In a competitive job market, it often seems impossible for today’s college and university students to get internships. And if you’re like most people, you probably feel that you need experience before you can do an internship.
This article will reveal to you how to get a internship with no experience and land your dream internship at the end of the summer. we’ll also see how to get an internship while in college, easy internships to get.
- Find an internship that’s right for you.
You can’t just go out and get any internship—you have to find the right one. The best way to do this is to determine what your goals are and what you want to get out of your internship experience. Are you looking for networking opportunities? Do you want to gain practical skills? Or do you need a more formalized education in order to advance in your field? Once you’ve figured out what kind of internship will help you achieve these goals, it’s time to start looking.
- Get organized before applying!
If you’re applying for an internship with no experience, it’s especially important that you take the time to organize yourself before sending out applications. The first thing to do is create a spreadsheet with all the information about each company where you’re applying: name, address, phone number, email address, website URL, etc. Next, make sure all of this information is easy for potential employers (and hiring managers) to access on your resume when they review it! This means using bold text or bullet points—not just plain text—to highlight important facts like contact info or website links. This makes it easy for hiring managers who may be scanning through dozens of applications quickly.
How to get a internship with no experience
Introduction
If you’re looking to get an internship with no experience, it can be a little bit tricky. The good news is, there are ways to get out of that chicken and egg dilemma. That’s what we’re here to help you figure out! We’ve compiled all the helpful tips from across the web for landing an internship with no experience at all. Here are our top 6 tips for getting your foot in the door:
Your resume isn’t empty.
- Your resume isn’t empty. You’ve got to include relevant education, skills and volunteer experience. If you’re looking for an internship in tech, then show off your coding skills with a few lines about how you built an app that won the hackathon at your university last year. Show that you’re a self-starter by telling the company why they should hire you because they’ll get someone who already knows more than most interns (and therefore will have less remedial training).
- Use your resume to demonstrate why you are passionate about this particular internship opportunity. When applying for an unpaid job at a museum, talk about how much time and effort you spent volunteering there during high school as well as during college breaks; show how much of your personal history is tied up in being interested in museums!
- Talk about past achievements even if they aren’t directly related to the internship or job position—it shows that no matter what kind of work situation comes up, there’s always something positive that can come out of it.*
Don’t make your resume too long
Be aware of the fact that your resume will be one of many. An interviewer will spend less than a minute on each candidate’s resume, so if you have too much information on it, they won’t be able to read it all. You need to be able to highlight the most important parts of your experience and education so that hiring managers can quickly recognize what makes you a good fit for their company.
If you want to show off how great an employee or student leader you were in high school or college, limit yourself to one page—the first page of your resume should include only items such as:
- Your name
- Your contact information (e-mail address and phone number)
- The name of your school/company/organization (if applicable), along with dates worked there
Volunteer your skills.
Volunteering is a great way to get experience and show off your skills. When you volunteer, you will be able to demonstrate that you can work well with others, demonstrate leadership qualities and show that you have an eye for detail. Volunteering also shows a prospective employer that you are willing to give back to the community.
If possible, try to find an organization whose interests align with yours and volunteer some of your time there. The best thing about volunteering is that it will look great on your resume!
If possible, try to find an organization whose interests align with yours and volunteer some of your time there. The best thing about volunteering is that it will look great on your resume!
Demonstrate that you’re a self-starter.
Demonstrate that you’re a self-starter.
If you’ve got an idea for a project, or the skills to start one, go for it. If you need to learn new skills, find a friend who can help teach them to you. A great way to demonstrate your ability to take initiative is by starting your own business on the side—even if it’s just selling something from home occasionally or doing freelance work for friends and family.
A cautionary note: don’t spread yourself too thin; if you’re going to pursue several different projects at once, make sure they all complement each other (or at least don’t overlap too much). For example, if your main goal is getting good experience at a tech company but also want extra money from side gigs like babysitting or tutoring kids in math after school hours… well… probably best not try both at once!
You might also consider taking on some part-time work while looking for full-time positions; however, keep in mind that many companies won’t hire interns who are already working elsewhere out of concern over how this might impact their productivity during internship hours (and because they tend not hire people who already have jobs).
Manage your social media presence.
Social media can be a great way to make connections, but it’s also important to manage your presence on social media.
A professional-looking social media profile is key. Having a clean and consistent profile will help recruiters get an idea of who you are and what you’re about. If the information on your social media profiles doesn’t match up with what they see in person, it could lead to confusion or even lost opportunities. Make sure that all of your social profiles are consistent with each other as well!
Posting about goals, interests and achievements is another important step in creating an online presence that reflects well on who you are professionally. While it’s important not to overdo this type of post (if too much self-promotion comes off as bragging), keeping your online presence positive will show recruiters that you understand how personal branding works and can use it effectively for career advancement purposes – something they’ll want to see in any potential intern candidate! Avoid swearing or posting anything inappropriate; these things tend not only hurt one’s chances at landing an internship but also reflect poorly on them professionally if found out later by potential employers or coworkers alike.”
Apply anyway.
- Be confident in your skills and know that an internship is a learning experience.
