Landing the Internship: Insider Advice from Recruiters!
This past Monday the 26th of September the USC Careers Center in partnership with the Viterbi Career Connections office hosted ‘Investigate Industries and Internships (i3): Engineering and Technology.’
“Investigate Industries and Internships (i3) is designed for students exploring career options, as well as students looking to take the next step. At an i3 event, you can network with employers looking to hire interns and hear them speak about how they broke into their respective industries.”
Companies in attendance were The Walt Disney Company, Accenture, Ticketmaster, RG Pacific LLC, Prologue Immersive, JMAS Group, West Monroe Partners, Visa, Oben, MK Partners and B2X Global.
I managed to talk to many of the company representatives and recruiters for their insider advice on the recruiting process and applying for internships.
What advice would you give to yourself back in college, specifically pertaining to the internship search?
Do not limit yourself to your major. Explore other different areas of interest – whether it be through picking up a minor or becoming a part of a club that is not related to your major but you are interested in. A well rounded individual is what many employers are looking for.
What are some common mistakes you see in applications?
The most common one is grammatical errors. Some recruiters understand English may not be your first language but if you are at USC, you have the careers center at your disposal. Go get your resume proofread!
Make sure your resume is ONE PAGE ONLY and the font is big enough for a recruiter to be able to skim through your resume without having to squint.
Also sometimes applicants have one position on their resume or cover letter and apply to a different one, do not be that person. It just shows us you were not careful enough.
What are the best ways to shine in an interview?
Show enthusiasm and passion. We know you are nervous; we are not in the room to tear you apart. Just be honest with your answers.
When it comes to asking questions, definitely ask questions! A great way to show you know and have researched the company is to ask questions that are related to information you found online:
‘I know [insert company name] are headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana. How would you describe the family friendliness of the city and leisure activities to do on weekends?
‘One of the company values is [insert value], how do you see it applied across your work?’
What process do you use to skim through resumes?
I personally look to see if the candidate is qualified, if they are I continue the conversation.
So what do recruiters actually look for?
The key aspect I look for in applicants is if they are passionate about the role they are applying for; because the likelihood is they could be stuck in positions related to the role for the next 20 years.
What advice would you have for students on the internship?
Always play to win and work hard. We don’t expect you to know everything we throw at you, but there are ways for you to show us you can learn on the go.
What advice would you give students on deciding on a full time offer after an internship?
I think for me what is crucial is working with people of my age. Of course in a company you will deal with people of different ages, but I personally enjoy working with people of my age. Also find out more about the team you will be working with. These are the people who will be working on a Friday night with a deadline for a project looming. You need to have fun and get along with people you work with. Lastly, make sure it is aligned with your career goals.
What are some common mistakes you see on resumes?
Applicants tend to focus more on the company they worked for rather than focusing on what they did. Definitely emphasize what your role was within the team and then what your team achieved.
Then there is the usual which should not really be there: grammar, formatting – have your text left justified and the dates right justified.
I tend to not like objectives, but this is a very 50-50 question, so it is better to ask the recruiter before applying if possible. Generally, if you are applying to a role that does not relate to your major then it is advisable to put in an objective so the recruiter can draw the connection.
Lastly, never use a template. Build your own resume from the ground up. Have a consistent structure though.
What are the basic requirements for someone to get an interview?
There’s no set formula but for me there are three main characteristics – GPA, relevant experience and articulation. If an applicant ticks two out of the three that is usually good enough to get past the first stage. There are a few wildcards recruiters look for that instantly put certain candidates through, but that is a secret.
How does a freshmen or sophomore with little experience gain the experience needed to apply for an internship?
There are plenty of opportunities on campus. If you are into web design, look up university websites that need improvement. Email the relevant department and ask them if they are looking for interns or that you are looking to do a personal project. There are also many clubs that could do with expertise, whether it be setting up their website or marketing material, just email and ask. You might have a personal project that you can now put on your resume.
What are some on campus resources students should take advantage of?
Research the companies online for sure, that’s a resource for everyone. Watch YouTube videos or register and attend virtual online webinars, companies do keep a track of how active you are in the application process. Talk to alumni who come to campus, they are your best resource! Go to your career center and see if they have a list of alumni who have volunteered to help current students and see if there is one working at a company you are super interested in.
When does one know if you have been moved along in the process or not?
That is a tough one. You apply and just keep waiting. If you know senior students who have gone through the process before, ask them how long it took them to hear back.
Internship week is all this week, go out, network and even if you don’t get an internship out of this week, you have already had practice for next semester. I hope this information was useful to you all. If you have questions, please reach out to me on my Facebook or on LinkedIn.
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