How to Land Your Dream Internship
With relevant work experience playing a large role post-graduation, internships have become a vital tool for individuals breaking into their interested field and beginning their career.
Check out these 5 tips to prepare for your next interview!
Do Your Research: The most important aspect of any internship quest is to do your research. Located on St. John’s Central is Career Link where you have access to hundreds of internship opportunities. Look up firms, organizations and companies that spark your interest.
Tailor Your Resume & Apply: Once you’ve found the internship of your interest get your résumé tailor-made. Fine-tune your latest resume to highlight your extracurricular activities, relevant coursework current skills and job experience. If you haven’t participated on campus yet, place your focus on emphasizing job experience and relevant coursework. If you need help building your resume or want an extra pair of eyes to review it, visit the Career Center on campus.
Polish Your Interviewing Skills: So now you have your dream internships under your belt, questions to ask, résumé updated, what is missing? Interviewing skills. The best way to prepare for interviews is to practice, practice, practice. Look up the mission and history of the company. Search for your prospective boss or supervisor. This may come in handy during the interview.
Get additional practice by making an appointment at the Career Center for a mock interview. You can also practice with your peers or prep yourself by looking up sample interview questions. You can never be over prepared, and on the same token, no matter how prepared you are, there may always be one question that stumps you. In this event take a breath, and answer as honestly and respectfully as you can. Interviewers want to see how you handle yourself under stress.
Dress the Part: I’m sure you’ve heard the saying—dress for the job you want. Whether you’re going for a finance internship or fashion internship, dress the part. Have your clothes picked out and ironed washed the night before.
Follow Up: After you’ve completed a successful interview, be sure to drop a ‘thank-you’ note or e-mail to your interviewer and thank the secretary and other personnel.
Written by: Angel Hawkins