Finding an internship to apply to for the summer is usually pretty easy. However, when inundated with opportunities from all kinds of sources like LinkedIn and RiceLINK, it sometimes feels like there are so many options that you do not even know where to start. Sending internship applications to as many places as possible may seem an effective strategy, but there are many factors other than your resume involved in getting a position, and you want to maximize them as much as possible for the internships you want the most. Hopefully, these 2 tips will help you figure out which internships should be your top priority.
1. Figure out exactly what you want to walk out of your internship with.
Many times, when people start applying for internships, they aren’t really sure how they want to emerge from their summer, which can lead to disappointment in an internship when they leave with something they did not really need. Knowing what exactly you want to gain from your internship can not only help you hone in on which internships to apply to, it can also enhance your actual internship experience. If you’re just looking to work at a big name company to boost your resume, then you’re pretty much done with this step. But challenge yourself to look for something more. Resume boosting is the least of what any big name company has to offer. Try finding something a little more concrete and quantifiable. For example, you could try shooting for a published paper if you are looking into research, or you could push for the work you completed to be integrated into the company when you leave. Once you’ve identified what exactly you want from your internship, look for internships where you could achieve your goals, put them at the top of your application list, and apply to them first.
2. Find a company whose culture you identify with.
Company culture is one of the key factors that play into your enjoyment of your internship. Personally, I didn’t really like the very professional, business-like culture of my last internship. And even though I got to do some really cool things, my distaste ultimately soured my view of the internship. For you, it might be totally different; you might love a more professional, traditional corporate culture. Identify your likes and dislikes early on, and use them to figure out which kind of companies can immerse you in the work environment you are looking for. A great way to start to identify these preferences is the Owl Edge Externship Program (look out for applications for spring break externships early next semester!) Combining the information from (1) and (2), re-rank your list.
Now that you have an idea of which companies will give you the most out of your summer, apply to them first, reach out to recruiters, network, and do everything you can to secure those internships. Then, you’ll be able to finally snag that elusive dream internship.
Abhijeet Mulgund is a Peer Career Advisor from Wiess College. He is a sophomore studying computer science, statistics, and mathematics.
