Decoding internships

Fall is here and so is the anxiety around internships for those starting grad school. This week's nugget demystifies the process for applying and cracking the #internships for #students in the US.

These reflections from my internship & job hunt experiences are 100% authentic. I learned some of these are lessons only when the ship had sailed that I wish I knew just a tad bit sooner. I hope my nugget is timely for those who are getting started with their search!

#internships #gradschool #jobsearch #studentjobs #hiring #networking #outreach #givebacktothecommunity #studentsoflinkedin

1) Start very early

The early bird gets the worm and I cannot emphasize enough on how important it is to start the internship search early. Don't wait for anything or anyone. Don't even wait for school to start. Many tech companies wrap up their internship recruitment for next summer by end of the previous year and the best way to stand a chance is to start very early.

?Fun fact: I had submitted my first internship application 3 weeks before I started grad school in fall.

2) 45 second elevator pitch

8/10 times, you will land an interview because of the impression you make within the first 60 seconds of your interaction. A good pitch leads the listener to scan a resume and engage with you.?

??Practice: Write your elevator pitch and rehearse it until you can say it with confidence to anyone.

?Short & engaging: Keep the content under 30 seconds to allow room for pauses and smiles.

???Being human: Make eye contact and greet the person before you start the pitch.

?1 question success criteria: Highlight the best parts of your career & life to get the listener interested enough to ask you at least 1 question (about you) after you complete your pitch.

??Visual cues: Observe how the person reacts during your pitch and use that feedback to improvise next time.

3) Optimize career fairs?

3/4 of my internship offers were leads from my University Career Fairs so I am a big believer in their value proposition.

Career fairs and networking events are excellent forums to meet people who are looking to hire. Below are some tactical things to do:

?Go early: Get in the queue before it gets too long. Visit your prioritized company booths while they are still attentive and listening. Maximize the booths you visit to increase your chances of getting interviews.

?Do your homework: Shortlist the companies you want to visit and make a checklist of the job openings in each. Keep the details handy and use them to drive pointed conversations.

???Elevator pitch: Tailor the pitch according to the audience and contextualize it to intersect your career journey and the employer's expectations.

??Dress comfortably: You are not required to look like a CEO because that is not the job you are applying for. Dress very comfortably (business casuals) and wear comfortable footwear because the day is going to be long. Avoid carrying a lot of stuff.

??Printed resume: Print your resume and give it to the person before you start your pitch. Walk them through the most important parts if they show interest.

??Be prepared: The day goes by in a blur and any time spent away from the fair is time lost. Keep the things you will need close to you and carry food/drinks that will help you stay energized.

4) Follow up, follow up, follow up

It is never enough to give your pitch, submit your resume, complete an application and leave the rest up to fate. Ask the people who are hiring for their preferred way stay in touch - LinkedIn, Email, Text, etc.

Follow-up at 3-4 times before you give up and space it out well enough so that you don't spam the person on the receiving end.

????A thank you note on the day of your interaction to remind them of your conversation and share additional details (your resume, the jobs you'd like to consider, your timeline) goes a long way

????Check after a week of your first follow-up to ask if they have any updates

????Check-in once again after a week if you have not heard asking if they got a chance to review your details

????Try reaching out to them via other modes of networking (if known to you and acceptable to them.)

5) Create a job tracker (template below!)

?Once you start applying for internships, it gets difficult to keep a track of every application and follow-up. Below is a tracker template (which I used for my job hunt) which can save you a lot of time and effort. The tracker also comes very handy when applying for full-time roles and future networking.

??Visit my Job Tracker Template

6) Don't stop after your 1st offer

When it comes to internship hunt, don't be fixated on just your "dream company" and try to interview with as many companies as possible. This helps you improve your interviewing skills and prepare for full-time interviews which are more involved and demanding. Interviewing is also a great way to grow your network. Getting multiple offers boosts your confidence, gives you choice, and helps you perform better in subsequent interviews.?

??Honest disclaimer: Getting your internship offer can be pretty tough as you are just getting started and the positions are limited. There are many variables you cannot control so don't be too hard on yourself if you are unable to get/crack the interview. But keep showing up and keep working hard, that is something you absolutely control and it will always pay back in the long run.

7) Update resume & get feedback (5x)

The resume that got you an admit to the university is not the one that will help you get a job/intern interview. Update the resume to make it industry ready and get feedback from at least 5 credible people before you make your first application. This goes back to "start very early" because getting your resume right can take 4-6 weeks.

??Read my tips on resume writing

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8)?Invest time in networking (50%)

Reserve 50% of your time for networking every week. Meet more people, go to events, attend job fairs, join conferences, speak with alumni, read relevant posts and blogs, watch seminars, talk to peers, join groups, setup 1:1s... There is a wealth of learning that happens outside your courses and classrooms that you need to invest time for. No one can do this for you, and this is a recipe for success in school, beyond school and in life.

??My tips on networking

Thanks and special credits to?Pratik Shetty ?for sharing ideas & tips for this nugget!

Leave me a comment if you found this nugget useful or have an experience to share. Thanks for reading till the end and I'll see you next week with a new crispy and fresh product nugget!?