How to find an internship
Looking for internships is no joke. Finding a place where your skills, passion and a companies needs all align feels like a Christmas miracle. It doesn’t have to be that way.
Everyone would love to have a paid internship, I get that. However, I encourage you to be open to non paid internships as well. The value of a good internship far exceeds monetary value. If all goes well, you well get far more than a paycheck from a good internship. You’ll get a recommendation and your resume will be glowing. However, the most valuable thing you’ll get is hands on experience.
I’ve head it said many times that the best way to learn a new language is by traveling to that region and immersing yourself into the culture. The same is true for your career. Jumping into the environment is the absolute best way for you to learn.
I encourage you to think outside of the box when it comes to internships. Think about your dream job, dream company and people you admire in your industry. Start writing emails and making phone calls. You may not get to the exact person that you wish but chances are you’ll find someone who knows someone who knows them.
I’ll never forget the story of my friend, Darbie Angell. She had two interns each summer and I housed one of the interns many summers ago. She was fabulous and still in our lives today. Darbie created a line of dinnerware and her dream was for it to be in Macy’s stores nationwide. She didn’t have any way to get in the door but she had a dream. What did she do? She learned the prefix number to Macy’s, then she started dialing every sequence of numbers possible asking for the Vice President that she wanted to talk to. After weeks of trying, she finally dialed the right number. The Vice President chuckled and said “I knew you’d find me.” While it took weeks to get to the desired person, her persistence had already been noted and the Vice President had already gotten word of it. Wonder what happened to Darbie? She got a meeting with the Vice President and now her dinnerware is Macy’s nationwide. She then went on to sell her products in other places as well as grow her brand in many new directions. Darbie’s story of persistence is one that we can all learn from.
I encourage you, start at the top of you list. Dream big. Make the phone calls, send the emails. If you don’t get a response, consider it a challenge and do it again. Eventually, you’ll find a place that will welcome your skills, passion and persistence. If you don’t find that perfect spot, give us at Imagine Scholarships a call, we are always looking for talented, creative and persistent people. You can contact us here.
Looking for a paid internship ?
Paid internships are a bit more difficult to secure but certainly not impossible. Here are a few key things to know when searching for a paid internship:
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Start early. If you are looking for a summer internships, I’d start looking in October the year before you’d like to have the internship. I know that sounds like a long runway but it is necessary. Many companies have deadlines of February.
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Be Prepared – Make sure your resume is updated and ready to go. At Imagine Scholarships, we have many resources to help you build the perfect resume. In fact, we have a really amazing strategy we use called the “living resume.” If you want to know more, check out subscription with Imagine Scholarships.
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Be Bold – As you apply to internships, realize that the competition is steep and that you must stand out in the process. We love helping students stand apart from their competition and know their value.
At Imagine Scholarships, we have hundreds of internships for you to choose from. Some are virtual, others are in person. Join Imagine Scholarships today and get started on the path to your perfect internship.