Hi, everyone! My name is Elizabeth, and I am currently an intern on the Marketing Team at Hawkes. I know that searching for internships while in college can be overwhelming. By planning ahead and using the tips below, I hope the process will become a little smoother.

1. Start your search early! This will ensure that you have enough time to decide what kind of internship you would like so you can begin to make a list of the ones you’re going to apply to. Starting early and submitting your application in a timely manner will help you to stand out. In addition, planning ahead and breaking up the work over time will help you to have a strong search experience.
2. Identify your ideal internship and make a list of internships you want to apply to. Make sure you include a few internships that will be a reach for you and a few you know you could get.
3. Work on your resume. This can be tricky if you have never created a resume before but is an important part of the internship search process. Make sure you have highlighted your past experiences that will stand out to employers. Even if you don’t have relevant work experiences for the specific role, employers will appreciate the experience you do have from extracurricular activities and classes related to the industry.
4. Use online career opportunity databases. Databases are helpful for looking for job openings in your area. The posting will include helpful information and directions on how to apply and when to apply by. For some, you may even be able to apply directly on the database.
5. Attend career fairs. Career fairs are a great place to gather information on the companies that will be looking for interns in your area. Bring your printed resume with you in the event you come across companies you are interested in.
6. Utilize your school’s Career Center. The Career Center may host job-searching workshops, networking events, and on-campus interviews. They may offer help with your resume and practicing interviews, and have help guides on their website. This free resource is great to take advantage of to help get on the right track with career-related topics you have may be unsure about.
7. Select references. Ask possible references if they would be able to provide a positive reference for you in the future.
8. Always be on the lookout for internship opportunities. This could include reading the emails from your school that list internship openings in your city or town, networking, or searching for openings on company websites. If your school offers a course where you can get credit for your internship, you could reach out to the professor to see if they have any helpful tips for you. In addition, marketing yourself to companies you are interested in, even if there are no current opportunities available yet, could possibly turn into a job in the future.
9. Lastly, remember to be flexible if your dream internship doesn’t work out. There are plenty of opportunities out there that would be great learning experiences for you!

About the Author:

Elizabeth is completing her fall internship on Hawkes Learning’s Marketing Team. She will graduate from College of Charleston this December with a degree in communication.