The first half of freshman year is almost over – Congratulations! By this time you have probably survived your first set of midterms and you have solidified your school spirit at your first Big Ten football game. You have figured out how to avoid the long line at “Taco Tuesdays” and you have even discovered the shortest, most scenic route from your dorm room to 18th Century American Literature.
Life couldn’t be better!
However, in between the football and the fun, freshman year is the perfect time to begin preparing yourself to score your first internship. WayUp has compiled a few helpful tips on ways that you can make the most out of your freshman year – and become a competitive candidate for future internship opportunities.
Get Involved – Stay Involved…
Don’t fall victim to second semester’s winter blues! As a freshman you may not qualify for an internship just yet, but there are still plenty of opportunities to get involved on campus. This is a great way to develop useful experience for potential internships.
If you’re interested in non-profit or advocacy work, volunteer for an organization whose mission you admire. If you’re interested in politics or public policy, offer to volunteer for a local political campaign or help manage a student election. If you’re interested in journalism or media, get involved with the student newspaper or the student radio/television station. Start a blog to showcase your awesome writing skills. Are you an engineering major? Start coding and build a project that you can show off to potential employers. Interested in education? Join your school’s tutoring club or better yet, start one of your own!
Employers know that freshmen will not have a ton of experience and they’re not expecting you to. After all, that’s what an internship is for. However, they would like to see that you’re motivated and passionate.
Choose Your Courses Wisely: All Classes Are NOT Created Equal…
While courses like basket weaving and badminton can provide a much-needed break from a stressful day of classes, be cautious about registering for too many of these easier electives. The internship application pool is extremely competitive and employers are always creating different metrics to measure and eliminate internship candidates.
These days, it is common for an employer to ask for a copy of your academic transcript. This request often serves two purposes. The first purpose is usually to check for your grade point average and the second purpose is usually to provide the employer with an overview of your academic course load. When registering for classes try to balance difficult courses with classes that have a lighter load. Aim for courses that will help you develop a useful skillset. For instance, a basic computer course will help develop your Excel and HTML skills. A course in Final Cut Pro will help you learn the basics of editing videos for the web.
When it is time to register for classes, make sure that you are strategic in your selections. Think about the courses that will help you develop a marketable skill and choose your classes wisely. Check out Course Hero and StudyBlue
for additional tips on managing your academic course load.
Work On Your Resume…
Sounds like a no-brainer, right? You would be surprised at how many freshmen do not have a resume prepared. Begin by compiling a list of any significant projects that you have done, clubs you have participated in or places you have volunteered. Once you have completed that list, head over to WayUp and check out our templates and resources for great resume-building advice.
Talk To Upperclassmen: “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know…”
Upperclassmen are a really useful resource when it comes to applying for internships. Many upperclassmen are already familiar with the on-campus career fair and most are familiar with the companies who recruit at your school.
Identify the rock-star students in your department. Everyone has heard of that one person who had a bunch of internships by the end of graduation. Ask them about their internship experience and find out if they have any advice about applying for internships. Is there a company who loves graphic designers with animation skills? Where’s the best place to live in NYC? Which companies love computer science and physics majors? Is it better to accept an awesome credit-only internship or a paid internship back in your hometown? Many of these questions can be answered by an upperclassman – eager to talk about their experiences.
To sum it up, there really is no time like the present to begin thinking about your internship future. Remember: Get involved on campus, think strategically when registering for classes, identify students who have been successful with their internship search and start working on your resume now!
