7 Steps to Finding a Summer Internship

Author: Alanna Fichtel

From listening to our parents put the pressure on us to hearing our peers talk nonstop about the information sessions they’re attending, you’ve probably realized it’s crunch time for finding a summer job. However daunting the process may seem, there are many ways to make it more manageable.

 

1. Don’t panic

If you’re worrying that your friends are ahead of you, don’t–it’s not too late for you to get started. You’re much better off spending your time actually looking for an internship than just talking about how stressed it will make you.

 

 

2. Speak with a career advisor

There are many people willing to discuss possible internship options with you. You can find them through your specific school or the general Cornell Career Services. Don’t worry–you won’t be the first person to come into the office without knowing exactly (or at all) what you’re looking for.

 

 

3. Make/revise your resume

Writing a resume isn’t as hard as you think. Start by looking at some student examples. Add all of your accomplishments and qualities that make you look good, but remember to keep them somewhat relevant to the jobs which you’ll be applying.

 

 

4. Start looking

Cornell Handshake is a good starting point, especially for hearing about info sessions being held on campus. But you can also look on other websites such as idealist.org and indeed.com, which post jobs in certain industries that you might not find elsewhere. Be aware that this part of the process can be time consuming and sometimes futile, especially when you see that many positions are unpaid. If all else fails, Google.

 

 

5. Network

It might be time to finally listen to your parents when they tell you to talk to their friend in the industry you’re interested in. It’s not a bad idea to get some more information about the field and make a connection you could use later.

 

 

6. Send out applications

If you find a handful of jobs that you think you would be a good candidate for, don’t hesitate to apply to them all. But before you send anything out, have a relative or friend review your resume and cover letters. Misspelling your own last name or the name of the company are hard mistakes to talk yourself out of.

 

 

7. Get ready to interview

While waiting to hear back from possible employers, stay optimistic. Look up information about the company and industry so you can be as prepared as possible. If you’ve never interviewed for a job before, consider setting up a mock interview with Career Services. Now is also a good opportunity to buy some new business casual clothes.

 

 

While this method is neither a foolproof means of securing a summer job nor a complete picture of the process, it outlines a way to get started if you’re completely lost. And if you’re reading this, consider yourself already on track.