Different Ways To Find Internships
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
Internships are commonly viewed as precursors to real-world jobs and great thing to have on your resume exiting college. It lets recruiters know that you have the know-how to apply the knowledge you’ve gained from your classes. Since they’re outside of the usual school curriculum, it can be intimidating and confusing on how exactly to get one, but don’t worry! It’s never too late to land one and you can do it in all sorts of ways! USC has a couple of resources available for students looking to take a step into the professional world and it doesn’t end there either. Keep reading to find out!
Don’t underestimate LinkedIn!
In addition to using LinkedIn for just finding job opportunities and connecting with others, you can use it to reach out to companies! If you’re wanting to work with a company that doesn’t clearly list their job listings, you can always shoot them a message via LinkedIn and just ask! This will probably work better with smaller companies than big ones though (and is also how I landed my current internship!)
Just remember to keep your inquiry email professional and succinct! If you’ve never written one, inquiry emails look a bit like cover letters: telling the company why you’re interested, what experience you have, and your availability.
Keep an eye out for job board listings!
Check out websites like Indeed.com, ZipRecruiter.com, etc. One benefit of these sorts of sites is the huge amount of listings they have — there’s sure to be at least one that works for you. Most of these aren’t exclusive to internships, but are probably the most mainstream way to find jobs. Since these sites are so popular however, you can always expect there to be a high number of applicants as well, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still apply!
Reach out to your network!
Don’t be scared to shoot an email to any old mentors you have. If you’re close with certain professors, this can definitely include them as well! You never know what jobs or internships they might know about. It’s also just an opportunity to check in with people and give them an update in how you’re doing in your career. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!
Take advantage of USC’s websites!
You go to USC, so you might as well take advantage of their resources! Different schools may have specific internship pages geared toward their majors, and advisors may also be sending opportunities from time to time through email. Ask around to see if there’s a shared drive/posting board of opportunities. The Career Center sends out weekly newsletters filled with jobs and internships as well. There’s a lot out there, so be sure to keep an eye out!
Don’t skip out on Career Fairs!
Career Fairs can give you direct access to the companies you’re interested in! While the Career Fair for this semester just passed, they happen at the beginnings of every semester, so you’ll probably be able to catch one again! And if you’ve attended career fairs in the past and made good relationships with the people you talked to, don’t be afraid reach out to them to see if they have anything new on their end! These is a great resource USC offers, so be sure to use it!
Use social media!
Some companies will post on their socials when they’re hiring, so it’s a good idea to follow those that you’re interested in to keep an eye out! I’ve seen tons of individuals and companies randomly post about job opportunities. You never know what may come from following certain hashtags or occasionally searching for key words in your area of interest.
Check out company websites!
Most companies will post on job boards when they’re hiring, but you can always individually check in on a company you’re interested in: If it’s a big one, they’ll probably have a portal/process of their own, but if not, just send over an email! It can be difficult to hear about when exactly companies update their sites with internship/job information though, so it’s best to keep an eye out throughout the semester to learn when portals open and close.
Ask your friends!
You never know what eyes other people may have on something and it’s impossible to know what resources people have unless you ask! It’s usually better to have two sets of eyes on something than just one. And don’t hesitate to send them opportunities as well! There’s room for everyone!
I think the main takeaway here is to be creative! There is no “right way” to land an internship. Whatever works, works! And if you don’t get the response you want, just keep trying! There’s a place out there for you.
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