- Focus on what you can learn from the internship, rather than how much experience you have.
- Don’t be afraid to apply to internships even if they seem too advanced for your current level of skill. Internships are usually structured so that interns can learn something new every day—and often more than one thing at once!
- Apply to lots of internships. You never know which ones will work out unless you apply!
- Use your network: ask friends or family members who work at companies where you’d like to intern if they could make a connection for you (or ask them for advice about how best to approach their companies). If there’s someone with whom you’ve worked closely before and who knows what kind of person/worker/programmer/etc., call them up and ask them what they think is most important at this stage in their career path—then do those things!
You can land an internship without experience by proving you are driven and capable.
You can land an internship without experience by proving you are driven and capable.
- Think about what you are good at and what you enjoy doing. Do you know how to make a great cup of coffee? Are you a whiz with Photoshop? Are people constantly asking for help with their resumes? If so, then maybe this is something that could benefit your potential employer!
- Be honest about the experience you have. It’s okay if there isn’t any professional work on your resume yet—many college students don’t have much work experience before starting off in internships or entry level positions in their field of interest. However, if there are gaps in employment history because they were spent volunteering or working at a part time job while taking classes full time, then those can be highlighted in interviews as well instead of being omitted entirely from the conversation.
- Don’t leave out any jobs whether they’re related to your chosen field or not — even if they’re just seasonal gigs like waiting tables at restaurants during busy seasons like summer vacations (which many students do). The more variety of jobs and skillsets listed on an application sheet means less chance for hiring managers to question whether or not someone has what it takes for certain tasks; therefore making them more likely accept candidates who may not have direct experience but do show promise through extracurricular activities like community service groups!
how to get an internship while in college
College is the ideal time to gain the knowledge and experience needed to prepare you for a new career. While it is a transition time into adulthood where critical thinking and a broader sense of learning is acquired, traditionally it is also where moves to start a career are made. For this reason, attending college and acquiring an internship often go hand in hand. In fact, it might even be a requirement for your major or at least a way to earn school credit.
Even if not required, completing an internship while in college gives you exposure to the workforce, develops your skills and begins to fill out your resume so that acquiring work is easier for you later. In this article, we explore the benefits of completing an internship in college, describe how to get an internship and list some tips for successfully completing an internship while in school.
The benefits of starting an internship in college
Though internships are only considered a requirement for certain positions and industries, they are beneficial in virtually every field and can be a great way to create an impressive resume that stands out among other candidates as you enter the job market. Some of the other advantages of completing an internship during college include that they often allow you to:
- Become familiar with working in a professional setting. Even if you have had jobs in the past, they were likely quite different from the day-to-day operations of your chosen professional career. An internship is a great way to gain exposure to a professional setting and learn how to interact with clients and colleagues.
- Apply the skills and knowledge you learn in college. Internships often allow you to utilize the strategies and skills that you have learned in your college courses. Being able to apply your knowledge in real-life situations can help you further develop your expertise and reinforce the concepts you’ve learned.
- Learn your likes and dislikes. An internship gives you an opportunity to discover if you enjoy certain jobs without the long-term commitment associated with accepting employment. Using these experiences, you can narrow your career goals and gain some valuable professional direction.
- Gain on-the-job training. There are often quite a few job functions that require more than the theoretical knowledge that you learn in school. Internships provide you with experiences that you might face in your career and training in specific procedures, systems or protocols that you can only learn on the job.
- Find employment after graduation. Internships are often a great way to gain employment after graduation because they demonstrate to employers that you have some experience in the field. Additionally, many internships lead to employment opportunities with the company you’re interning with. Employers usually actively assess their interns so that they can determine whether they would make a good permanent addition to the team.
- Develop your confidence. Because you’re able to gain hands-on experience and learn under skilled professionals in the industry, internships can make you a more confident candidate. Possessing confidence in your abilities is important as you prepare your resume and cover letter and begin interviewing for positions.
- Discover your strengths and weaknesses. Evaluating your strengths and weaknesses can be difficult outside of an applicable professional setting. As an intern, you can look for aspects of your skill set that you need to improve, discover what sets you apart from other candidates and learn which attributes make you an asset.
How to get an internship in college
In order to find an internship while you’re still in school, you should follow these simple steps:
- Evaluate your career goals. Before beginning your search for an internship, you should assess your professional goals so that you can determine what kind of positions and companies would provide you with the most relevant experience. You can then use this information to focus your search and narrow the results.
- Create space in your class schedule. Most internships are offered during the summer as well as during the school year. Depending on when you decide to complete an internship and your course load, you’re going to need to accommodate for the hours spent working as an intern. It’s typically a good idea to create a class schedule that gives you two or three days a week where you’re free.
- Prepare your application materials. Spend some time developing a resume and cover letter that highlight your experience, education and skills. Depending on the field you’re entering, it might be helpful to also create an online portfolio that showcases your work. Additionally, you should create a professional social media profile and evaluate your personal accounts so that you can delete any inappropriate images or captions.
