The 5 Stages Of Applying For An Internship

By Allie Mitchell on July 18, 2016

Internships can be career starting stepping stones. The companies you intern for could be where you get your first jobs, or they could lead you into the next phase of your working life.

Some people tend to think getting an internship is a piece of cake, that if you have enough things on your resume people will just bring you on instantly. People forget that you do need certain skills to have a good interview. You need to know how to keep a good conversation going, say the things you need to say with the time you are given, start and end on a good note, and many other attributes you have to harness while you sit across from someone or a set of people who ultimately dictate your fate.

But we are getting ahead of ourselves here.

This article is mainly about helping you get to the process of getting an interview. Before you head into the room full of decision makers, you have to first know about the techniques and skills of applying. You don’t want to apply for every internship out there or you might end up doing something or interviewing for something that you ultimately have no interest in.

Yes, sometimes doing something you don’t like helps you see what you may not want to do with your future, but sometimes you don’t want to waste your time whatsoever. Most people would say that applying for an internship is just like applying for any other job, which yes, I would agree, but then again, the way you apply for a seasonal position at a retail store is way different than the way you apply for a corporate internship position.

On the other hand, it is all about the company and perspective.

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Here are some steps to applying for an internship. Some of these may seem simple and self-explanatory, but not everyone thinks like you.

1. Explore where to intern: Think about where you would like to intern. Some people want to go out of state for internships. That of course gives you a better perspective on a place you have never been before and also how other places operate. Make sure to look into what the internship is offering you. Some internships offer housing or stipends, others just offer college credit and experience.

Figure out what you want in it and if there is no housing, where you are going to stay. Just because one internship is in one state and another one you want is in a different one doesn’t make either one better than the other. You need to figure out what is best for your situation and needs.

2. Nail down a list: You need to create a list of internships that you want and that you are excited for. But wait, depending on your level in college and your experience level you need to narrow down your choices. You may be under-qualified for some of the ones you picked out.

Don’t throw them out completely though — once you have more experience under your belt you could always apply again at a different time. Make sure both you and the internship match.

3. Fill out the paperwork: It brings us all dread, we know. When you look through the application you see that they want recommendations, transcripts, personal statements and the list goes on and on. Most teachers want to know in advance when you need the recommendations and transcripts, and take a bit of time to send it in regardless.

You need to make a list of all the things you are required to send and make sure that everything is being sent in on time. I know getting all those papers in and figuring out what to do is a lot; most of us just wish that our personalities would be enough, but internships want more from you.

4. Send & wait: You have sent your application and went through with the interview, hooray for you! Now you celebrate? Well you can if you would like, but then it starts to set in that you haven’t heard back yet. Weeks go by and the deadline passes and nothing.

Everyone is getting calls back saying whether or not they have an internship, and you haven’t gotten anything. The anxiety sets in and you turn into a big messy puddle. STOP! Some places take longer to get back to you honestly, but if you are really that distraught about it you can always send a polite email asking for an update.

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5. Celebrate your victory: When you finally hear back and YOU GOT THE JOB! Now yes, this is the time for a happy dance. Now go crush that job, you’ve worked hard for it!

Internships are hard. Getting one is hard. Applying for one is cutthroat to be honest. Everyone is in college and wanting to get one just as much as you do. You have to work at the pace that works for you and realize that the right job will come along for you — believe me.

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