Tips for securing an internship

Getting internships can be one of the most difficult and frustrating processes for a college student. It takes patience, resilience, bravery and good time management. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be done alone. There are many resources available to students across Liberty University’s campus that can help make this task a bit less daunting. 

It’s important to note that the deadline to earn academic credit for a summer internship has passed. However, if your goal is to get a summer internship to improve your resume, many businesses offering internships throughout June, July and August will close applications in May, so there is still time.

Set yourself up for success 

Liberty’s Career Center is full of resources for residential and online students. The Career Services website offers internship search engines, coaching services to help students improve resumes, tools for job interviews, and instructions on how to set up an account and apply for jobs through Handshake. 

Faculty internship advisors are designated based on students’ majors. A complete list of advisors can be found on the Career Services website.   

Go to career fairs

While this might be one of the most obvious steps forward in getting an internship, it is often one of the most overlooked. There are career fairs on campus each semester, in addition to career fairs in local communities. A quick Google search will give you an idea of what job fairs are available. Attending and getting to know the business representatives is a great way to seek out internships. 

Look for what interests you 

For younger students who might not know what direction they want their career to go yet, having a sea of career choices can feel overwhelming. 

If you’re feeling open to more career opportunities but still unsure where to begin in particular fields, Handshake, a career search engine, can help you find openings in several different fields of work.   

Be brave and reach out

If you’ve received coaching from the Career Center, stopped by career fairs and obtained the contact information of potential employers, it’s time to reach out to them. Oftentimes, carrying the business card of a prospective employer might be the first step toward engaging with them in the future. Getting internships can be difficult, and it can take guts to put yourself out there, but the initiative that a student displays when they reach out to an employer is often worth the effort.   

Internships increase a student’s chances of getting a job after graduation, and the real-world experience that one gains from them cannot be overstated or overvalued. In fact, the National Association of Colleges and Employers wrote that students who complete paid internships could receive more job offers.

Napier is a feature reporter for The Champion