5 Tips to Land Your Dream Summer Internship

By Jody Bell

Whether you’re still in high school, or an undergraduate in college, it’s never too early to start seeking out internships. 

Not only are internships great on your resume, but 81% of college graduates who held internships stated that these experiences shifted their career decision. Narrowing down your career goals as early as possible should be an absolute goal; it will streamline your college experience and give you a head start on your peers. 

But how exactly do you go about landing a summer internship? 

Well, here are our 5 tips for landing that internship and maximizing your summer experience. 

1. Start as soon as possible

The applications for many upperclassmen programs have already closed, but many programs for younger students are actively recruiting. 

Applying to positions early is key to increasing the chances of your application actually being looked at. Usually recruiters will get a wave of applications in right before the deadline, and as they shift through such a large volume of applications each student will only be considered for a few minutes. If you can submit your application 3-4 weeks before the deadline you will oftentimes avoid being grouped in with this wave of students and get a more thorough consideration than your peers. 

2. Organize yourself and make a schedule

With many programs being highly competitive, it is smart to apply to 20-30 internships to maximize your chances of landing a position. 

But how do you possibly shift through that many applications which each have lengthy essay questions and required recommendations? The answer is a strategic schedule. 

First, sit down and make a list of about 25 opportunities you would like to apply for. Then, organize them by placing the soonest deadline on top, and the application with the farthest deadline on the bottom. Based on how long you have between these two dates, create a schedule that ensures you are able to pace yourself to work through all applications and still make the final deadline. 

For me, this meant I was doing one application a week, and even within that application I would make a weekly schedule for how I would break down each application itself.

3. Ask for recommendations early 

With such a fast-paced schedule for completing applications, it may be difficult to get the required recommendations on time ‒ it’s key to consider this as early as possible.

As you make your schedule for applications, list 2-3 people who you believe will provide good recommendations. Generally, you want 1 recommendation from a teacher/professor, 1 from a past employer, and 1 that is unique to you (a religious leader, volunteer coordinator you worked with, or even your GWI mentor). 

Contact these individuals and tell them of your plans to apply for 20+ internships to land an opportunity for this summer. It is crucial that you let them know that you are asking them to be your recommendation throughout this process ‒ not just for a single recommendation. Usually the student is unable to submit a recommendation letter, so you will need to contact them each time you submit an application with a required recommendation letter. 

Explain this process to them, and mention that they can reuse the same recommendation letter every time they get an email about an application.

4. Your job isn’t over once the application is in

Once you’ve submitted all your applications take a breath, pat your back, celebrate, and….get back to work.

Now, I’m sure after 20+ applications that’s not what you’d like to hear. However, once you’ve applied to the position, you can begin to distinguish yourself as an applicant. 

The best way to do this is through LinkedIn, so start by ensuring your profile is up to date. Then, look up recruiters who work within the companies/organizations/programs you applied for and reach out to them. Mentioning your name, interest and that you applied is a great opener, and at the end of the LinkedIn message ask if they would be willing to speak with you to share some more information about the opportunity. 

Aim for a video call with them (via Zoom for example) and prepare some questions about the position/experience. Showing these recruiters that you took the time to research, contact them, and have a conversation, solidifies your interest in the position and attaches a face to an application. 

5. Look into ways to support your experience 

Many internship experiences are unpaid, yet many students still need to generate an income during the summer.

Fortunately, many institutions (both high-school and college) have grants and scholarships available for summer opportunities. These are often called “summer enrichment grants” and very rarely are they openly advertised. Start by asking your guidance counselors (or financial aid office if you are in college) to see what programs your institution has and what funds may be available to you. 

Additionally, there are plenty of scholarships offered by third-party organizations that support unpaid summer internship opportunities. These grants will also require applications (and usually recommendations) so you may want to incorporate these applications into your initial schedule. 

Following this structure may seem overwhelming at first, however, creating a personalized plan that breaks down the process will greatly help you manage your time. One internship could completely change your life ‒ so get out there and start early, land your dream opportunity, and maximize your summer. 

Jody Bell (19) Girls With Impact’s Chief Editor and a program graduate. Girls With Impact is the nation’s only online, after-school, entrepreneurship program for teen girls, turning them into tomorrow’s business leaders and innovators.