Want that summer internship, better apply now

The early bird catches the worm or that is the way the saying goes. In reality if you want to procure that summer internship you better start to apply while the other students are still enjoying their winter hibernation. If you leave it till the last minute you can be sure that only the crumbs will be left and you will end up with the job in the mail room or mopping floors. Getting started always seems to be the hardest part, but look at the guidelines set out below and hop on it.

Internship

All the prominent companies offer their summer internship in early spring and if you don’t apply early the internships will be snapped up right in front of your nose. Internship means you will work in a company without receiving any remuneration.

In exchange for your hard work you will receive a letter of recommendation or a reference for your resume.

You shouldn’t frown on summer internship. Students who got a grand internship will have an edge on students who didn’t. Companies recruiting, usually look at their summer interns first before advertising the vacant positions. Like everything else in life a summer internship doesn’t necessarily mean you will get the job, but it will be an opportunity you might not have had otherwise.

A job in the real world

Finding a job in the final year of college might turn out to be a permanent job in itself. You will have to get your CV out there and market yourself. You need to find out whose advertising and which job offers are available. You should make time to do this, because in June all the good jobs might be gone and you will end up waiting an entire year before you will be able to apply for any good jobs. Companies tend to give students applying early preference and you might be left out in the winter cold. Seeing that you will have to start job hunting sooner or later, why not start now?

The strategy

First – list your top ten companies. These are the companies that you would prefer to work for. Some companies will have an application form with all the criteria you need to comply with on their website. Some companies will not. These companies will have to be approached through the human resources officer. Send your CV accompanied by a cover letter to the officer requesting a summer internship.

You might not be successful the first time around and the odds are that the first few CVs you send out will not be successful. Also remember to network – your parents have friends and they have friends.

Now is the time to make use of the friendships. Get your mom on your side and let her help with the job hunt. Use your friends and their parents as well and give them a copy of your CV.

The career centre

Before you start sending out CVs and cover letters, take it to the career centre on your campus. They have trained professionals that will assist you with your cover letter and CV before you send it out. A proper CV and cover letter could mean the difference between a great summer internship and being a bottom feeder in the mail room. Remember you will not have free access to the career centre for the rest of your life. Once you leave college you enter the real world where you will have to fend for yourself and make it on your own. Now is the time to use the resources at hand and make sure that you start you career with a bang.