- Explore internship opportunities. You can usually find internships using a number of methods. For example, many students search for job listings in their area and industry, but you can also speak with professors, peers, coworkers, family members, friends and alumni about potential opportunities that meet your interests. Additionally, if you know of a company or companies that you’d love to intern with, you can contact them directly and express your interest.
- Get help from career services. Most colleges have a career services center where you can get guidance about your resume and even find internship opportunities. Utilizing this resource can help you locate a great internship and improve your chances of getting hired.
- Attend career fairs. Career fairs give you the chance to meet hiring managers in person, allowing you to make a connection that improves the chances of your application standing out.
- Practice interviewing. Just like with any other job, you usually have to attend an interview before you’re offered a position. These interviews give employers the chance to compare the abilities and personalities of top candidates, so it’s imperative that you appropriately prepare beforehand. Some great ways to do this are by researching the company, analyzing the job description and rehearsing possible answers to commonly asked questions.
- Follow up with the internship coordinator. Sending an email or note to the interviewer thanking them for their time and consideration demonstrates that you are thoughtful, organized and motivated. You should send your thank-you note within 24 hours of your meeting. Make sure to mention something specific from the interview and end with a brief call to action. For example, you could say, “Please reach out if you need any more information from me.”
easy internships to get
It’s too easy to find yourself looking desperately at an endless list of websites claiming to be the “best and only” one you need to find the perfect internship. Just a simple Google search gives you about 146,000,000 results and to make things worse, they all plead for your attention.
Here’s the shortcut — a list of 20 top job search websites that are worth checking out if you need help in figuring out how to get an internship.
Some of them will list all types of internship opportunities while others focus on a specific industry or area of interest. Whether these sites offer Fortune 100 internships, non-profit internships or opportunities to work abroad, there’s something here for everyone:
Social networks and communities
LinkedIn.com will pair your social media obsession with finding an internship, allowing you to connect not only with friends but also with recruiters and jobs. The user-friendly site makes it very easy to spend hours looking at jobs and internships. Here’s our guide to help you get noticed in the first place.
Indeed.com includes all the job listings culled from major job boards, newspapers, associations, and company career pages. You can save your searches and have internships and jobs delivered right to your email account.
Glassdoor for Students is a great resource for starting your new career. It can help you find internships and entry-level jobs, research salaries, companies, career paths and prepare for interviews.
Facebook is home to a plethora of internship groups and pages that you definitely shouldn’t miss when fishing for opportunities. Check out our short guide for more information.
FindSpark is an online and offline community dedicated to setting up every young professional for career success. The website makes it easy to make new connections, start interesting conversations and provide you with the resources to maintain your growing network.
College.monster.com lets you learn about internship opportunities, get interview advice and talk to other people searching for jobs.
Aggregate internship boards
SimplyHired.com is a simple but helpful website that aggregates job listings and includes employer websites, job boards, and additional background information about companies.
Internships.com allows you to search in the pool of more than 5,000 internships based on major, job category, city and company. And don’t forget to check out the “Internship Predictor” feature to match you up with internships based on your personality and references.
WayUp.com is a destination for early career professionals who want to explore internships and get noticed by employers. Sign up and you’ll receive a number of personalised opportunities based on your qualifications and skills.
InternJobs.com is a global database of internships and entry-level jobs for college students and recent graduates.
AbsoluteInternship.com attracts adventurous college students and post-graduates. The website works with over 800 companies to provide students with the opportunity to develop their career aspirations across the globe.
Nonprofits
Idealist.org lets you browse internships from over 129,000 nonprofit and community organisations in over 180 countries. Great for those who want to volunteer or give back and make a difference in the world.
Student Conservation Association (SCA) is a nonprofit organisation that offers 3-12 month paid internship opportunities for college students interested in ecology and environmental work.
Websites with added value
Experience.com offers a wealth of resources and advice for those seeking internships. The website is packed with useful articles providing an enormous amount of information written by college students who share their personal experiences.
InternQueen.com allows you to search for internships depending on your preferred industry and semester, with the added option of a virtual internship. The blog offers highly engaging content on writing resumes, acing interviews and other tips for your professional life.
Industry specific internships
USAJobs.gov is the official U.S. government website for college students interested in landing a government job or internship. Prepare for tough competition, though, there are too many folks out there dying to say they spent their summer working for NASA, the Navy or even FBI.
MediaBistro.com is for those looking to launch a career in the media. The site lets you find internships in advertising, social media, TV and video, publishing, design, technology and many more.
HerCampus.com is the ideal place for smart, enthusiastic, and highly motivated college women looking for internships.
Internship as meaningful travel
GoAbroad.com is an umbrella website that collects thousands of international opportunities from StudyAbroad.com, InternAbroad.com and VolunteerAbroad.com. With dozens of different countries to offer, it’s a great resource for those wishing to turn their wanderlust into meaningful travel and career development.
CoolWorks.com is the ultimate job finder for adventurous souls. It’s the best place where to look for internship opportunities in places ranging from national parks to ski resorts, dude ranches to retreat centers and everything in between. Although most of the opportunities are entry level, these jobs can easily lead to a career-oriented trajectory.