Summer Internships: How to Land a Summer Interview

Summer internships are short-term experiences that provide a real insight into what it is actually like working in a specific job or career that you are interested in. The time period of summer internships begin in late May or early June and last up until August.  Some internships are paid and others or not, it just varies on the companies that you apply for. Internships provide students with the opportunity to gain relevant knowledge and skills required in the field that they may potentially want to go into, gain more networks, and also build their resume. Being able to gain experiences through internships and making professional contacts are good tools for getting a job right after graduating college.

Make a List: This can help you organize and figure out what you want to do.  It helps you highlight your interest and focus on what you want to learn. Take note of a few companies that you would like to work for and jot down some key points to your search such as (1)What town or area the company is located in?, (2) Is the position paid?, (3) Is this a full time or part time position?, etc. By making a list and comparing your search, you can narrow down your choices.

Do Research: It is good to start off by looking into big companies that are around the area that you intend to stay during the summer. A lot of the times, big corporations have internship programs available to students during the summer months. Do your research so you have a general overview about these companies, their mission and goals, and how you can benefit their organization.

Creativity: You can do more than to be stuck in the office all summer filing paper work. Look into internships within museums, art galleries, nature centers, etc. Branch out and find ways to broaden your creative skills by looking into different internship possibilities.  

Make sure you stick with it: Once you have narrowed down your search and found a few places that spark your interest, ask yourself if you see yourself interning at this company, are able to have sufficient transportation necessary, and/or a place to stay, etc.

Resume ready: While applying to these internship positions, make sure that you update and double-check your resume before sending it in to the recruiter.  UC Merced Career Services offers students individual resume guidance in accordance with their desired major and career route.  Call us at (209) 228-7272 to schedule an appointment.

Spread your networks: Networking with people can help you build professional relationships. Having a large network pool can be beneficial in your internship search and offer you future internships/jobs that may not be listed on the company website.

Laura Li
STEM Career Consultant
Career Services Center

The Summer Internship Hunt

Gillian Kay Lopez

Management Career Consultant

Career Services Center

People always say, “So you’re an expert at landing a job, right?” I may have background knowledge about the career field with my part-time job and some experience, but that doesn’t mean I can land a job quickly. Applying for a summer internship hasn’t been the easiest journey for me, but with persistence and hard work I have a good feeling that the right internship will come around.

I’m currently exploring the entertainment side of management such as event planning, public relations, and marketing. I’ve applied to two public relations firms earlier this week and the suspense of just waiting around is quite nerve wrecking and exciting at the same time. Before I applied to these internships, I had to do a ton of research on the companies’ culture, clients, and work projects. I wanted to be sure that the companies I was applying for were right for me.

When you really want something such as a job, you’ll find that the application process will take some extra time and care because who knows how many people you are competing with for that one position. Just recently I strolled upon my summer dream internship, with a small but charismatic PR company. The position I’m applying for is experimental marketing, which entails some event planning assistance, client promotions, and marketing development. If anyone knows me personally, they know that once I set my mind to something I’ll try my hardest to accomplish that goal. Getting just an interview with this company would bring endless amount of joy and slight relief.

So as I was doing research homework on this PR firm’s website, I stumbled upon a previous intern’s article titled, “My First Day.” After reading the wonderful article I decided to reach out to the author via LinkedIn to ask for advice about the company. The author gave me the best advice that typically would not be found in an everyday job description. Some advice she mentioned were how to stand out in the application process, what to put as a salary estimate, why the company is so wonderful to work for, and more. Not only did I gain assistance with my application, but I also established a new network.

The key idea to my personal experience with this internship job hunt is to do your homework before applying. Identify if you have any networks within the job you are applying for. If you don’t have any connections within the company and you really want the position, don’t be afraid to utilize great social network tools like LinkedIn, but make sure to stay professional and respectful towards the person you are asking assistance from.