How to get an internship

In the past blog Why on earth would I do an internship?, I have tried to give you my perspective on the perks of doing an internship. Thinking back though, I have realised that perhaps the most difficult part of the process is getting the internship itself!

So, I have decided to list five top-tips to help you get your internship:

1.Choose the right internship. When you look for an internship, your ideas are not too clear. You see the title of the job and you skim through the requirements without thinking it through. Well, in my own experience, that does not turn out well. Choose something that interests you and especially in a field you already have some skills. This will definitely help you to be successful in your application.

2.CV and Cover Letter. It is a hassle but you’ve gotta do it.! There are many services at university that will go through your CV and Cover Letter and have it checked for you, like the Career Service. It is important that your CV and Cover Letter are tailored for the position you are applying for and second of all, there must be no grammar mistake or imperfection. This will immediately tell the employers how precise you are!

3.The Interview: Sometimes you do not even pass the CV stage but sometimes you manage to get an interview. If so, be well prepared! Read carefully the job description, get to know the company/start-up you are applying to. Especially, get to know their core values and try to incorporate them into your interview. Prepare a description of yourself. I know it is hard:you do not want to boast or to belittle yourself but generally the first question is always to present yourself and that could be key for the good outcome of the interview.

4.Waiting: you are going to experience those terrible 2 weeks or so, waiting for a response that sometimes never arrives. Never think that you got the job. From a very psychological perspective, this helps you not to be too disappointed if your application is not successful. At least, this works for me, but everyone is different!

5.The Feedback: keep track of the application process and ask for a feedback. Sometimes, companies tend not to inform you when your application is not successful. But the rejection can be the most important part of the entire process. It is not a failure at all, and you still want to know what you can improve for your next application. That helps you for your next interview but also shows to the company that you actually cared about that position which leaves open good possibilities for the future!

I hope that this brief list will be helpful, let me know your tricks!