How to land yourself a juicy internship placement

Find the Job You Dream About

Don’t be afraid to go outside of your major and follow your passions! The goal is to figure out how you want to spend your time postgraduation—there are no limits

Apply Everywhere

To be safe, apply for at least 20 internships for a better chance of landing one of the coveted spots. Do one application a day to make it feel less overwhelming. Craft the Perfect Résumé

No internship experience yet? No worries. Start with your school, major, and graduation date up top. Then list part-time jobs and extracurricular activities. This is your moment to brag: If you’re the philanthropy chair for your sorority, talk about how much money you raised; if you’ve worked retail, mention sales goals you’ve reached. Send it with a cover letter that says what your résumé doesn’t—why you’re into this particular company, and how an internship there would help you reach your goals.

Make a Connection

Never assume you don’t know anyone! Search companies on LinkedIn to see if someone who works there went to your college, then e-mail her to set up an informational interview. (Drop the key phrase “I’d love to hear how you got started!”)

Another tip: Follow your fave companies on social media to keep up on news you can comment on in your cover letter or interview.

Follow Up—Once

Remember that you want to seem excited, not aggressive. Once the application deadline has passed, wait two weeks before sending an e-mail asking if they’ve received your materials or need any more info. If you’ve had an interview, give it a week.

Keep your follow-up note short and sweet: four or five sentences reminding them what position you applied for, when you applied, and how passionate you are about working for them. Reattach your résumé and cover letter, too, so they’re easy to access. If you don’t hear back, no sweat—still have all your backup options!

Keep in Touch

Don’t flood anyone’s in-box, but if you meet someone who works for a company you’re obsessed with, reach out two or three times a year with a quick hello and any exciting work life (like an award or another cool job experience). Include a compliment or a note referring to an article recently written about the company, to show you’re following them and are dialed in.