counselor. He or she should be able to point you in the right direction and provide you with information on upcoming internships that may suit your schedule, abilities and interests.
Do not overlook the importance of developing a customized resume and cover letter for every internship, for which you intend to apply. Do not make the mistake of sending out a blanket resume and cover letter. They are a waste of your time because they will most certainly be overlooked. Also, take the time to collect a minimum of three letters of recommendation from people who can speak of your professional and academic qualities. Consider employers, instructors and advisors.
After you have applied, be sure to follow up with every company and organization. The best time to do this is just after the application deadline for the internship has passed. If you think competition for the internship will be high, you may even wish to follow up a bit sooner just to be certain that your materials were received.
While you are waiting, spend your time effectively. Give some thought to the questions you may be asked during the internship interview so that you will be prepared to answer. Ask someone to practice the interview with you so that you can work the way you respond. This is also a great way to prepare for interviews that you may receive when you begin your career search after graduating.
Finally, make sure that you always send-out thank you notes after each interview that you receive. This will certainly help you to stand out in the minds of those who make the final decision.