• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

You are here: Home / Career / Jobs & Internships / CM’s Master Guide to All Things Internship

CM’s Master Guide to All Things Internship

May 27, 2016 //  by Caitlin Mason

Shares46FacebookTweet

From endless coffee runs to pitching new ideas to a company, internships beef up student resumes more than a 4.0 GPA. But how do you know which ones will count? You might scour the web or scurry toward your college’s career center in order to find the perfect internships to provide experience and get you one step closer to that post-college dream job. Some internships pay well while others pay nothing, and some turn into full-time positions while others become your living hell. Wherever you end up, internships will help you figure out your career path, giving you experience and networking opportunities along the way.

Landing the Internship

The Application

Though the pay is much smaller (or nonexistent), the application process for internships requires as much effort as job apps. Most companies will ask for a resume and cover letter, and some even want references and letters of recommendation. So head over to your friendly campus career center or reach out to a favorite professor to polish up that resume. The cover letter gets tricky, but you can ask professors or trusted friends to look at those for you too. Write about that great idea you implemented at your previous internship or in your class, and talk up your skills from leadership to writing to your Snapchat streaks (it’s useful for some!). If they want references or letters of rec, reach out to past employers, professors or mentors who know your skills and know you well.

The Interview

If you land the interview, congratulations—but you still haven’t landed the position. Google classic interview questions like “Why do you want to intern here?” come up with some jaw-dropping answers (in a good way). Take some time to research the company, but avoid spewing facts at them because they don’t need a lecture about their own company. Like in class, questions show interest, so ask questions to look interested, even if you already know the answer. After the interview, send a thank you note or email to express your gratitude while also reiterating why you would be a fantastic fit for the internship.

The Rejection

Applying to many internships will inevitably lead to rejection at some point, unless you got into Harvard at age 10 or invented the cure for cancer (in which case you probably don’t need an internship). Losing that dream internship feels like the worst thing in the world, but keep your spirits up—you’ll land an internship somewhere. Turn that disappointment into fuel and Google away for more opportunities, reach out to any and all industry connections and keep your options open. And don’t forget to thank them for their time, because they just might reconsider.

The Choice

So you’re one of the lucky ones. If you landed not one but two internships, or even more (seriously—we hate you), then you have a wonderful dilemma. You might consider juggling two internships, but ultimately you need to decide if you can give it your all at both organizations. Think about the company, if it pays, the location and the specific day-to-day tasks of the internship. If the choice isn’t obvious, ask professors or career advisors for some help, and at the end of the day, go with your gut.

Are unpaid internships worth it?

Survey says: It depends. We all dream of paid internships, but reality more often offers us an unpaid internship or two (or three). Horror stories of internships past show unpaid interns coffee running, letter mailing and paper filing, but the best cases suggest that interns get more responsibility in smaller companies that can’t pay you. Part-time jobs that earn you extra cash might be necessary for some students, and traveling for unpaid internships also quickly brings down the mood (and bank account). Paid internships sound ideal, but who knows? You might hate the paid position, despite the money and wish you’d accepted the unpaid position that you felt more passionate about.

When should I start applying?

This largely depends on your field. Future wolves of Wall Street need to start making moves for summer internships in the fall because businesses like everything in place early. If you wait too long, the big companies’ intern positions will get snatched away from you. If you’re in the creative industry, then you have more time. Internships at places like publishing companies or theaters usually don’t start accepting applications until early in the spring semester. No matter your field, prepare your apps early so you’re not calling your bestie at 2 a.m. on a Sunday to edit your cover letter.

Looking for an internship in the journalism or communication industry? Check out our internship directory.

How many internships should I have by the end of college?

Foolproof numbers don’t exist for any career path, but most college students carry a few under their belt by graduation day. Internships function as resume boosters and experience builders, so you should seek out ones that do both. If you intern at two different companies, that’s two separate networks of people who can help you get a job after graduation. More internships equal a wider range of experience, but if you only completed one internship by graduation, calm yourself. Different careers have different trajectories. As an accounting major, you might intern at a Big Four firm once and get a job offer from there, but as a poli-sci major you might work for a few state representatives and town halls before landing your dream job on a U.S. Senator’s staff.

I have no experience. What should I do?

Ah, the struggle of applying for an internship that requires previous experience. Appearance matters, so start with an impeccable resume that looks professional even if you feel far from that. Fill it up with your involvement in student government or your school’s literary magazine, your leadership positions and any classes relevant to the internship. Even throw the time you had a part-time job at Target on there. Add your GPA if it’s stellar. Then write a fantastic cover letter, talking up your qualifications along with your serious interest in the intern position.

How many internships should I apply to?

As many as possible. Many students make the mistake of only applying to a few big-name internships with Google or the New York Times or somewhere on Wall Street, and then end up disappointed when they don’t get any. If you don’t know what you want to do with your life past graduation, keep your options open and let the employers weed out the internships for you. Try your skills at sales or marketing, or maybe you really want to hone your writing. Cast a wide net and then you’ll hopefully have a few options to choose from, or might even be able to work a few at once. It’s a competitive search out there, so make sure you prepare.

