Internships for students with no experience
Research companies that are a good fit for you.
If you’re wondering how to get an internship with no experience, the first thing you need to do is research companies that are a good fit for you. This can be a time consuming process and it’s one that many students don’t put enough effort into. While it may be tempting to just apply for every internship in your area, this is unlikely to be effective.
It’s important not to overlook any opportunities, but it’s also important not to waste your time by applying for positions where you have little chance of success. When looking for internships as a student with no experience, you should focus your efforts on finding companies that are likely to hire newbies and also look out for internships aimed specifically at students like you.
As a general rule of thumb, big companies are less likely than small ones to hire people who don’t have any work experience. Companies who regularly advertise intern-specific positions are more likely than those who don’t recruit interns to hire inexperienced workers because they know the candidates won’t have much work experience yet.
Check out any summer work programs offered by your high school or university.
Though these programs aren’t exactly internships, they’re a great way to discover your interests and goals.
You’ll learn about what you like, what you don’t like, and maybe even who you want to be when you grow up.
You’ll also get a chance to network with people in your chosen field (or fields) of interest.
And if the program is paid, it’s a good introduction both to earning money and managing it.
Ask your teachers, coaches and counselors for suggestions.
One of the best and often overlooked sources of advice are your teachers, coaches, and counselors. You may think that they don’t know anything about finding internships or how to get experience, but you would be wrong! These people know you well, understand what kind of work environment will benefit you the most (i.e., help you shine), and their guidance can help make your resume stand out from everyone else’s. Not only can they provide great advice on where to find internships for students with no experience, but they can also help with developing your resume and cover letters, making sure it is as strong as possible before you submit it for consideration.
Let your family, friends and neighbors know what kind of jobs/internships you’re interested in, and ask them to keep their ears open. You never know!
Letting your family, friends and neighbors know what kind of jobs/internships you’re interested in and asking them to keep their ears open can be a great way to hear about opportunities that might not be advertised. You never know who they might know!
It’s also a good idea to ask friends and family members to help you think of companies where they could imagine you working or interning. They could ask around for you too!
Your best chance of scoring an internship with no experience is to try the companies that want enthusiastic newbies in the field.
Your best chance of scoring an internship with no experience is to try the companies that want enthusiastic newbies in the field.
Some companies are looking for someone who can demonstrate enthusiasm for the job and a willingness to learn, but may not have high expectations when it comes to prior work experience. Some examples of these types of opportunities include:
- Fox News
- Amazon
- General Motors
It’s important to be enthusiastic about what you’re doing, whether or not you have any experience. Being excited about your job lets potential employers know that you’re engaged and willing to learn.