The Ultimate Internship Survival Guide

Written by: Izabela Gonzalez

Wake-up, wake-up! It’s internship application season—the time of year that we all long for, yet dread. We look forward to the ability to apply for positions at our dream companies and agencies, but we despise the long application process and inevitable rejections that come along the way. However, we are excited to present you with what we consider “The Ultimate Internship Survival Guide,” which includes six tips that will help you tackle every aspect of the lengthy internship process. Now sit back, grab a coffee and take notes on how you’re going to succeed this internship season!

Ask yourself: What do I want?

Our first tip is to have you ask yourself: “What do I want out of the internships that I’m applying for?” Do you want an internship in sports PR? What about fashion or entertainment? Do you want to learn what it’s like to work in-house or at an agency? Would you prefer a remote or in-person internship? Are you okay with relocating for the summer? If your answer to these questions is “all of the above,” that’s great too because this will give you more options during your internship hunt! These are questions that will help you narrow down the type of internships that are available based on your preferences—making the application process less overwhelming. However, it’s important to note that the internship description doesn’t need to 100% match your preferences in order for you to apply. We recommend that you apply to positions that meet at least 50% of what you’re looking for, and the rest can be figured out after you click submit. Afterall, something valuable can be learned from every application you submit. 

The Search.

Now it’s time for the fun part: the search. This is the time that you get to scroll through LinkedIn for hours and actively “stalk” past interns at companies you’re interested in (possibly connect with them too). You get to Google search “communications internships at *insert favorite brand, team or company here*” until your brain is fried, and you’re actively manifesting yourself into different internship scenarios (YOU CAN DO THIS!). 

Get organized.

Now that you’ve searched, it’s time to get organized. Our biggest tip for doing so  is to create a Google Doc or Excel spreadsheet to help you keep track of your internship application process—from applying to sending follow-up emails and hearing back from hiring managers. This will help you keep track of deadlines, application questions, supplemental materials, hiring manager emails and the like. For my “type-A” peeps (like many of us PR people), this is also a great way to satisfy the need to keep things in order—plus, who doesn’t love a check box! 

Time to click submit.

Now, you’ve made it to the most satisfying part of the internship process: clicking submit! After you feel that heavy weight fly off your shoulders, it’s time to play the waiting game. During this time, we recommend doing more research on the positions you’ve applied to, reaching out to past interns that were in your shoes and picking their brain. You can take a breath knowing that everything will happen as it should. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to reach out to hiring managers with valuable questions, and always attach your resume and cover letter to show that you’re really interested in the job. 

Interview ready!

Once you make it to the interview round of any internship that you’ve applied for (woo-hoo!), we encourage you to think outside of the box and prepare for ANYTHING. What we mean by this is be ready to answer any question that pertains to the internship and your interest in applying for it, authentically showcasing that you’re passionate about the role. If your interview is in person, come ready with tangible things to give the hiring manager (Ex: resume, cover letter, portfolio, mock-ups that pertain to the role you applied for). Whether or not your interview is in person, take the phrase “look good, feel good” seriously. We promise that dressing for the part can really give you a boost of confidence in answering any question that is thrown your way. Most importantly, make sure that you send follow-up emails after every interview—this is good interview etiquette and showcases that you’re committed and eager!

Trust the process. 

Now that you’ve searched for hours, put your back into your application and had an interview, it’s time to sit back, relax and trust that you’ve got this! Internship application season is no small task, and you’ve survived it. Always remember that all you need is that one “Yes.” As cliche as it is, everything happens for a reason, and you’ll end up at the internship that’s meant for you. Now get excited to embark on an internship that will surely lead to professional and personal growth—and get ready to write a fun LinkedIn update to go along with the exciting news!