Getting started, often the hardest part.
Step 1: Interests
Many students, when we sit down to talk about internships, have no idea where to start. The first question I ask is, "What interests you?" Sometimes the answer to that is, "I don't know." From there, I ask them what they enjoy doing in their free time. Or what did they love to play when they were five years old, before they started school. The answers give clues. I'm looking for the sparkle in the eye. When does the passionate engagement flare up? Rarely does the sparkle happen directly related to the subjects they study in school. Sometimes it does, and if the young person is in college and has done a good job selecting their major, then we can start with the field they will enter when they finish college.
Step 2: Identify Potential Sites
Next we move on to identify potential sites in the area where they might be able to go to do an internship. Ideally, we can identify at least five potential sites. Once we have the list of sites, we talk about whether or not we know anyone who works there.
If your school has an internship office, check and see if they have established any internship sites already. If they have, look in their database, which might just be a binder with the sites and the contact person listed, or it might be a database online, check and see if they have any sites you didn't think of or maybe one of the sites you thought of is on their list.
If your school has an internship office, check and see if they have established any internship sites already. If they have, look in their database, which might just be a binder with the sites and the contact person listed, or it might be a database online, check and see if they have any sites you didn't think of or maybe one of the sites you thought of is on their list.
Step 3: How much time do you have?
Before making contact with a site, it's critical to figure out exactly how much time you have in your schedule to go to the internship site. Meaning, exactly how many hours, not including transportation time, do you have each week? And, how many weeks can you go to the internship, once it is established?
Remember, it will likely take several weeks to firmly establish an internship. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to find the perfect internship for you!
Remember, it will likely take several weeks to firmly establish an internship. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to find the perfect internship for you!
Step 4: Make contact
Now it's time to make contact. Start with a phone call. In advance, practice out loud what you will say. Visualize who you want to speak with. In fact, visualize the whole conversation. What will the exchange be like?
DON'T ASK TO START AN INTERNSHIP!!! Really, don't. Start with asking for an Informational Interview! Just a short 20 minute meeting, to ask them about their career and their place of work. At the Informational Interview, if it still sounds and feels good, you can ask if they've ever had an intern, and whether or not they would consider having you be their intern.
To learn more about the Informational Interviewing process, click HERE!
DON'T ASK TO START AN INTERNSHIP!!! Really, don't. Start with asking for an Informational Interview! Just a short 20 minute meeting, to ask them about their career and their place of work. At the Informational Interview, if it still sounds and feels good, you can ask if they've ever had an intern, and whether or not they would consider having you be their intern.
To learn more about the Informational Interviewing process, click HERE!