internships for design students
Sign up for internships.com and search opportunities.
- Sign up for Internships.com and search opportunities.
- Look for internships that will provide you with a valuable learning experience, but also have a budget so you can actually pay rent and eat food while working there.
- Make sure the internship is something you’re interested in doing—if it’s not what you want, then why bother?
- If all else fails, try searching through the career center at your school or even on LinkedIn (it might be worth spending some money). There are bound to be other students who have taken similar paths before!
Contact all the studios, people and companies you love.
Research your dream companies and contact the design directors or other people in the company who might be able to help you. For example, if you’re interested in working for an apparel and accessories brand, find out who the head designer is at that company. Reach out to them via email and explain why you would like to work there and what kind of internship they could offer.
It’s also a good idea to send your CV (curriculum vitae) with some samples from your portfolio (or even just one piece).
Reach out to your network.
Your network is one of the most valuable resources in your career. When you’re trying to find an internship, reach out to professionals in your field who might know someone who can help. If you know someone at a design firm and are looking for an internship there, ask them if they know of any opportunities. If they don’t have any leads themselves but think their colleagues might be able to connect you with someone at another company, introduce yourself and let them know what kind of work interests you so that they can share it with their contacts.
Many people feel awkward reaching out coldly or sending an email without a personal connection—but it’s not necessarily awkward! As long as your approach is respectful (and even if it isn’t), there are likely plenty of people who would be happy to help guide you through the process or connect you with somebody else who could do so more effectively than they could themselves.
Ask your professors for recommendations, advice, etc.
Ask your professors for recommendations, advice, etc.
If you want an internship in the design field, it’s important to get to know your professors on campus. If you’ve been taking their classes and asking them questions in class or after class meetings, that’s an excellent start! It shows that you’re interested in what they have to say—and this will not only help when it comes time for a recommendation letter but can also be useful when you’re looking for a job later on down the road. Your professors are also likely very knowledgeable about who works where and what kind of jobs are available at each company or organization; even if they aren’t directly connected with these companies themselves (which many might not be), they may know someone who is—so don’t hesitate to ask them for advice!
Ask your colleagues.
- Ask your colleagues.
- If you know someone who has done an internship, ask them what it was like and how they got it. The more specific the questions, the better!
- If you know someone who works at a company you are interested in, ask them for advice on how to get hired there. Don’t be afraid to ask if they have connections with other companies—they may be able to refer you or help open doors for you in general.
Look everywhere, don’t just stick to one website or approach.
You should also be persistent in your search. Don’t give up after the first few attempts, or even the first few weeks. It takes time to find the right fit and it may take you different approaches before you find that perfect internship opportunity.
If you’re having trouble getting through to companies, consider asking friends and family members for help making connections. Even if they don’t have any leads themselves, they can ask around on your behalf about specific companies and whether anyone knows someone who works there who might be able to help you out with an introduction.