Landing Your First Internship: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Define What You Want (Clarity Before Action)

Applying randomly to everything wastes time and shows in applications.

Identify target industry/field:

Ask yourself:

• What subjects do I enjoy academically?
• What career paths interest me generally?
• What skills do I want to develop?
• What industries align with my values?

Don't know yet? That's fine:

• Explore broadly freshman/sophomore year
• Try different types of internships
• Internships help you discover what you DON'T want (equally valuable)

Internship type considerations:

Paid vs. unpaid:

• Paid preferred (especially if you need income)
• Unpaid acceptable if: prestigious company, amazing learning, can afford it
• Never unpaid with no learning value

Large company vs. startup:

• Large: Structured programs, brand name, resources, narrow role
• Startup: Broad responsibilities, fast-paced, ambiguous, scrappy

Location:

• On-site (networking easier, immersive)
• Remote (flexibility, accessibility, less mentorship)
• Relocation required? (housing, costs)

Duration:

• Summer (10-12 weeks standard)
• Semester (part-time during school)
• Gap year internship

Set realistic expectations:

First internship likely won't be:

• Google, Goldman Sachs, top-tier dream company
• Perfectly aligned with long-term career
• Glamorous or high-responsibility

First internship SHOULD be:

• Learning opportunity (skills development)
• Professional experience (for resume)
• Network building (references, connections)
• Stepping stone to better opportunities

Get foot in door first, climb ladder later

Step 2: Build Foundational Credentials (Before Applications)

Preparation prevents poor performance:

Resume essentials:

Even with "no experience," you have something:

Education:

• University, major, expected graduation
• Relevant coursework (list 4-6 courses)
• GPA (if 3.0+; omit if lower)
• Academic honors/scholarships

Skills:

• Technical skills (software, tools, languages)
• Soft skills (communication, leadership, teamwork)
• Certifications (Google Analytics, HubSpot, etc.)

Experience (broaden definition):

• Class projects: Substantial projects with results
• Campus involvement: Clubs, organizations, leadership roles
• Volunteer work: Demonstrates initiative
• Part-time jobs: Any job shows work ethic (retail, food service counts)
• Personal projects: Side projects, freelance, hobbies

Format:

• One page (always for students)
• Clean, professional template
• Action verbs (developed, analyzed, created, led)
• Quantifiable results when possible

LinkedIn profile:

Essential for modern job search:

✅ Professional photo (not party pic) ✅ Compelling headline (not just "Student at [University]")

• Better: "Marketing Major | Social Media Enthusiast | Seeking Summer 2025 Internship" ✅ Summary section (who you are, what you're seeking) ✅ Experience (same as resume) ✅ Skills (add 10-15 relevant skills) ✅ Recommendations (ask professors, supervisors) ✅ Engagement (like, comment, share industry content)

Portfolio/work samples (if applicable):

For design, writing, coding, marketing:

• GitHub (developers)
• Behance/Dribbble (designers)
• Personal website (writers, marketers)
• Medium blog (thought leadership)

Even class projects work—demonstrates skills

Develop relevant skills:

Free/cheap ways to build skills:

Online courses:

• Coursera, Udemy, LinkedIn Learning
• Google certifications (Analytics, Ads, etc.)
• HubSpot Academy (marketing)
• freeCodeCamp (coding)

Practice projects:

• Build website
• Analyze public datasets
• Create marketing campaign (even mock)
• Contribute to open source

Campus resources:

• Workshops through career center
• Professor office hours (build relationships)
• Student organizations (leadership opportunities)

Aim: Have 2-3 concrete skills/projects to discuss in interviews

Step 3: Strategic Application Process

Quality over quantity:

Where to find internships:

University career center:

• Job boards (Handshake, Symplicity)
• Career fairs (attend EVERY one)
• On-campus recruiting
• Alumni network

Company websites:

• "Careers" page directly
• Internship/university programs
• Application portal

Job boards:

• LinkedIn Jobs
• Indeed
• Glassdoor
• InternMatch
• Idealist (nonprofits)
• AngelList (startups)

Networking (most effective):

• Informational interviews leading to opportunities
• Referrals from connections
• Direct outreach to hiring managers

Application strategy:

Don't spray and pray (applying to 100+ randomly)

Instead:

Tier 1 (Dream companies): 5-10 applications

• Highly competitive
• Customize heavily
• Network aggressively

Tier 2 (Target companies): 15-20 applications

• Good fit, realistic chance
• Tailor applications
• Some networking

Tier 3 (Safety companies): 10-15 applications

• High acceptance likelihood
• Customize moderately
• Apply broadly

Total: 30-45 quality applications > 200 generic ones

Application materials customization:

For EACH application:

Resume:

• Tailor bullet points to job description
• Highlight relevant coursework/projects
• Use keywords from posting

Cover letter:

• Research company specifically
• Explain why this company/role
• Connect your background to their needs
• Show genuine interest, not generic template
• Write one—many skip, you stand out

Example opening:

❌ "I am writing to apply for your internship program."

✅ "After attending [Company]'s case competition and speaking with [Employee] about your innovative approach to [specific thing], I'm excited to apply for the Marketing Internship. My experience leading [University]'s social media strategy increased engagement 40%, and I'm eager to apply these skills to [Company]'s [specific initiative]."

