How To Find An Internship With No Experience

If you’re wondering how to find an internship with no experience, the first step is to identify a company that’s a good fit for your interests and goals. You can do this by using LinkedIn or Google to search for companies that are in your field of interest. Once you’ve identified these companies, it’s time to look at their websites and see if they offer internships or entry-level jobs.

If you don’t see any information about internships or entry-level jobs on the website, try searching “internship” or “entry-level job” on Twitter or Facebook to see if there are any announcements about internships or entry-level jobs that might have been posted recently.

Also, be sure to check with your school’s career center. They may be able to provide access to internship listings that aren’t available online.

How To Find An Internship With No Experience

A strong resume full of applicable experience is what leads to new employment. But if you’re still a student who hasn’t yet built a solid work history, this experience often comes from internships. Still, applying to internship programs can be intimidating without credentials or background experience to highlight or any point of reference to look back upon. In this article, we discuss why getting an internship with no experience is important and how to do it successfully.

Why is getting an internship with no experience important?

Frankly, the entire purpose of the internship is to give you that experience. So, just look at it that way. Pursuing your internship will serve as your introduction to the job hunt. You can use an internship to learn more about an industry or job that interests you—to decide if it is indeed for you within the confines of a shorter commitment. Completing an internship allows you to experience the day-to-day operations of a business or organization, providing you in-depth knowledge of the types of work environments you may encounter in your chosen career.

Internships also provide insights into the skills, qualifications and training necessary to enter a certain field. College students may benefit from getting an internship without having any other experience so that they can decide on a major or certain concentration within their department. Experiencing a career firsthand helps students discover elements they enjoy about a job, such as working with children, and parts of a job that may not be suited for them, like spending much of the workday outdoors.

How to get an internship with no experience

Internships actually exist for the purposes of giving students and new graduates the opportunity to acquire experience. You should just approach the opportunity that way and see it not just as a test of a career path but also a test at pursuing it. Here are several steps for getting an internship with no experience.

1. Decide what careers interest you

Research different career options for the degree program in which you’re currently enrolled. As you learn more, you can decide what your top two to three choices are and look for internships related to those positions. For example, if you are majoring in engineering, you can learn more about the different types of engineering professions. Once you determine what interests you the most, like mechanical engineering and civil engineering, you can apply for internships in those fields.

2. Choose the type of internship and location you want

Consider what type of internship you would like. Some pay. Some provide class credit. Others will supply neither or both. Perhaps some will allow you to work on the weekends or are otherwise particularly flexible. Do your research. You should also think about your own circumstances. For instance, if you travel to your hometown for summer break, perhaps you can look for summer internships at home. If you need to complete an internship while enrolled in classes, you’ll probably need to find a position near campus.

3. Keep your GPA high

When applying for an internship with no experience, your coursework can be a significant factor to those reviewing applications. Your performance in school will speak in the place of any lacking professional experience.

4. Consult with your career center

Career centers are good resources for students looking for opportunities to develop skills and find work or internships. Career centers often have relationships with companies and are aware of open positions, including internships or volunteer roles.

You can also work with your career center to craft a strong cover letter and resume to help you stand out from other applicants. Even if you don’t have work experience, the experts at the career center can help you discover relevant skills or activities that can translate into qualities employers are looking for. For example, you may not have a job on your resume, but you coach a little league baseball team. The career center will help you highlight this role on your resume to demonstrate leadership, community service and dependability.

5. Check for on-campus opportunities

Look for internships offered by your department or other offices on campus. These internships are typically designed for students, which means they often work around your class schedule and are appropriate for those without experience.

6. Join a university or community group

Joining a group based on your interests or career goals is a good way to network in your chosen field and discover opportunities. You can find groups on your school’s website or social media pages.

7. Apply early

Research deadlines for the internships that interest you. Applying early may increase your chances of being chosen for an interview or selected for the position.

8. Develop skills

Even if you don’t have specific professional experience, many general skills apply to numerous careers. Spend some time developing these transferable skills, such as computer skills, leadership skills and communication skills. Consider these ways to learn or improve important skills:

  • Attend a weekend workshop focused on professional skill, like team building or certain computer software
  • Join a club that allows you to develop and practice a transferable skill, such as a debate club or public speaking group
  • Seek out leadership positions in any groups that you’re a part of
  • Become a tutor to develop your communication skills

9. Volunteer

To gain experience, offer your time and efforts free of charge. Many organizations need extra help but are limited by their budget. Find businesses related to your major or intended career, and submit a request to volunteer. You can also volunteer with charitable organizations to develop skills such as reliability, time management, working with a team and organization.

10. Consider freelancing

You may consider getting experience on your own by freelancing. Post your services on social media, online job boards and in your school’s information center. Without experience, you may need to reduce your rates for projects or offer creative invoicing, such as payment after you provide services. This eliminates much of the risk a client may feel hiring you without experience.

11. Get creative

If a traditional internship opportunity is unlikely, create your own. Speak with your professors about helping with research studies. Contact businesses in your desired field, even if they don’t have an internship advertised. Be specific about what you can contribute, how many yours you can work each week and if you are willing to work for course credit instead of payment.

Consider expanding your search outside of your specific field. For instance, if you are interested in accounting, search for accounting internships with any company, not just accounting firms. If you are interested in human resources, any internship that allows you to work with people and develop communication skills is beneficial.

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