It’s Time to Think About Summer Internships

It’s Time to Think About Summer Internships

With the fall semester ending and your winter holidays about to start, it’s time to think about a summer internship. Doing an internship is an important part of your university experience and it will make finding a job after graduation easier. Whether or not your degree includes a year in industry, you should still try and find some extra opportunities. In this blog, I will discuss why summer internships are important, advice for what to do (and not to do) and what TopCourses’ Career Service can offer you.

Why are summer internships important?

• It’s a chance to develop crucial professional skills
• Gain meaningful experience for your chosen career path
• An opportunity to explore different career paths
• Enhance your CV
• Potentially earn some money
• Build a professional network
• Secure good references and recommendations
• Build your confidence
• Can lead to an offer of permanent employment
  

You must apply for the internship before the start of the season and as a rule, the earlier you apply, the higher the chances of being considered for a position. For certain competitive programmes, the application process ends in early/late autumn. However, if you haven’t applied yet, don’t worry. You will still be able to find a great position!

Top tips for getting a summer internship

Nowadays, the competition for work experience is fierce, but here is some useful advice to ensure that you will stand out from the crowd.

• Apply for internships during your first year of university. It’s never too early to start getting some work experience. In fact, obtaining internship experience early on can boost your chances of obtaining more elite internships later.
• Start your research early. The more competitive internships have strict deadlines, and you don’t want to miss a valuable opportunity because you forgot to do your research.
• Network whenever possible. Attend all your university careers events – this will help you build valuable professional networks and increase your chances. When you make new contacts, try to stay in contact via LinkedIn or email.
• Ensure your CV is up to date. Take the time to think about what you can include and how you want to word it. Include any relevant experience and coursework that will help set you apart from other candidates.
• Carefully read the application. I know this sounds like an easy step, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t read the application process correctly and end up submitting incorrect or incomplete answers and documents. A silly mistake can end up costing you an internship.

What to avoid

Here are some handy tips on what to avoid when applying for internships.

• Submitting generic applications. Recruiters can tell the difference between an application completed with care and one that was rushed or generic. It’s important to cater your application to each internship. Include only relevant details and personalise your CV and cover letter to match the requirements for the specific internship you are applying for.
• Waiting until the last minute to apply. This usually means that your application will be of lower quality.
• Not double checking spelling or grammar. Read, re-read, and read your application again to ensure it’s perfect.
• Applying for only a few internships. The more internships you apply for, the better your chances are of securing one.

TopCourses’ Career Service

Following my advice will certainly make a difference and improve your chances, but what if it could be even easier? We offer a unique and tailored package to ensure you land the internship of your dreams. If you choose TopCourses, you will have an initial assessment meeting with a dedicated and experienced consultant to discuss your career choices. Afterwards, we will review your CV and cover letter and identify suitable vacancies based what you want to do. Not only that, but we also offer a one-hour tailored online mock interview session with written feedback. Plus, best of all, our service guarantees at least one offer. With TopCourses you can rest assured of finding the summer internship you deserve!

Book your free initial consultation today to discuss your options.