The journey of searching for an internship is often daunting, as it can be overwhelming to consider where to search, which opportunities to apply for, the purpose of participating, and other factors when exploring your options. To simplify the process of the internship search, and discuss the benefits of engaging in these opportunities, our guest-speakers provided helpful tips about their internships:
Nidhi Nair: double-majored in Economics and Statistics and was a Spring Economic Policy Intern at Our National Conversation, a start-up that provides non-partisan policy solutions. She was also a part-time intern at Listen First, which is an organization committed to reducing polarization in the US. As an Immigrant and an International Student, she is passionate about seeking opportunities beyond the classroom. In her free time, she enjoys yoga and creative writing.
Naydrine Straker: majored in Communications and interned as an Executive Intern at Target to learn directly from managers within the 6 departments of target to further develop leadership and management skills. She received an offer to work as an Executive Team Leader after graduation.
Lizzette (Lizzy) Irizarry: was a sophomore interested in Law, Public Policy, and Advocacy. As a Latina, Lizzy strives to give back to her community and has a passion for raising awareness for issues such as racism, immigration, restorative justice and higher education for marginalized students. This interest led her to intern at Hearing Youth Voices and CWELF, Connecticut Women’s Educational and Legal Funds.
Hosts: Hannah Halloran and Erin McConnell
Reason for Seeking Internship
All the panelists had a shared interest in gaining experience and building relevant skills. Through working in their internships, the panelists learned more about their professional environment, and were to have direct involvement in organizations that align with their interest. For Naydrine and Lizzy, there was the additional benefit of helping them assess which careers may be of interest to them.
Finding an internship
When completing the internship search, there are numerous ways to learn more about them! Nidhi searched online, websites such as Chegg internships, Individualized Opportunity Pages on several Universities, various job boards, and other online resources to search for internships. Naydrine and Lizzy utilized a more interactive approach. Lizzy e-mailed numerous non-profit organizations, and Naydrine attended the Internship Fair to learn more about available opportunities.
How to prepare for an internship
When applying for internships, it’s important to be proactive. Both Naydrine and Lizzy described the importance of applying to preparing for interviews. Researching company websites and completing practice interviews will help build your confidence and show that you are well informed and prepared.
Additionally, tailoring both your resume and cover letter for the opportunities you are applying for. Highlighting their strengths and background while expressing enthusiasm about the organization helped both Nidhi and Naydrine stand out as candidates.
When to start looking for internships
Both Nidhi and Naydrine searched and applied for their summer internships during the preceding Fall. With this timeline, you have more time to search for a broad range of internships. However, Lizzy applied for her internship in July and was accepted during Fall. Each person’s experience varies greatly.
Barriers Faced by Interns of Color
Naydrine and Lizzy emphasized the imposter syndrome which comes from being the only woman of color in predominantly white or male spaces. Both speakers mentioned that they were both worried about being perceived as filling out a quota. They emphasized that once you are in a professional environment, you must remain true to yourself. If you feel comfortable contributing to your team and feel supported in your workplace, that is what matters most. Your experience matters, and you deserve to feel valued. Research companies in advance to learn more about the company culture. If it is not a supportive environment, consider whether you are interested in working there.
Nidhi mentioned that being an international student or not being an American Citizen, closes doors to many opportunities. It is crucial to complete an abundance of research and focus on building the necessary skills for your prospective roles during the internship search. During the application process, it is crucial to highlight your value, especially for competitive internships. It can be helpful to research opportunities, specifically marketed to international students.
Critical Habits
Both Nidhi and Naydrine emphasized the importance of “speaking up” within the first two weeks. Since you are fresh to your work environment, communicate directly about your observations and questions. This sets a standard and encourages future engagement with your coworkers.
Next Steps
Internships assist with building professional skills and acting as an introduction to the workplace. If you need assistance with interview preparation and application materials including a resume and cover letter, make an appointment on 12Twenty with a Career Coach!
