Landing an Internship Without Losing Your Mind 

Written by Ethan Marx. Graphic by Ananya Panchal.

The season for internships has begun, and it can be an overwhelming process. But knowing what you want at the start will make your footing more secure for jumping into applications. 

It is important to realize that an internship is an experience of testing the waters, the industry to blossom in. Unlike a regular part-time job, which is labor for pay, and an internship is mentorship in the professional industry, sometimes without pay. 

Here’s a list of things to be aware of when thinking of applying for an internship: 

Start early

Summer internships are often filled in the fall and winter seasons. So, any student who’s applying by the spring season will only get the leftovers. That would be fine if the student finds something that fits their goals, but there also may be nothing left. Make a spreadsheet of all the internships that are of interest and their deadlines, so you can start as soon as possible.

Know what you want

There is nothing worse than getting lost in your own reasoning. The future is big, and no one can help but feel some excitement for what it holds for themselves. But someone can be offered anything and not know what it is they are looking at. If a person has a goal in mind, find out as much as you can about that field, and narrow even further to find what particularly fits your goals. 

Keep your resume to one page and tailor it 

Recruiters skim through thousands of resumes. The resume that stands out is the one that puts the necessary information out in front. Resumes are about knowing your specific strengths, and weaknesses, because addressing the latter will show the recruiter that the applicant knows their limits, and are open to learning. 

Build a portfolio 

This is about quality over quantity, specifically for artists. The portfolio is the closest the recruiter will come to understand who their applicant is. Have five to ten pieces that show what your skills can offer the business.  

Write a personal cover letter

This isn’t the same as a resume, or it in paragraph form. Many businesses know that a portion of the applicants are sending resumes in bulk to increase their chances of landing a position; the cover letter is “the reason.” 

Apply in volume

You may not get what you want at first, but internships are valuable to other employers, because it shows experience. But there is always something to find, and again, knowing what you want is the start. 

Applying to internships is a journey, one that may leave some with tears; one that may be integral to growing your career. The process is rewarding though.