Internship Resources

• Clarify expectations about the internship: both the employers and yours. It is a good idea to agree upon your job responsibilities in writing.

• Take advantage of the transition time at the beginning of your internship and ask lots of questions. You are not expected to know what is going on right away, but the faster you learn the ins and outs of daily life on the job, the better off you'll be.

• Meet regularly with your supervisor to ensure that both of your expectations are being met. This is a good way for you to get feedback on your performance and helps to keep you on track with current and future assignments.

• First impressions are very important, as is maintaining good ones. It is important for you to dress, speak, write, and generally behave like a professional. Shake hands, make eye contact, smile, and be friendly and confident.

• Be observant and ask questions about appropriate behavior at the work place. Different organizations have different expectations regarding employee behavior and it is important that you learn about and conform to the corporate culture. This can include issues such as appropriate clothing, demeanor with customers, personal phone calls, and where to park your car. If you aren't sure if it's OK to eat the donuts in the company kitchen, ask first. When in doubt, err on the conservative side.

• Focus on your communication skills, both written and verbal. Proofread your written work carefully. When communicating with your coworkers choose respectful, tactful, and professional language at all times.

• Show up to work on time, when you are expected. Call if you are going to be sick or late. Don't be sick or late often. Choose your sick days with care; it will be noticed if you are not at work on important days.

• Establish good relationships with your coworkers. Be friendly, polite, helpful, and sensitive. It's good to talk with your coworkers and get to know them but beware of gossiping and complaining. Be careful about bringing personal business to work, and be sure that what you do discuss is fit for public consumption.

• Be easy to work with. Accept assignments without complaint, ask for more work when assignments are completed, and turn out good quality work. Listen carefully to instructions and ask for clarification. Learn to work as a team; be respectful of input from other team members and practice the art of compromising.

• When you leave, be sure to ask your supervisor for a letter of recommendation and keep in touch so that you can call upon him/her later when you are in need of a reference. This will also help your supervisor keep you in mind when future opportunities arise.

Source: University of California, Berkeley

Get Experience:

• The work that students do in school can go a long way toward getting an organization’s attention. In order to increase the chances of landing a great internship, students should make an effort to get experience that is related to the position they want. By participating in relevant extracurricular activities, students can learn some skills that may pave the way for an internship, as well as display their interest and passion for the field. Participating in volunteer activities is also a way to augment classroom learning and show a real interest in a specific profession.

• Although experience outside of the classroom will be sure to impress hiring managers, students should also take advantage of opportunities inside of the classroom to boost their resume. When students participate in projects related to their major and future career, it further demonstrates their willingness to learn and passion for their field.

Resume

• An internship resume should be targeted to the kind of position students are looking for. While it should include information on past work experience, the internship resume should really showcase the skills and knowledge students have about their industry—especially if they don’t yet have work experience in that area. Including information about school projects, extracurricular activities, and volunteering related to the field they’re interested in will be sure to catch a hiring manager’s attention.

Cover Letter

• Similar to the resume, the internship cover letter should be targeted toward the industry students want to enter. In addition, they should use this space as an opportunity to really sell themselves, and demonstrate knowledge of their industry and interest in a specific organization. To that end, it’s best to do research on each company and tailor a cover letter accordingly. A generic cover letter will not be enough to land an interview; in order to stand out from other applicants, students should be as industry and company specific as possible.

Networking

• By building a professional network, students make contacts that can help them land their dream internship. Ideal places for making these connections include professional events geared toward a specific industry, as well as school-sponsored alumni activities. In addition, students can connect with graduates from their school on LinkedIn, as well as other professionals in their field, which will give them the opportunity to immerse themselves in a community of people who can give them leads on internship opportunities.

Interview Preparation

• Landing an interview is only half the battle of getting that dream internship. In order to ensure that they get the position they want, students need to practice their interviewing skills. First, they should research the company they’re meeting with and incorporate what they learned into the conversation to show the hiring manager they’re serious about interning there. In addition, it’s important for students to prepare answers for the most common interview questions and practice their delivery. Interview help is available from a school’s career center, as well as a number of online resources that give sample interview questions and answers. For example, Glassdoor.com has interview questions that are commonly asked by specific companies.

Personal Branding

• With online activity becoming increasingly important to employers, students can differentiate themselves from other applicants by branding on social media sites. Showing off expertise through Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook posts related to their major is a great way for students to create a personal brand that augments their resume.

Source: Learn How to Become