How to Cope with Internship Anxiety: An Upperclassman’s Guide to Securing Their Future
Step 1: Utilize Job Boards
It’s not as hard as it seems to seek out job or internship opportunities, especially with the introduction of LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Indeed, etc. These are all platforms that you can use to see what jobs are available. You can even add filters for location and interest to find something that is suitable to you and your skills. You can also flag jobs and go back to them later. Once you have your list compiled, go ahead and start applying! Our philosophy here at The Edge is the more jobs you apply to, the greater your chances are of getting one. So, keep at it and you’re bound to succeed.
Also, it is important to tailor your resume for each position you are applying for. For example, if you are applying to marketing, social media and PR internships, only include relevant experiences from each. Chances are that the people reviewing your resume do not want to read pages and pages worth of content. Most of the time, they will only read the first page.
Step 2: Create Separate Folders Within Your Email
Once you’ve applied to internships or jobs, it would be beneficial to set up tabs within your email so that you can stay organized. We recommend setting it up like this:
Internships followed up
Internships not followed up
Internships heard back from
You should generally wait at least a week after applying to follow up. The more interested you seem, the better!
Step 3: Preparing for Interviews
The next step in the internship or job process is to prepare for interviews. Elon has great resources to set you up for success. The Student Professional Development Center (SPDC) conducts mock interviews and also does resume, cover letter and LinkedIn reviews. We at The Edge also recommend practicing common interview questions in front of a camera on our laptop. You should only allow yourself up to two takes. This will help you feel more comfortable and confident enough to kill it in your interview.
Step 4: After the Interview
Once you’ve finished the interview stage, it is imperative to follow up with the recruiter within 24 hours via email. You should thank them for their time and consideration of your application. It would also be beneficial to remind them briefly of who you are, what skills you can bring to the position and reiterate why you are interested in working for their company.
Searching and applying for internships or jobs is not as daunting as it seems. Though debilitating at times, if you follow these steps, you are sure to receive at least one (or maybe even two) job offers. Just remember to keep at it and never give up!