business internships summer
Research the company and the internships that are available.
You should begin your internship search by researching the firm, who works there and what kind of culture it has. You should find out about their competitors and what the firm’s products are, as well as any financial information that might be available.
What does this all mean? Well, say you wanted to work at a tech startup. If you know that their biggest competitor is a company with a similar product or service, then you’d want to make sure to highlight how your skills could provide an advantage for the first company over its competition in your cover letter when applying for an internship.
If there’s no way for you to get your hands on financial information about the company because it’s private or otherwise inaccessible, use other sources like reviews from past interns or people who have worked there before.
Read the job description carefully.
- Read the job description carefully.
Even if you’re applying to a position that sounds like something you’ve done before, make sure you read the details of the job description thoroughly. You don’t want to find out that the company is looking for someone with specific experience after submitting your resume.
- Be prepared to meet all of the requirements in advance.
Make sure that you have all of your references, transcripts, and letters of recommendation ready ahead of time so that you can submit them with your application as soon as it’s opened. If a requisition has not yet been posted, you may be able to email an employer directly with your resume and cover letter, but do not use this as an opportunity to pester or harass anybody on staff.
Pay close attention to deadlines.
Pay close attention to deadlines. Depending on the company you’re applying to, they may have a very strict deadline—and if you don’t meet it, you won’t get an interview. Make sure to pay close attention to their deadlines and when you need to submit your application by.
If you’re applying for multiple internships, that means keeping track of all of their different deadlines and requirements. You may want to set up a calendar reminder so that you don’t miss any!
Make sure you meet all the requirements.
- Make sure you meet all the requirements.
- Business internships summer
- Business internhips summer
Know what you’re getting into before you apply.
- What are the expectations of the internship program?
- What type of work will you be doing?
- How many hours per day/week do they expect interns to work?
- What compensation (if any) will you receive during this internship?
- How long will this internship last?
- When does the company expect to start hiring interns for this position (typically, companies hire summer interns in January-March, but some companies have different timetables)?
Prepare a resume tailored to the position.
Your resume should include all of your relevant work experience, including internships, summer and part-time jobs, and any leadership positions. Make sure it includes your volunteer work as well.
This is especially important because many companies value community involvement and can use that to determine if you would be a good fit for the company. Your resume should also include your extracurricular activities such as clubs, hobbies and sports that are relevant to the internship.
The cover letter should simply reiterate what is on your resume but in a more personal tone. A cover letter is not just a reiteration of your resume in paragraph form, but it does serve as an introduction to who you are professionally. Keep in mind that the people who read hundreds of resumes every day will not spend much time reading the cover letters so make sure yours is interesting enough to make them want to read more about you after they finish reviewing your resume.
Give yourself plenty of time to edit your resume and cover letter and ask for feedback on them.
- Your resume and cover letter need to be the best they can possibly be so take the time to proofread them several times. Also, ask friends or family members if they will help you review them.
- Make sure your resume and cover letter are error-free and clearly highlight your skills and qualifications for the position.
- Ask for help if you need it. Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback from trusted sources like professors, past employers, or family members before you submit your documents.
A cover letter is a great place to use keywords from the internship description, but don’t overdo it with keywords or flowery language.
A cover letter is a great place to use keywords from the internship description, but don’t overdo it with keywords or flowery language. Think about the buzzwords in the job description and include them in your cover letter to show that you’re familiar with those skills and industry terms. You can also refer to specific job responsibilities listed in the posting to help convince employers that you’re a good fit for their position.
It’s important not to overload your cover letter with too much information, but one or two statistics, figures, or accomplishments could really sell your passion for the role — just make sure they’re relevant! For example: “As a junior at [University], I’ve been able to maintain [GPA] while balancing my time as captain of the women’s basketball team.”
Here’s an example of how this might look:
Example of a Cover Letter
Apply early.
Your chances of getting a business internship are highest if you apply early. It’s important to apply early because the best internships may be filled quickly, and applying later may decrease your chances of being accepted.
When you start applying for a summer internship, it’s helpful to have more time to prepare for interviews and other stages in the application process. Individuals who wait until the last minute to fill out their applications tend not to put as much effort into each one, which can lead recruiters and hiring managers to question your passion for the position.
Internships can be a great way to gain relevant experience in your field of interest, which will help prepare you for your dream job after graduation and set you apart from other candidates who have no prior experience in their chosen field.
Internships can be a great way to gain relevant experience in your field of interest, which will help prepare you for your dream job after graduation and set you apart from other candidates who have no prior experience in their chosen field.
If you’ve landed an internship, congratulations! Here are some tips and tricks to help ensure that it’s a positive, productive one:
- Try not to get discouraged if you have to do some menial tasks at first. That kind of stuff is part of the internship process; once people see that you’re a hard worker, they’ll let you take on more responsibility.
- Keep track of what you’re learning and how it relates back to your future career goals. It’s always good to be able to articulate this when asked about your internship or when applying for jobs.
- Don’t hesitate to ask questions or ask for clarification if something seems unclear or confusing. Asking questions shows initiative and a willingness to learn—two traits employers value highly.