Top 3 Places to Find Internships

1. LinkedIn.com

LinkedIn seems intimidating at first, but definitely helps with the internship search. Search by industry or by company, and see if you have any connections with people who work there (Yes, even your mom’s long-lost high-school friend counts). Network your way to an internship. Even better—network online.

2. Indeed.com

Indeed posts internships for students of all majors from all kinds of companies. Search by your field, then narrow it down by location, time of year, job type and salary. You can also sign up for alerts on a certain search for any new opportunities.

3. Career Centers

Sometimes the best connection to an internship sits right on campus—yes, that means showing up in person. Most colleges have their own career center with advisors who can help with resumes, cover letters, job searches and any other career-oriented question you can dream up. Did I mention some even hold mock interviews?

Top 3 Twitter Accounts for Internships

1. @InternQueen

twitter1
twitter.com

Run by Lauren Berger, a career expert, @InternQueen is dedicated to internship advice like resume tips, help with cover letters and other specifics. Berger also posts internships quite regularly with links or contact info.

2. @internshipjob

twitter2
twitter.com

This Twitter account isn’t especially exciting, but @internshipjob does post new internship positions every couple hours, which will earn it a follow from every internship seeker. It features internships in just about every field, from marketing to accounting to graphic design.

3. @internships

twitter3
twitter.com

The Twitter account for the Chegg Career Center, @internships posts tips and hints about internships, as well as career advice. They also post fun articles and pictures for when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Read More About Internships Here:

Unexpected Rewards: How An Unpaid Internship Can Really Pay Off

article1

Why Unpaid Internships Are A Waste of Time

article2

10 Tips to Score the Creative Internship Of Your Dreams

article3

Shares46FacebookTweet

Filed Under: Career How to Get an Internship How to Study for a Test Jobs & Internships

About Caitlin Mason

Caitlin is a senior English and Theatre major at Boston College. She likes books, theatre, and inspirational quotes, and knows way too much about cheese.

You May Also Like

Barcelona Birds Eye View

Paid Internships Abroad: Five Tips To Stand Out From Real Students

courtroom

CM’s Guide to Working at a Non-Profit Law Firm

resume styles

College Magazine’s Guide to Resume Styles for Landing the Job

corporate

7 Insider Tips on How to Climb the Corporate Ladder

career development

How Your College Career Center Can Land You a Job During COVID-19

how to become a software engineer

College Magazine’s Guide to Becoming a Software Engineer

10 Tips and Tricks to Help You Find a Paid Summer Internship

Overview of three people at a desk working

Work in the Way? 10 Guilt-Free Reasons To Leave Your Job

10 Office Ethics Commandments That Apply to Daily Life

10 Ways to Get Closer to Finding the Internship of Your Dreams

how to quit a job

Don’t Be THAT Employee: How to Quit a Job the Right Way

How to Ask for a Raise Without Sounding Rude AF

Finance Managers

Become the Next Warren Buffett: CM’s Guide to Portfolio Management

business cards

How to Make Business Cards Too Pretty to Toss Out

peace corps

Top 10 Well-Kept Secrets to Succeeding in the Peace Corps

15 Things to Know Before Your Next Phone Interview

online portfolio

10 Steps to Building an Impressive Online Portfolio in 2020

starting a side hustle

Starting a Side Hustle in College: Five Steps You Need to Take

a computer with code on the screen

College Magazine’s Guide to the Information Science Major

Summer Internship

The Ultimate Guide to Summer Internships [Take Action with 4 Steps that Make it Easy]

internships

How To Make Your Internship Work For You

professionals working together

CM’s Guide to the Public Relations Major

woman working a remote job

Remote Job Offers: 10 Tips to Help You Make Up Your Mind

political campaign

CM’s Guide to Interning for a Political Campaign: Let’s Get Political

Previous Post: « Bae-Watch: Top 10 Date Spots at UMD
Next Post: Top 12 LGBTQ+ Resources at UF »

Primary Sidebar



Trending Posts

Chill Colleges
2978

CM’s Top 10 Most Chill Colleges in the Country

food buffet
304

Top 10 Colleges with the Most Delicious On and Off Campus Food Options

climate change protest
301

Top 10 Colleges Where You Can Make A Difference in the Climate Crisis

54

The 10 Best Organizations You Should Donate To in 2021

41

Why Pixar’s “Soul” is Groundbreaking: Lessons for 2020 and Beyond

Featured Chapter: UCLA

Footer

logo

College Magazine is the national daily guide to campus life. Our articles for college students feature university rankings of U.S. colleges, college guides, academic advice, college prep, career advice, student health and collegiate dating tips.

Written by students for students, by a team of journalists from universities nationwide, we’re on the pulse of the college experience.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

Majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

Intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

Money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

Travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

Shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

Copyright © 2021 College Magazine · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc.