What do you do if you want to find the right internship for your career goals?

To find the right internship for your career goals, clarify your objectives, research opportunities, network with professionals, utilize career resources, tailor your application materials, prepare for interviews, follow up after applying, and evaluate offers based on factors like company culture and growth potential. These steps will help you secure an internship that aligns with your aspirations and provides valuable experience for your future career.

A "future fit" internship is one where you are working on projects that help you create the impact you want to have in this world. It's one that will give you hands-on experience using emerging tech tools AND have the opportunity to flex your uniquely human abilities like problem-solving, collaboration, and critical thinking. Look for roles that will push you to solve ambiguous problems- tackle open-ended challenges without clear solutions to build resilience-and not just follow instructions, but create NEW VALUE, and work across multi-disciplinary teams to practice integrating diverse perspectives.

As a career coach, I advise my clients to go beyond the job descriptions. Job descriptions provide a basic overview, but don't stop there. Seek the company website and social media pages to gain insights into their company culture, values, and ongoing projects. You can connect with professionals in your industry, and have informational discussions to get valuable insights into specific job roles and internship experiences. Importantly, don't hesitate to reach your internship coordinator with specific questions about the internship experience. Express your interest and enthusiasm for the field, and ask about the types of projects interns typically participate in.

As a career coach, I advise my clients to focus on ATS-friendly resumes focusing on keyword optimization. You need to carefully analyse the internship description and identify key skills and experiences, then integrate these keywords throughout your resume. Don't just list all your projects, but focus on projects that showcase the skills needed for the role you are applying. Importantly, if you have an online portfolio showcasing your work related to the role, include a link in your resume. This allows employers to visually assess your skills and capacity.

Find people working on problems you care about (climate tech, humane tech, social justice, etc.). Enthusiasm for their work is your way'in'. Reach out to individuals aligned with your impact goals - you already share that huge connection. Attend niche events (even online!), join impact-focused communities.Don't be shy, slide into those DMs. Show authentic interest in the problem space or field, not just job hunting. Spend time with thoughtful comments on social posts, a sincere question on relevant forums – these get noticed. It's about relationships, not favors. Put in the effort to connect with the true movers who inspire you in these spaces. Be consistent show you can bring value & the opportunity will arise.

In my experience networking is the most daunting but also the most effective way of securing roles or increasing visibility for clients. Search for people who work in jobs or industries you are interested in and ask them for a chat or for more information. Be clear about your goals and objectives and stick to the point. Dont be disappointed if they say no, setbacks are natural but keep trying.

As a career coach, recently I worked with a recent CS graduate with a strong interest in AI, who was eager to gain practical experience. The main problem was many AI internship postings seemed overly competitive I discussed with her not to apply to every internship opening she finds, but to research companies at the forefront of AI development and identify internship opportunities that align with your specific interests within the field such as computer vision, and NLP. I helped her utilize online platforms like LinkedIn to connect with professionals working in AI and to reach out for informational interviews to gain insights into the industry and learn about potential internship opportunities.

Standing out requires a future-fit mindset! Go deeper than the mission statement. Use social media to understand their current projects, the challenges they face, and the key trends shaping their industry. Be ready to discuss your experience with digital tools, collaboration platforms, and data-driven approaches. Prepare examples that show how you've tackled complex challenges and think critically. Follow-up with Value-- Instead of a generic thank-you, share a relevant article or resource tied to your interview discussion. This positions you as a potential teammate, not just another applicant.

It is indeed important to approach internship search with the same level of importance as any step in your professional journey. Rather than simply seeking something for the sake of fun, prioritize potential growth, learning, and experience. Many fresh graduates pursue internships to gain industry exposure and start their careers with limited experience, which is normal. However, it's essential to take a step back and carefully assess your intentions. While feeling lost is common, having a sense of purpose, both mid and long term, is important. Take a leap of faith into an internship that "feels right" after careful consideration, ensuring it aligns with your goals and offers opportunities for personal and professional development.

Embrace the Portfolio Career Mindset- Think beyond a single internship. Search for Interns to learn new Indemand skills, work with multi-diverse teams. Do online Micro-Internships (projects) for companies-- These short-term projects let you explore different aspects of a field (e.g., data analysis for conservation vs. AI policy work with an NGO). This self-discovery makes your long-term career goals clearer. Don't just browse generic job boards. AI-powered platforms can uncover hidden opportunities aligned with your specific skills and the causes you care about. Find the tool that works for you!