In the busy job search season it is absolutely vital to have a go-to plan on how to score your dream internship…or at least one to fulfill your college credit or get your foot in the door, so to speak. Below I have compiled an attack plan on how to take control in your job hunt process!
1. Prepare your resume – This is possibly one of the most important steps in getting your internship. Your resume is the place that allows you to stand out in the crowd of other applicants. Some essential areas to list out are your past education, prior job experience and any awards or important reference points that would make you attractive to a company.
2. Cover letter – If you are sending in an application or applying online, it is always a plus to send in a cover letter with your resume. On most online applications it is optional, but it always best to impress in these situations and submit one. Make sure to say why you were happy to find the position you are applying for, 3 key reasons why you are the perfect applicant, and if there is a specific time that would be most convenient to interview.
3. Outfit – After you score that dream internship interview, you just have to figure out your outfit. I always decide what I will be wearing 2 days in advance and do a test drive by trying on the whole outfit as I would go to the interview. This gives me piece of mind that everything is clean, fitting right and appropriate for the interview. The day of the interview you will already be nervous, so it is a great idea to plan in advance and eliminate the added stress of trying to put together a fabulous “please hire me” outfit with only 20 minutes to spare.
4. Interview – The next step is to go on your interview and show the employer how perfect you are for the job. Bring 2 extra resumes with you incase you need to reference it in your interview. For some great addvice on how to “overcome interview jitters,” come check out one of my favorite blogs NYC PR Girls, and read their great article http://nycprgirls.com/overcome-interview-jitters/.
5. Cursory e-mail – After scheduling an interview, it is always very appropriate to confirm the meeting, especially if you scheduled the interview far in advance. In addition, it is always polite to do a follow up e-mail after an interview. Keep it short and sweet and just thank the person for their time, re-send your contact information, and mention that you are looking forward to hearing from them.
6. Relax – At this point, there is nothing to do but kick back and relax. You just have to wait and see whether you were the perfect match for the job.
If you follow these steps, you will be able to better plan for everything you need to do in order to land your dream job! What did you do to land your dream job? Do you have any stories from this experience? Share your thoughts and leave a comment below!
5 Responses to How to get an internship