Step 4: Networking (Most Important Step)

80% of jobs filled through networking—internships similar

Overcome networking awkwardness:

Mindset shift:

❌ "I'm using people to get a job" ✅ "I'm building genuine professional relationships and learning about fields that interest me"

Most professionals:

• Remember being students
• Happy to help if approached respectfully
• Appreciate genuine interest

Coffee chats/informational interviews:

The most powerful tactic:

Identify people:

• Alumni from your school (use LinkedIn alumni tool)
• Employees at target companies
• Professionals in target field
• Start with 1-2 degrees of connection

Reach out:

Email template:

"Hi [Name],

I'm a [year] at [University] majoring in [major] and exploring careers in [field]. I came across your profile and was impressed by your work at [Company], particularly [specific project/achievement].

Would you be open to a 20-minute coffee chat (virtual or in-person) to share your experience and advice for students entering the field? I'd be grateful for any insights.

I understand you're busy—no worries if now isn't a good time.

Best, [Your Name]"

The conversation:

NOT: "Can you get me an internship?"

INSTEAD:

• Ask about their career path
• Industry insights
• What they wish they'd known
• Advice for students
• At end: "Are there any opportunities at [Company] I should know about?" or "Would you be comfortable referring me if I apply?"

Follow-up:

• Thank you email within 24 hours
• Update them on your progress
• Stay in touch periodically

30-minute conversation → referral → internship

Happens frequently when done authentically

Career fairs strategy:

Don't just collect swag and business cards

Before:

• Research attending companies
• Identify 5-8 target companies
• Prepare 30-second pitch
• Dress professionally
• Bring resumes (20-30 copies)

During:

• Target companies first (before lines form)
• Elevator pitch: "Hi, I'm [Name], [year] majoring in [major]. I'm interested in [specific role/department] because [genuine reason]. Can you tell me about opportunities for students?"
• Ask thoughtful questions (research-based)
• Request business card
• Take notes after each conversation

After:

• Email every person you spoke with (within 24 hours)
• Reference specific conversation
• Attach resume
• Express continued interest

Distinguishes you from 90% of attendees

Cold outreach:

When you have no connection:

LinkedIn message to employees:

"Hi [Name],

I'm a [major] student at [University] passionate about [field]. I've been following [Company]'s work on [specific project] and am impressed by [specific aspect].

I'm exploring internship opportunities and would love to learn more about your experience at [Company] and advice for students interested in the field.

Would you be open to a brief 15-minute call?

Thanks for considering, [Your Name]"

Response rate: ~10-20%

But 10 messages = 1-2 conversations = potential opportunities

Step 5: Ace the Interview

You got the interview—now close the deal:

Preparation is everything:

Research:

• Company background, mission, values
• Recent news, projects, initiatives
• Interviewer's background (LinkedIn)
• Role responsibilities deeply

Practice common questions:

• "Tell me about yourself" (2-minute pitch)
• "Why this company?"
• "Why this role?"
• "Strengths and weaknesses"
• "Describe a challenge you overcame"
• Behavioral questions (STAR method)

Prepare questions to ask:

• About role: "What does a typical day look like?"
• About team: "What do you enjoy most about working here?"
• About growth: "What skills should I develop to excel?"
• Never: "What does your company do?" (research failure)

STAR method for behavioral questions:

Situation: Context/background Task: Your responsibility Action: Specific steps you took Result: Outcome (quantify if possible)

Example:

Question: "Tell me about a time you showed leadership."

Answer:

"Situation: As social media manager for our university's environmental club, engagement was declining despite important initiatives.

Task: I needed to revitalize our online presence and increase student involvement.

Action: I conducted a survey to understand what content resonated, created a content calendar with diverse formats (videos, polls, stories), and recruited team members to help with creation.

Result: Over 3 months, we increased followers 60% and event attendance doubled, directly supporting our campus sustainability campaign."

Prepare 5-6 STAR stories covering different skills

Interview day:

Logistics:

• Arrive 10 minutes early (5 minutes for virtual)
• Professional attire (when in doubt, overdress)
• Bring: Resume copies, notepad, pen, questions list

During interview:

• Smile and make eye contact
• Listen actively
• Be enthusiastic but authentic
• Okay to pause and think before answering
• Ask for clarification if needed

After interview:

• Thank you email within 24 hours
• Reference specific conversation points
• Reaffirm interest

Step 6: Handling Offers and Rejections

When you get an offer:

Evaluate:

• Compensation (fair for internship level?)
• Learning opportunities
• Mentorship and support
• Company culture fit
• Location and logistics

Negotiate (yes, even for internships):

• If unpaid, ask for paid
• If low-paid, request increase
• Ask for relocation/housing assistance
• Request flexibility if needed

Accept graciously:

• Express enthusiasm
• Ask about next steps
• Start date, paperwork, housing

When you get rejected:

This is normal—even common:

• Hundreds apply for each position
• You need only ONE yes
• Each rejection is practice

Learn from it:

• Ask for feedback (some will provide)
• Improve resume, interview skills
• Keep applying

Don't give up after 10, 20, even 50 rejections

Persistence pays off

Timeline for Success

Freshman/Sophomore Year:

Fall:

• Attend career fairs
• Join clubs, build resume
• Start networking

Spring:

• Apply for summer internships (Jan-March)
• 30-50 applications
• Continue networking

If you don't land one:

• Take summer courses
• Work part-time in related field
• Personal projects
• Try again next year (stronger resume)

Landing first internships requires strategic preparation: define target field and realistic expectations, build foundational credentials through coursework and projects, apply strategically (30-45 tailored applications over spray-and-pray), network authentically through informational interviews and career fairs, prepare thoroughly for interviews using STAR method, and persist through rejections. Customize resumes and cover letters per application, leverage LinkedIn and alumni networks, conduct coffee chats leading to referrals, research companies deeply, ask thoughtful questions, and follow up consistently. First internship opens doors—doesn't need to be perfect, just relevant experience. Persistence and strategic networking outweigh perfect grades or connections.