How To Get Your Dream Internship

Internships. If you're in college, you probably hear someone talk about internships at least once a week. 

When I was in college, I had two incredible internships all the work that I did those summers definitely helped me get my post-grad job. I believe that internships are so important. Yes, you'll be working for little or no pay. I know that sucks, but internships provide real, hands-on experience and that matters when you start the post-grad job hunt!

Not sure where to start or how to get your dream internship? I consider both of the internships I did in college my dream internships, so I'm going to share some tips on how I landed those. 

1. Start Looking Early

Don’t expect to land an internship a week or even a month after your start searching. Sure, that happens, but ideally, start looking a few months in advance. Take the time to research different companies and find internships that fit you. f you don’t know where to begin, think about start with thinking about what kind of job you would want after you graduate college. Once you figure you that, start browsing around the internet for different companies that do that kind of work. When applying for internships, it is so important to also understand and know a bit about the company you’re applying at! 

2. Perfect Your Resume

Get that resume looking sharp! I worked really hard to get my resume perfect and many people have looked to it as a example and guide for their own resumes. If you want one-on-one help, feel free to reach out! 

I had a great professor that has become more of a mentor and someone I still go to for advice. When I was in college, she looked over my resume and gave me a lot of advice on how to perfect my resume for internship applications. She worked for ABC News and CNN, so I definitely trust what she has to say. Find someone with experience in the field you want to work in for advice on how to get your resume looking sharp. 

Also, utilize your campus career services! They are also SUPER helpful.  

Don’t underestimate the power of LinkedIn! Your LinkedIn profile should be an extension of your resume. 

Related: 5 Tips To Rock Your Internship

3. Network, Network, Network

Hopefully, you have professors that have real-world experience because this is one of the best ways to start networking! I had professors that worked at CNN, ABC News, and other media companies and because I worked hard in their classes and really wanted to learn all I could, they took notice. I’ve received recommendations, attended special programs, and even gotten interviews and internships thanks to them. 

Doing great work and asking for advice from professionals is one of the best ways to connect and network with people. Don’t underestimate the power of connections. 

Internships really are great and valuable to your career. When you get that internship, be a sponge and absorb every ounce of information you can. 

So tell me, what is your dream job? For me, I think I really do have my dream job right now at 22. The only thing I would change is being in a bigger city. I’m working on that goal, though. 

xo,

Amanda