Chapter 39

Chapter 39

The Internship Search

“What am I going to do?”

March 2015 

No matter what college you attend, searching for a summer internship is a necessity for most students. In rare occasions, students who plan on attending graduate school don’t have to work an internship, but it’s always a plus if you can add some experience to your resume.  For some, the internship search can be stressful, long, and have you asking yourself, “What am I going to do this summer?” I will use this chapter to help prepare you for your internship search, how to prepare for an interview, and how to decide between your internship offers. 

As mentioned before, internships are used as a “test.” For example, during my sophomore summer I had dreams of being a consultant for one of the “Big 4” firms. This dream was before I had actually done anything remotely close to consultant work. During my internship in London, I learned quickly that big city, big office settings weren’t my thing. Internships are the best way to introduce students to an industry without causing any financial harm to the individual. 

The best way to search for an internship is to first figure out what your interests are. For instance, are you particularly interested in a certain industry, such as marketing, sales, journalism, sports, education, or research? Once you find some interests you may have, you can then begin searching for companies that would allow you to explore that interest. In my case, I am interested in a number of different things. I was interested in marketing and entrepreneurship, so I applied for an internship at NBCU (Los Angeles), and also used AngelList (platform that lists start-up jobs/internships) to find other small opportunities.  Whatever your interests, there is an internship/opportunity. Make sure to take advantage of your universities career resources, these could include internship fairs, job expos, and mock interviews, which is arguably the most important skill when trying to land an internship. 

Like anything in life, the best way to get better at something is to practice. Universities offer a number of opportunities for interview practice, which I highly recommend taking advantage of. Practicing for interviews give you confidence for your real interviews. Another important strategy is to research the company in depth. For instance, looking at current news, past news, and offerings of the company will show that you have true interest in the company. When you know the person that will be interviewing you, I have found it helpful to research the interviewer. This allows you to find connections with the individual, which can help you frame your responses to some of their questions. In final preparation, expect the unexpected from your interviewer. During my interviews I have been asked a various amount of random questions such as: “If you had a magic wand…,” and “How many gas stations are in the U.S?” 

Following your interview you should always email a thank you to the person that interviews you. This shows continued interested, and it’s a sign of respect to the company representative.  

Depending on the internship, you should find out about the results of your interview within a few weeks of the interview. And when you receive the email, never, and I repeat NEVER accept the offer immediately. I have learned from my negotiations course that one must always send a counter-offer to the company that offers them a position. In some instances you may have more than one offer, so you can use your different offers to gage the amount of pay you believe you deserve. It’s also important to note: when sending the employer a counter-offer make a precise offer. Don’t simply send a range because this gives the employer more wiggle room. If plausible, send a thoughtful email explaining why you deserve an increase in pay/opportunity, and most of the time the employer will satisfy your request, or work with you. 

If you are offered multiple internship opportunities I suggest listing the opportunities side-by-side. I have found this strategy to be helpful in many aspects in life. I used the same strategy when deciding which college to attend, and it’s proven to be the best determinant. However, I realize that some opportunities will be almost equal, and very difficult to decipher which is best. This is when I draw a BIG circle. Think. Pray. Trust. The BIG man upstairs has a plan for you, you just have to have a little faith :)

One key factor in finding an internship that you are truly interested in and are excited about, is preparing yourself long before the search process begins. On each of my campus tours I tell the prospective students this simple bit of advice, “Your intern/job/life application begins the day you move-in freshman year. Each day, is a new day of new opportunity.” I have found complete satisfaction in living my college journey in that way. By chasing opportunities I knew that the question of “what am I going to do for summer internships/job?” wouldn’t be a situation of, I don’t have any options, but a situation where I had to choose between multiple opportunities. With multiple opportunities on my plate, I feel like I am eating at an all-you-can-eat buffet, but not a college cafeteria, something of higher quality. The only problem, I can only choose one entrée. I have made my pros/cons sheet, spoke with many of my closest advisors/family members, and I am drawing a prayer circle around my decision. Currently, I’m not sure what entrée/opportunity I will choose, but I do know for certain, I am going to do something amazing, that’s just what you do in a BIG year :)

Group of friends and I ventured to Jacksonville to watch the Heels play in the first round of the NCAA tournament. As you can tell (far right), I was a bit nervous towards the end of the game. The Heels were victorious!