As March begins, internship season slithers closer and closer. Students are flocking to job postings and hundreds of applications are filed every hour. It leaves me wondering: Why is there so much pressure to find an internship?
In most majors, completing an internship is crucial to show employers that you have experience in your field of interest and is even a requirement for some Ohio University majors, but landing an internship can be extremely difficult. Being offered an internship is a process, and it is incredibly flawed.
First, you have to apply. After an application is complete, some employers require personality or problem-solving tests applicants must complete to advance in the consideration process. If you pass these tests, you will begin the preliminary screening process with a recruiter or Human Resources representative who asks basic questions such as “How do you manage time?” and “Are you legally allowed to work in the United States?”
If you pass the screening with the recruiter, you will move on to an interview with your direct supervisor and maybe your supervisor’s boss. Then, based on the scoring criteria, you will be selected (or not). Simply put, it is a terribly long process that you will have to complete multiple times while facing constant rejection to potentially receive an offer.
Most job postings require an applicant to be a junior or senior, as the company is often looking to hire an intern full-time after the experience is over. But how does one qualify for an internship? With other internship experiences, of course! Also, how does one land an internship as a first or second-year student to be qualified for the corporate giant internships they want to work for after graduation? I have no idea. But, by some miracle, I was offered an internship as a freshman and two more as a sophomore, so here is what I am doing:
Do not expect a human to read your resume.
While I wish I could have a creative and photo-oriented resume, the plain, bulleted resume is the way to go. Often, if you apply to positions on LinkedIn, Indeed or Handshake, an AI platform will access your qualifications and read your resume first. Companies use AI to select top applicants from the hiring pool and then have a recruiter or HR representative look at it. The College of Business has an amazing template for those creating a resume.
Apply like none other.
You will hear professors, advisors, and maybe even parents say, “Apply, apply, apply.” I hate echoing in on this, but actually applying is the first step in any application. If you do not you will not get anywhere.
Be extremely determined.
You will spend a copious amount of time simply filling out applications, and only a few will contact you for the next steps. Expect not to hear back from companies after interviews, and do not take it personally. In some cases, hundreds of applicants were interviewed, and only selected candidates were notified after the interviews. It is extremely frustrating, but do not give up, tackle rejection and perceive it as an opportunity to apply to more places.
Learn to find experience in your extracurriculars or current job.
In full transparency, most underclassmen do not have internships, and that is OK. Learn to find valuable, real-world experience in your extracurriculars– join the student newspaper to get bylines, ask for more responsibility at your job and find a way to display upward movement on your resume.
Good luck with your internship search, and if you have not already started, apply, apply, apply!
Abby Waechter is a sophomore studying strategic communication at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Abby know by emailing her at aw087421@ohio.edu or by tweeting her @AbbyWaechter.
