Most internships are unpaid, and many are part-time. For recent college graduates, the time commitment can be difficult to manage alongside a full course-load. But it's important to make the most of your internship experience.
Here is a list of five ways you can use the internet to succeed in an internship:
1. Use the internet to connect with your peers:
The internet is a great way to keep in touch with your peers and to learn from people who are experts in their fields. Use the internet to connect with people who share your interests and to get involved in the conversations that they’re having.
YouTube and SlideShare.com are great places to learn about an industry and gain a bird’s-eye view of the emerging industry or niche. They are also great social networks to connect with people and organize events where you can learn about the company, see what worked and what didn’t, and see how you fit in.
Facebook groups and MySpace fan pages can be excellent sources of information for internships and experience. Join groups about your specialty and attend meetup events where you will be able to network with industry leaders. Some companies even make groups and invite aspiring employees to join.
The online world can provide you with the connections you need to build your resume and cover your bases in case of interviews. When networking, try to use companies and others in the industry that you can vouch for. If that fails, connect with a trade association or club in your city that you can connect with.
Check out student websites to gain a quick read of the going rates for internships. Also check out admissions brochures and job adverts to get a quick idea of what internships entail.
Be proactive about knowing what kinds of internships exist in your city. You can look through listings for companies posted online, or get in touch with the companies that advertise and see if they are a fit for you. The internet is a great source not only of employment opportunities, but also of other ways to learn. The more YOU know about your options, the faster you can get prepared.
Curriculum vitae (CV) sites and sites like Monster.com offer an excellent platform to showcase your skills and education to potential employers.
2. Use the internet to learn about your internship:
Internships are a great ways to get your foot in the door and make connection. Use the internet to research what your internship is going to be like. Do some research about the company and the people you’re going to be working with. Find out what the company culture is like, and see if they have a social media presence.
You can learn a lot from doing research about the company. Reading the staff questionnaire can give you a good idea of the kind of work environment that will be most conducive to learning and making connections. Also look for company policies; most companies operate in a fairly strict manner. At Fairway, for example, you need to sign in and out of your Human Resources account before getting access to the site (in case the HR department asks to see your social media accounts).
If you’re interested in what the company has to offer, take the initiative and volunteer. In addition to helping out at the company, there are many opportunities to network online. For example, internships at VC firms are plentiful and sometimes take the form of mentoring and spending a few days in a hostel. According to Sam Mallikarjunan, “for every intern who leaves VC and goes on to start his or her own company, it’s almost always because of some perceived lack of support (or) mentorship…”
Internships also teach you the value of hard work. In the paid workforce, unpaid internships are all the rage. This means that even if you don’t like leaving the house in the morning, there are many perfectly good reasons to intern. For example, using a resume site to find internships can be essential. The problem is that most websites only show a small number of internships. Try Keep at It Internships to see who’s attempting to use the internships at your company. You could be 1 of their next employee's.
Finally, brainstorm how you can use the internet to make a difference in the internships at your company.
3. Use the internet to get ahead on assignments:
If you’re in a pinch with an assignment and need some extra help, there are plenty of resources on the internet that can help you get it done. While you should only use the internet to get ahead on an assignment, there are plenty of free resources out there that can help you learn the basics of whatever you need to learn.
Oftentimes, you’ll just see a list of jobs with a list of requirements, like for a job interview. While that’s unavoidable when you’re looking for work, don’t be afraid to plug in your own skills as well. You don’t need to pay the posting expenses, but it’s always good to have a little extra information to draw upon when applying. A free LinkedIn search can prove helpful for this.
For example, during a Covid-19 job interview, one recent college graduate might have listed her experience in Accountancy, Marketing, and Accountancy, among other subjects. Her LinkedIn profile is perfectly basic, but LinkedIn didn’t ask for any specific subjects or experience.
A simple Google search can indicate if the position you need is in a major city. LinkedIn will usually list the number of job openings and pay scales for the job you want.
It’s also nice to have some references to support your application.
Here are a few ideas for how to build a reference network:
Once you have a few references from previous internships, it’s easy to find out what internships are hiring, where you can apply, and the basics of the job.
The key to successful internships is to make the most of your experience while you can. That means taking advantage of the time you were given on your tour before you were assigned a program and following the program closely. After the program ends, get in touch with your program coordinator or supervisor. Learn the details on how to make your resume the best fit for the program.
Apply early, apply often, and don’t let a glitch in the system discourage you.
4. Use the internet to make connections that will benefit you after graduation:
The internet is a great place to meet new people and make connections, especially if you're willing to put in the time to do it. It's easy to find groups of people online that share your interests and passions, and you can easily connect with them on social media to make plans to meet up with them in person.
When preparing to intern, you’ll likely want to check out Substack, a platform that connects writers and their ideas for potential articles. To apply, find a writing group, and make sure you follow the guidelines for any group you join. Schedule time to meet with members of the group, and read the group’s guidelines closely so you know what to expect in meetings and how to behave.
There are volunteer organizations all over the world that run various projects during the summer and winter. You can find these organizations on sites like Project-65, Mentor.org, and Clubhouse. Canva has a free design tool that may be helpful if you’re developing your own website or app. And of course, there are best practices in using the internet to find career opportunities. If you know the option of internship on your application, make sure you use it.
Ultimately, you’ll need to decide what type of internships are right for you. At the moment, all internships are unpaid, so we suggest finding something that aligns with your values and abilities. The type of internship you do in a semester will determine how difficult the program will be, and internship experiences can vary depending on the school or location you attend. Some classes may require more intern work, but most have a flexible summer program. Start by finding what you enjoy doing, and build from there.
5. Use the internet to find out more information about your company and industry:
If you’re looking for information about your company or industry, the easiest way to do it is to use the internet. Almost every company has a website that you can look at to learn about it and its history, and many industries have trade associations that are willing to give you inform about the industry as a whole.
You can look up information from any part of the world through the use of the internet. The internet offers a window into where your company is headed and what products and services they make available to the public.
Here are some ways to google a company:
Many companies will put you in touch with recruiters, who can meet you and ask you questions about you and your skills. These meetings can be valuable, especially if you take notes. They can also give you feedback. If you want to grow your resume, take notes at these meetings and you can use those notes to write up your responses for the company.
Many only have one or two recruiters for their company, and they want people who will take on these roles and who will bring in lots of new business for their company. You want to show versatility and willingness to learn. In addition, if you read up on what it takes to land an internship then you’re going to be more successful in these roles. Check out How to Get a Job in a Small Company, a great resource from MSN.
Viewing information on companies you are interested in can be useful, but it is not always enough to just look. It’s also important to do some research on the company and find out why you want to work for them. Your goals and values must be listed on your resume as well as the company’s website. You should list your primary responsibility on the resume as well as on any opportunities you filled. Some companies only organize this information on their website.
If you review what the employer asks of those applying then you are virtually guaranteeing this job.
Conclusion:
Internships are a great opportunity for recent graduates to gain practical experience in their field of study, but they are also a great place to expand your network of contacts and build a reputation as an expert in your field.
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