March officially starts the “Summer Internship Search”—wahoo! From now until the end of May, students from all over the globe will hustle to find that perfect summer gig. Avoid these common mistakes below and you might end up with the internship of your dreams.
Mistake #1: You Only Apply to Your One “Dream” Internship
Summer internships are the most competitive. During the fall or spring (when internships are a bit easier to get), I’d suggest applying for at least 10, but during the summer, I’d double that number. You want to make sure that if you get rejected from one opportunity (or don’t hear back!), you have plenty of other jobs to fall back on.
Mistake #2:You Only Go After The “Big Guys”
Don’t think you won’t get great experience at a smaller, lesser-known company. You’ll usually get even more experience at a tinier publication because they rely on interns almost like an editorial assistant. When I was a sophomore in college, I wanted to come to New York and intern at a top fashion or celebrity magazine. I got rejected from all of the big name magazines, but I didn’t let it stop me. I also applied to smaller publications outside of my comfort zone, and I finally landed an internship in New York at Backstage, a theatre trade publication. I wasn’t familiar with the title, but I got incredible experience there, and I even had a handful of articles published with my byline. So remember to keep an open mind.
Mistake #3:You Don’t Personalize Your Application
People will always tell you to research a company before the interview. But don’t forget to research the company before you write your cover letter (get cover letter tips here and here). Read the magazine’s mission statement, study company news and find out who has been hired recently. Then try to incorporate buzz words into your letter. Shelby Walsh, an editor at Trend Hunter magazine says, “I love when students use our company’s buzz words, like ‘edgy,’ ‘viral,’ and ‘cutting edge.’ It shows me that they understand what the core values of Trend Hunter are.” Your cover letter should be tailored to the magazine you’re applying for, so don’t use the same exact one for each publication. Give specifics on why you love the magazine. Mention an article that resonated with you, or a column that you always turn to first. Prove to the editors that this internship really means something to you.
Mistake #4: You Don’t Get “An Editor” To Check Your Work
Don’t send your internship application materials until you’ve had them double checked by a second set of eyes. Ask a friend to look it over or make an appointment at your school’s career center. You’d be surprised what you can miss after you stare at something for hours on end. Make sure your Parents cover letter actually says, you got it—Parents—and not Parenting. And triple check that you’ve spelled the hiring editor’s name correctly. Even if you’re 99 percent sure the editor spells her name Christina with a C, go to the masthead and double check that it’s not actually with a K. Many editors will stop reading a letter if it’s addressed to the wrong magazine or if their name is spelled wrong.
Mistake #5: You Don’t Follow Up
No significant effort should go without the proper follow up. Many students send in their resumes and cover letters and just cross their fingers they’ll hear back. But if you’re going to take the time to do the whole “internship dance,” you need to follow up! Two weeks after you send your application, send a short e-mail (no more than a paragraph) reiterating how excited you are about the internship and how you hope to hear from the person soon.
Good luck on the hunt!
*Lauren Berger is known as the Intern Queen after participating in 15 internships during her four years of college. Follow Lauren on Twitter (@InternQueen) and check out her site, InternQueen.com.
