Eight Top Tips for Getting the Perfect Summer Internship

1. Understand what career you would like your internship in If you know what it is you want to do, this will allow searching for internship opportunities much easier. This will enable to you to use specific websites to help with your work experience search and filter the sort of jobs you would like to experience in that particular sector. Websites to help with your internship search include e4s, internwise and fashionworkie, which is perfect for internships in fashion. 2. Make sure you start looking 7 months in advance You may need to start looking in November to get onto some summer internship. Some companies may start looking for people toward the beginning of the summer, although many may stop taking applications during March. Starting early also enables you to have time to look around and make sure you find the perfect summer internship for you. 3. Develop a strong CV Your CV needs to emphasise your skills, qualities and experiences, which will make the employer, want to find out more about you. A resume can effectively distinguish your background and set you apart from other internship seekers. Your CV needs to be straight to the point and not be any longer than 2 pages. An employer is not going to look at your CV if it goes on and on, as they want a resume that tells you about the person applying straightaway. If you are applying for a creative internship make sure you add a little bit of creative flair into your resume to show off your personality. Also write a cover letter in addition to your CV. Make sure your cover letter explains why you would be a good fit and why you chose that particular company for an internship. This is the chance for you to explain why you want this internship and you need to make sure you sell yourself. Don’t forget the cover letter will be the first impression of you that the employer will see. 4. Start contacting employers There may be particular companies that you would like to work with. Contacting them directly shows commitment and highlights your enthusiasm for the brand. Many companies have specific contact details for recruitment, which you can use to contact them about internships. They may not get to back to you straightway or on the first instance, however if you are serious about getting an internship at this particular brand you need contact them several times. This may be in the form of calling, emailing and writing. 5. Apply and be prepared for interviews If you are using websites such as Internwise to search and apply for summer internships, you may need to fill out an application form or send a message to the employer explaining why you are applying. This needs to be similar to your cover letter explaining why you would be a goof fit and why you want your internship at that particular company. If the company like what they have read, they may want you to come for an interview, enabling them to chat to you and understand more about you and your skills. Make sure you are prepared for an interview by knowing what you are going to say and understand what the company is about. 6. Follow up after the interview If you have spoke to someone at a company or had an interview, make sure you call them or email to thank them. This is the opportunity for you to remind them that you are out there and highlight that you would still love to intern for them. 7. Make sure the internship is right for you In a competitive job market, a summer internship could help you get further internships as well as jobs in the future. You need to make sure you find something that is suitable for you, as you don’t want to do something you are not interested in just for the sake of it. 8. Think about what you want out of the internship When starting your summer internship, many companies will ask you what you want out of it. This is likely to be helping you with your degree and explaining what your degree or a particular module is about will help them cater the experience to you. There is no point going into an internship for the sake of it, you need to have ideas on what you want to achieve and learn. Make sure you get the most out of it and work hard as it has been known that companies offer jobs to the best interns once their degree is finished.

Student blog

Jordan Darlington

Further reading

When is the best time to do a work placement?

What you need to take to your first university class (that no-one tells you)

London: the student experience (UCL-focused)