Getting an internship at a popular company or organization can be extremely competitive, not to mention the amount of preparation and effort you need to put into finding and getting one. Internships are often advertised on the career websites of companies or on internship/job boards (such as the iHipo internship search section), or can be very much under the radar in which case you would need to contact the company directly.
Before starting to look for an internship, ask yourself what interests you, and what is exactly required from your university or college? Determine what kind of internship you are looking for: is this a summer internship, a research internship or a work experience internship?
You will need to use various channels and strategies to find your internship, which can include:
- your university career center or professor
- the company directly: inquire directly via the company’s career section whether they offer internship programs
- internship (job) boards online, such as iHipo
- via social and professional networks, such as LinkedIn
- via family and friends.
Tips for finding your internship:
- remain persistent and patient. The economy is tough, but the internships are definitely still out there
- start searching around 6-8 months beforehand – early preparation is essential
- make sure your internship cover letters are customized and tailored to the company (make sure you find out the name of the recruiter to whom the letter/email is addressed to)
- do a lot of research on the internet beforehand, narrow down your search to internship programs which really interest you
