Go solo, hit that send button, and land your dream internship!

 

There’s an old saying: ‘If at first, you don’t succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.’ Wise words, especially when applying for career advancing opportunities and internships.

 

Have you developed a yearning for an especially juicy foreign summer internship? If so, chances are that shed loads of others have too.

 

 

 

Welcome to the world of summer internships — a world more competitive than formula one racing.  Competitive or not, these offer a great route to some amazing post-college opportunities.

 

Applications for internships rain down on countless organizations and various professors from top colleges, as applicants hope against the odds of landing a dream internship to set their head spinning with delight.  It’s a lot to ask. Especially since a high proportion of applicants are already qualified up to their armpits. Is the competition tough? You bet.

 

The basic math is easy. More applicants, less chance of success. Hence, unless you make the first move and go at it solo, there’s more chance of a unicorn winning the Kentucky Derby than landing your dream summer internship.
It may seem like more fun than a day at Coney Island to apply for internship programmes along with your friends – the camaraderie of the group, and all that. But, tempting as this sounds, think about it. A company or professor may have 50 applications and only three places to offer. This makes things much more difficult for applicants.

 

Performance is important:
When an intern joins a company or interns under a professor, the professor or company get a chance to test the intern’s mettle during their tenure. If they’re happy with your performance and you haven’t broken any of the furniture a job offer may be made after graduation. So, remember, even if you and your best buddy ever land in an internship programme together, you would still be competing like knights in a jousting tournament in case a job opportunity were to come up later.

 

Finding the right internship:
Moreover, the process of searching for and finding the right internship can be as boring as watching a snail race. You would already have a cold-called or emailed all the professors and organizations you wished to intern with. You’d have spent week after week preparing and perfecting your resumes and cover letters, researching your field, and following up for responses. The $64,000 question is: Would you want to throw all that away by asking your friends to apply with you? And so reduce your chances of getting through?
Think smart, act smart, and get going. Now! Acting now will increase your chances of getting through. Here are some tips to make getting that summer internship easier:

 

Start early with the application process:
Many organizations and professors accept applications early for summer internships and as a result get buried under applications early too. Hence, the sooner you start your application process, the better are your chances of beating the competition and bagging that most elusive of creatures, the summer internship. An early start would also mean getting your resume prepared, cover letter written and research done much in advance.

 

Fly solo:
Don’t invite your best buddy to double up on the applications. Go it alone and make that impression.

 

Be discreet:
Just imagine your back in the era of the Cold War. Avoid giving away information such as who you plan to intern with, how you plan to go about applying for it and how you are preparing your resume or cover letter. While you are at it if you know anything about secret rocket fuel programs I suggest you keep these close to your chest too. Being discrete will help you ward off the enemy — sorry, the competition.

 

Use your professional network:
Professors, professional contacts, and even other students — anyone who might advance your case for the internship, without of course giving too much away. This is not selfishness. But it is about being smart.
Take advantage of social media and websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn too. Make professional connections, seek internship opportunities and make yourself known to those whom you wish to intern with. However, be careful of the kind of profile you create if you are using websites such as Facebook and Twitter in case you unwittingly create a negative impression. A few ill-chosen phrases are all it takes to come across as sharing many of the personality traits of  Freddy Kruger.

 

Follow relevant groups on social media:
Many organizations, communities, and colleges have official and unofficial groups on LinkedIn and Facebook where they put up information about their various internships programmes, including details on how to go about applying for them, whom to contact and when they are open. Follow these groups to keep a tab on these opportunities, and apply to them.

 

Given the choice, be a tiger, not a sheep.
Don’t apply for a post just because your friends and classmates have. Consider what you want to do, and do it! Know who you need to contact? Then go right ahead and contact them. By yourself.

 

Explore on your own:
After you secure that prestigious internship, don’t just hang out with people you are comfortable with. Explore on your own, dive off the topmost board into the refreshing pool of local culture, and your experience will be all the richer.

 

Don’t let others drag you down:
If you are determined to ignore my advice and decide to blab your career secrets to friends, classmates and even some professors, there’s a chance they may try to discourage you from applying. All things considered it’s best to keep things under wraps until you get through, to avoid disappointment.
Bag it!

 

Remember, you have it in you to get that dream internship that you always wanted. All you need to do is start the application process. Here are three take-aways to keep in mind to get the most out of your application process:

 

  • Believe in yourself. Don’t let others dissuade you from your goal. Stick your fingers in your ears and hum your favourite rock song if you have to — anything to avoid listening to worthless negative chatter.
  • Go solo. Don’t depend on others or wait for them to make the first move.
  • Get going. Do your research by yourself. Find out who you need to contact and make sure that you send that email which will get the ball rolling. And, if you are wondering where to start, enlist the help of Foreign Bound Interns – your application process would become that much easier.