Internships are so important when you’re in college because they give you:

• new skills & experience you can put on your resume
• exposure to your field of interest to see if it’s right for you
• networking with peers, employers, and potential mentors

Job/internship hunting can feel like a really random and abstract process—and in some ways, it is.

A great way to make it more concrete, learn what to expect, and get started making it happen is to interview people who’ve been there.

If you’re not sure where to find folks to interview:

• ask people in clubs/activities with you
• ask professors or the career center to recommend people

Here are some questions to get your interview started:

• did you work in your field?
• where did you find jobs?
• how did applying go?
• if you had multiple offers, how’d you pick?
• what was it like? What did you learn?

Start your search by considering what you want and care about most.

What kind of organization do you want to work for?

• how large is it? (bigger ones tend to have more structured internship programs)
• what’s the organizational culture like—mission-oriented? fast-paced? creative?
• what do you need/want re: location—remote work? on-site? near public transportation?
• how much money do you need?

You might not have answers to all these questions—that’s one of the purposes of internships! But starting from what you want helps you get closer to your goals, and it also makes you a more centered and confident job candidate.

Visit Monster.com’s work values checklist for more questions to consider.

There are lots of ways to shop for internships. Here are our top 4 suggestions.

• join Handshake!
• search internship databases like idealist.org.
• identify organizations you’re interested in and search their job listings. Some orgs have separate webpages for internships.
• ask people in your network: professors, advisors, friends, family, etc.
• check your career center for a jobs board or email list and stay in touch.

Once you’ve found places you’d like to apply to, your task is to show employers that you are

• qualified
• professional
• interested in working at their organization specifically.

To do that:

1. read the job/internship description or ad carefully, and check it again throughout the process
2. research the organization and communicate in your letter, application, interview, etc. why you’d like to work there
3. customize your resume so the details speak to the position
4. get input from friends, professors, career center staff, or others (and show them the job description, too)
5. if you get an interview, dress professionally and be on time
6. for remote interviews, check your lighting and background, too
7. after each interview, send a thank-you note or email

Don’t hesitate to consult your college’s career center for help. That’s what they’re there for!