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How can I get internships while in college ?

I would like to get an internship while in college to get a head start in my career

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Marisa’s Answer, CareerVillage.org Team

This is a great question! Sites like LinkedIn, Handshake, and Indeed are great places to start browsing what kinds of internships are out there. Your college likely has some free career resources, like mock interviews, resume-building workshops, etc. Definitely take advantage of those while you're applying to different internships. Best of luck!
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Bianca’s Answer

Hi Sophia,

This was a question I had very early into my college career as well!
I needed to work while I was in school, but wanted to gain work experience as well.

Bianca recommends the following next steps:

Make sure you are taking care of your schools resources: Many schools will have a database of internships in your area that you can apply to
Leverage your network: If your parents have friends in an area you're interested in, ask if they know of any positions available at their companies. You can also reach out to professors and school admins in your major for help finding opportunities
Apply, apply, apply!: Apply for anything and everything you feel interested in. The wider net you cast, the better your chances of a catch are :)
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Jeremy’s Answer

Great job ensuring your plan for your internship while in college. Internships are vital at getting real world experience in potential areas of interest to gain skills and experience.

Things to remember as you search for your internship.
- Develop your brand and what you stand for - think of it as the answer to the question what make you .
- Align your internship targets to your passions and studies.
- Don't be afraid to standout and go to companies that are of interest to you in person if they don't have a opening posted.

Additional tips for looking to land an internship:

Start early: Begin searching for internships at least six months before you plan to start. The earlier you start, the more time you will have to research companies, prepare your resume, and submit applications.

Network: Make connections with professors, alumni, and professionals in your field of interest. Attend career fairs and industry events, and reach out to people on LinkedIn. Your network can help you find opportunities and provide valuable recommendations.

Research companies: Look for companies that align with your interests and values. Research their mission, culture, and recent projects to show your knowledge and interest during interviews.

Tailor your resume and cover letter: Customize your resume and cover letter for each application. Highlight relevant skills and experiences, and demonstrate how you can add value to the company.

Practice interviewing: Prepare for interviews by practicing common questions and researching the company. Be prepared to talk about your skills, experiences, and career goals.

Follow up: After submitting an application or completing an interview, follow up with a thank-you note or email. This shows your interest in the company and can help keep you top of mind for future opportunities.

Consider virtual internships: With the rise of remote work, virtual internships have become more common. Don't limit yourself to geographic location, consider virtual internships that align with your interests and goals.
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Chirayu’s Answer

Getting an internship while in college can be a great way to gain valuable experience, build your network, and get a head start in your career. Here are some tips on how to get an internship - Don't wait until the last minute to start looking for internships. Many companies have early application deadlines, so start researching and applying for internships at least several months in advance. Reach out to family members, friends, professors, and alumni to see if they have any connections or know of any internship opportunities. Your college's career center is a great resource for finding internships. They can help you with your resume, cover letter, and interview skills, as well as provide you with access to job postings and career fairs. Attend career fairs and networking events to meet with employers and learn about internship opportunities. Be sure to bring copies of your resume and dress professionally. Do your research on companies that interest you and see if they offer internships. Check their website, social media pages, and job boards for postings. Apply for internships that align with your career goals and interests. Tailor your resume and cover letter to the specific internship and highlight your relevant skills and experiences. After applying for an internship, follow up with the employer to express your interest and inquire about the status of your application. Remember to stay organized, keep track of application deadlines, and be persistent in your search. Good luck!
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Allyson’s Answer

Hi Sophia,
I love that you're thinking ahead here!

I completed 3 internships while still in college + 1 post-graduation internship. Two of my internships were found by connecting with family friends & personal connections the summer before my senior year in college. Both of these were in fields I was interested in post-graduation and were only a month long. I also completed the Disney College Program my sophomore year of college, which allowed me also complete a Disney Professional Internship post-graduation. Finally, I found an ongoing internship my senior year of college through my University's Career Center that was paid but flexible around my college schedule.

Overall, my internships helped me figure out what I wanted (and didn't want) to do as a future job! I definitely recommend getting professional experience on your resume through internships.

Allyson recommends the following next steps:

Network with friends & personal connections to ask if internships are available in industries that interest you
Work with your college Career Center to find opportunities in your community that fit your future goals
Consider programs like the Disney College Program internships & similar interests
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Laura’s Answer

Hi Sophia! I would encourage you to attend any career fairs your school may be hosting and making as many connections as you can. Additionally, take advantage of on-campus info tables that companies will often schedule throughout the year. I work at a professional services firm and campus recruiting is a HUGE piece of our recruiting strategy!
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Mikail’s Answer

One pro-active way, to show companies you are serious about working with them is doing more of show and less of how.

While sharing, resumes and emails are great and should be done. I feel in 2023, one can go beyond.

How?

1. Find organization(s) where you would like to work on Linkedin.
2. Find folks working in roles that interest you
3. Create something relevant to the work you want to do (e.g you are a UX designer and want to work at Dropbox, make an improvement of a UX of the current Dropbox product) and post it on Linkedin ccing folks identified in #2
4. Share your contact details, resume for them to reach back

P.S: Be creative about your resume, why just a word doc or pdf. How about an intro video, talking about yourself. Have a website. Put yourself out there. All the best!
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Swee’s Answer

I'd recommend to start thinking about internship early in your college, could be during your freshman or sophomore year. Dropping by career fair and talking to recruiters are really helpful to get a sense of the criteria they are looking for in interns. It's totally ok to have a chat with them even if you are not planning to apply for internship that year. It allows you to identify the gap in your current skillset early and you will have more time to fill those gaps, be it through classes or other side projects.
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shantell’s Answer

Great websites like linked in would be a good help
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Christa’s Answer

Keep an eye out for job fairs offered at your college/university - it's a great opportunity to meet and chat with professionals about job opportunities and even get a better feel for what you may/may not like based on what you learn from the conversations. It is always best practice to do some research on the companies that will be attending in advance so you can narrow those of most interest, and even learn a bit about what they do to help kick off your conversations. Don't worry if you don't have prior experience to talk about - that's what internships are for is to build valuable experience!
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Bina’s Answer

Great question! Best thing would be to start applying as early as possible, preferably 6 months early. Use all of the career resources that your college has to offer.

Based on your area of interest narrow down the list of companies you'd like to target and do your research on them. A lot of companies will post internship opportunities on sites like LinkedIn but they may have a lot more information on their own website. So do check out the company websites if you're inclined towards a specific company in your area of interest. Customize your resume for the role and the company you're applying to. Best of luck in your search!
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Vamshee’s Answer

Doing internships during the college is very beneficial and helps you stand out among others when you apply for a job after graduation.

How to get an internship while in college?

Acquire the skills/qualifications:

Research the jobs/positions you are interested in , find out the job requirements and skills. So you can learn and acquire those skills during the college.

Prepare a Resume:

Include the education, skills, projects you worked on , highlight your key wins/accomplishments/Awards etc. Highlight your extracurricular activities.

Look for Opportunities:

Attend career fairs, use college career resources, visit job sites Monster, linkedin, indeed etc. Apply jobs as soon as they are posted ..so you dont miss them and might have a better chance that your application can be seen and considered.


Prepare for Interviews:

Network with your seniors or friends, attend mock interviews, use online resources for common interview questions etc.

Be confident and show enthusiasm.


Hope this helps! Wish you all good luck.
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