It’s Not Too Late to Find An Internship
In my years as a college career advisor, I've helped hundreds of college students find internships. At DePaul University, I was one of the most booked career advisors, meeting with hundreds of students a year in 1:1 appointments, so it’s not surprising that nearly half of those students came to my office to find an internship. The two questions I was asked most by students were: how do I find an internship, and is it too late to find one? My answers: It is (usually) not too late to find an internship as a student, and where you look for an internship depends on your career goals.
Where can I find an internship?
I've helped students in various majors find internships–from information technology to history, data analytics to graphic design, and accounting to animation. While many students start searching on general sites like Indeed.com, this becomes frustrating when internships relating to your major can't be found.
The best place to start looking is with your college or university's job search board for students and alumni. This is where employers looking to hire students at your school post their internships and jobs. Another place to look is the company's website. Many companies will only post their internship opportunities on their career pages.
Pro Tip! If you have more time to search for an internship, a good strategy is to attend a career fair at your college. While going to a career fair can be stressful, it can help you learn about different companies and the types of internships they offer.
When should I start my search?
Unless you're a student who starts looking for an internship just a few weeks ahead of time, it's usually not too late to get an internship. Find out when it's most common for students in your major to do an internship–and once you know that, you'll know when it's a good time to start applying for an internship.
While the most common time to do an internship is in the summer, it's not the only time companies offer them. Some companies have internships open all year round or at different times in the year, so you may want to think about doing an internship in a semester other than summer.
My parents want me to do an internship, but do I really need one?
Everyone from your parents to professors will tell you that having an internship will help you get a job after graduation. Getting real-world and relevant work experience outside the classroom is essential.
70% of all interns will receive a full-time job offer after completing their internship, so as long as you work hard and get along with your team, there's a good chance a job offer will be waiting for you after your internship ends. And if you don’t get an offer–or you’d prefer to work elsewhere–you still have gained experience to add to your resume.
Completing at least one internship in college helps you to...
Develop new skills - there are some skills you just can't learn in the classroom. An internship will help you build these skills and get used to working in a professional work setting.
Create new connections - chances are you'll hit it off with some of your coworkers at an internship. These connections can also become excellent references for future job applications.
Deciding what you want to do - if you're unsure what career path you want to follow, an internship will help you get a taste of what your life could be like if you followed a specific direction.
Struggling to find an internship? Ask for help.
If you're struggling to find an internship or hear back from your applications, reach out to someone who can help. Try going to your school's career services center since the career advisors may know about companies that hire students like you for internships.
If your college career center doesn't provide enough guidance, choose a career coach outside of school like Collegiateca. We can help guide you through the process to secure your dream internship.
Let's sum this up
Internships help you gain essential knowledge and skills that can't be taught in the classroom.
While the most common time to do an internship is in the summer, it's not the only time companies offer them.
No matter what time of year you want to do an internship, don't leave finding one until a few weeks ahead. Although some companies move fast in the hiring process, you'll still need a few weeks to submit your application, interview, and get hired.
Let Collegiateca assist you
At Collegiateca, we understand how different career goals impact the search for the perfect college internship. We can help you secure that dream internship by creating a customized search plan and a resume and cover letter to match. Book a career advising appointment to get started or a Discovery Session to learn more.