Summer internships are one of the best ways to boost your resume and gain real-life, hands-on experience that you can apply to your career post-grad. They are also a prime opportunity to test the waters: figure out what you like and don’t like when it comes to professional work.
This guide will detail tips for securing an internship, as well as some helpful steps to take once you are working in your internship position.
Tips for Securing an Internship
1. Perfect Your Resume and Cover Letter
When searching for an internship, your resume and cover letter must be clear and concise and give potential employers an accurate picture of you and your experience. After all, those materials will be the first thing employers see, and they will help you stand out from a host of other candidates. Syracuse University offers many opportunities for students to improve their application materials. Check out the Career Services website to make an appointment with a Career Services staff member or use a platform like VMock to make appropriate changes.
2. Consider the Unexpected
While it is OK to be picky about the internships you’re looking for (you wouldn’t want an engineering internship as a journalism major!), be open-minded in your respective field. Even if a job doesn’t fit your exact personal requirements or you don’t feel perfectly qualified, it never hurts to put yourself out there and apply.
3. Work on Your LinkedIn and Social Media Presence
If you include your LinkedIn or other social media accounts on your application materials, you should make sure that they look professional and give potential employers an accurate impression of your work experience. Even if you do not give this information to employers, you should do a sweep of your public social media accounts to make sure that the content you post is something that you would be OK with employers seeing.
4. Send Follow-Ups
After applying to internship positions, find the appropriate people at those companies that you can reach out to. If a company provides you with the contact information of a hiring manager, send them an email to let them know that you have applied.
Tips for When You Secure an Internship
1. Ask Questions
Don’t be afraid to ask questions at your internship. Whether you ask about things you’re unclear about or questions about the industry you’re working in, there truly are no stupid questions. Being curious shows your employers that you care and that you are eager to learn as much as possible!
2. Be Helpful
Standing out at an internship often means going the extra mile to contribute in whatever way you can. For example, if you’re done with work for the day and have time left in your shift, ask if there’s another project you can take on. Or, if there is some other aspect of your industry that you are particularly interested in, ask if there are any gaps in that area. While you shouldn’t overwork yourself, if you see opportunities to jump in, feel empowered to take them!
3. Ask for an Exit Interview
When your internship period ends, ask for an exit interview. Exit interviews are often an opportunity for companies to gather feedback about employee experience. However, this is a great opportunity to also ask your employer about how you did. You can better understand what you did well and what you can improve upon for future opportunities.
4. Stay Connected Post-Internship
While real-world job experience is certainly an important aspect of having an internship, the connections you gain from internships are perhaps equally as valuable. Connect with your co-workers or other interns on LinkedIn, and stay communicative with your boss or other higher-level people at the company. These connections will be immensely important for when you are searching for a full-time job and may need recommendations or information about open job positions.
Searching for an internship can be frustrating, but stay confident in your abilities. You are capable and you have a host of resources at your fingertips to make it possible. Remember to check out Syracuse University Career Services for extra support. Good luck!
Written By Chloe Langerman ’25, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications