Advice from a Foolish Intern

[Ed. note: This is a guest post from our super-intern Eileen.]

To all the college students on break: You have two choices when Dad asks, “Hey kid, what are you doing to prove that you’re a productive human being this summer?”

1. Well, Pop, I’m getting another job waiting tables so that future employers will see that I have a strong enough work ethic to keep myself in beer for three months.

2. Well, Pop, this summer I’ll be working my collegiate butt off for nothing and so will probably be asking you for a spare $20 every now and then because . . . I’M AN INTERN!!!

I promise, Dad will be infinitely more pleased to hear Response #2. Why? Because he knows that even if he’s spotting you a little extra cash for now, it’s way less likely that you’ll be hitting him up for dough after you graduate.

The long and short of it is this: Every college student should have an internship. At least one. Whether it’s in the summer, fall, spring doesn’t matter of course, as long as it’s before you’ve been handed your diploma. I know finding an internship can be a little intimidating, but before you write it off, consider this:

An internship provides you with great contacts you’d never otherwise make. If you work hard, these contacts can turn into people who will want to sing your praises to your future employers. An internship also introduces you to a field of experience and learning outside the stuffy halls of academia. You’ll come out on the other side with a broader skill set and maybe even some career ideas you wouldn’t have thought of before.

So, go on—what have you got to lose? After all, the same Saved By the Bell re-run will be on tomorrow too. Here’s what you do:

The Search

This is the hardest part, but if you put in the work up front, you will see results. Scour the Internet daily to see if anyone’s advertising an intern position. But don’t stop there. Look for companies that do what you want to do, or that do something you’re interested in learning about. Then call them up or shoot them an email asking if they’d be interested in hiring you as an intern. Who doesn’t like free labor? [Ed. note: What's even better, BookFool.com interns are paid!] Don’t forget to check around with parents, friends, and especially professors for internship ideas.

Oftentimes, companies will go directly to schools with opportunities because they’re looking for student interns just like you. Keep an open mind and consider internships that are not necessarily related to your major. This is a great way to learn things you wouldn’t otherwise learn in your classes. As an English major, I could tell you all about American Realism or the feud between Hemingway and Fitzgerald, but until I interned with BookFool.com, I couldn’t have told you a blasted thing about the book business itself. Not to mention marketing or PR or running haiku contests like I can now.

How to Apply

Once you’ve found a couple internship options, focus on your cover letter and resume. These documents are a sort of pre-interview, so inject them with a little personality and show who you really are. In your cover letter, it’s always a good idea to start by introducing yourself, explaining why you’re writing, and mentioning how you heard about the internship/company. Follow that with a brief description of your experience in college or work, and why you’re the person they want to hire. Conclude your letter by listing your contact information and by citing a time in the following week that YOU will follow up to ensure they’re received your letter and resume. It may also be a good idea to say, “If you would like a professional reference, please contact (NAME) at (EMAIL)” with the contact information of a professor, past employer, or volunteer leader you trust.

As for the resume, I know that as a student, it can be hard to know what to cite as your qualifications. After all, you’ve been in school, and that doesn’t leave a whole lot of time for building relevant job experience! But fear not—you’re applying for an internship; your employers aren’t expecting you to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company.

Instead, your resume can list relevant courses you have taken, awards or recognitions you’ve received, and extra-curricular activities you’ve been involved with. If you have a website or blog, provide a link to it. And rather than organizing your resume by previous employment, try organizing it according to your skills and abilities. Ask yourself, “What am I good at? What do I enjoy?” You’ll be surprised at just how talented you already are. Simple things like writing clearly, being a people person, or having a creative mind may not seem like skills at first, but can actually be huge assets! List qualities like these, with concise examples if possible.

The Interview

When you get that call back for an interview, give yourself a pat on the back and then get ready to show ‘em the person behind the paper. This is the chance for the company to hear just how great you are directly from the source! Also, prepare yourself by learning as much about the company as you possibly can. Read their website, find reviews, talk to anyone who knows or has been involved with them. You want the company to know that you understand who they are, what they do, and how you can contribute.

Also, bring a couple questions to ask THEM. This shows that you’ve done your research and are already thinking about how you can be involved. Let them know you’re willing to learn and ready to work. Most importantly, show them you want it—even if you’re not the most qualified for the position, your interest and enthusiasm will set you apart and make you memorable.

The Internship Itself

You’ve got your internship; now show them they hired the right person! Get to know people, make yourself as present and productive as possible, and don’t be timid about asking questions or contributing ideas. Take on any and every project they throw at you. Be confident and step up to the big projects or volunteer to do more. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. An internship is about learning, after all. And if ever you’re really struggling, just bring in some coffee and doughnuts. That will buy you some time to get your act together!

Finally, as you gain work experience, keep a portfolio. This will be invaluable as you search for jobs in the future. Save copies of everything you write, or jot down summaries of projects you’ve done. Keep any thank-you notes or well-done-you’s that you might receive. Make a list of any new programs you’ve learned. Anything that demonstrates what you’ve done and learned in your internship, throw it in the portfolio. There’s nothing better than showing a potential employer physical evidence of your achievements.

You Can Do It!

Now, go out there and be an intern! You may not be making much (or any) money now, but the payoff later will be more than worth it. And hey, if you follow all this advice and it turns out I’m wrong, then you can listen to Drew from Toothpaste For Dinner: