You’re at an exciting stage in your life. You’re applying for internships and planning for your future. You have some big, careful decisions to make right now. The companies you’re interviewing with now may very well be the companies you jumpstart your career with once you graduate college.
While going through the internship application process, the best thing you can do is prepare yourself for what to expect. The last thing you want is to be unprepared and potentially lose a big opportunity because of it.
Plus, the internship process can be a long one. At Anderson Trucking Service, we start looking for summer interns during the first part of the year. We may hire interns a full four months before they step foot into the building for their first day.
In the hopes of helping you land your dream internship, we’ll cover some of the key parts of the internship application and hiring process, including:
- Applying
- Following up on your application
- Interviewing
- Considering your offers/accepting a position
- Communicating until your start date
Understanding the internship application process can give you a competitive edge, helping you secure valuable hands-on experience that sets you apart in your career.
Applying for an Internship
There are a lot of ways to apply for an internship. You may have heard about an internship from a family friend, your professor, or a career fair. You could be pursuing listings on Indeed or LinkedIn.
Regardless of where you see the internship position posted, be sure to apply on the company website. In fact, most companies encourage this.
Applying on the company website is seen favorably because it gives you the chance to review the website and learn more about the company itself. You give recruiters the impression that you’re not just looking for any job — you’re looking for their job. It’s certainly fine to apply through Indeed or LinkedIn, but it can give the impression that you’re just scrolling through jobs looking for whatever you can find.
When you do decide to fill out an application, make sure you cover all your bases. Each section should be filled out accurately — especially your contact information. It’ll be very difficult to get in touch with you if your phone number or email address is incorrect.
Ensure you provide all the requested materials, such as a resume, cover letter, and portfolio. Most companies will require you to fill out an application even if the requested information is already on your resume. One reason companies do this is to see if you can follow directions, so fill out the application. Don’t write “See Resume” in the margins.
Related: 8 Tips for Creating a Solid Resume
Following Up On Your Application
After you’ve filled out the application and sent the necessary job materials, give it a little time. You aren’t going to hear from a recruiter instantly.
It’s advisable to wait at least 48 hours for a recruiter to be in touch with you. If you’ve received no communication within that time frame, reach out. (Be sure you’ve checked your spam folder for an email first though!)
If you know who the recruiter is, you can reach out directly. If not, check the website for a phone number or general email address. Once you make contact with a recruiter, ask them to confirm that they’ve received your application. Resend your materials if they haven’t. If they have, ask them what the next steps are. This is an indirect way of asking for an interview.
Companies like a determined, proactive candidate. Calling to determine the status of your application demonstrates those qualities clearly. If you do end up on the phone with a recruiter, make sure you pay attention to social cues. They may be in the middle of an important task or about to rush off to a meeting. Instead of giving them a 10-minute spiel about why you should have an interview, ask them to set up some time to talk.
Some recruiters will make time for you right then and there, but a lot of times it’s preferable to take some time to gather information before interviewing you.
Interviewing for an Internship
The interview process will look different at every company you go to. Oftentimes there’s a screening interview with the human resources team (HR) and then at least one in-person interview with the hiring manager(s) if you seem to be in alignment about the role. In some cases, you may need to interview with multiple hiring managers.
Smaller companies may not have all of these roles, so you could be interviewing with your potential supervisor immediately.
Prepare for a successful interview by doing the following:
- Dress the Part: Even though this is an internship interview, you still must take it seriously. Oftentimes your recruiter will tell you what the dress code is, but ask if you’re unsure. It’s better to show up over-dressed in a suit and tie than underdressed in comfy joggers and a tee.
- Research the Company: Understanding what the company offers will help you align your experience with what they’re seeking. When you research the company, you give the recruiter the impression that you’re interested and would take pride in your work. Recruiters are looking for candidates who are well-prepared, so researching the company is one of the best things you can do pre-interview. Be sure to read reviews too.
- Reread the Internship Description: You’ve probably been applying for a slew of internships. Make sure you know which one you’re interviewing for by reviewing the description and qualifications.
- Prepare Questions: You’re not the only one being interviewed here. You have a lot of internship options in front of you, so you need to ensure the company is a good fit and can fulfill your needs. Prepare questions about the role, what it’s like working for the company, and what success looks like in the role. Asking informed questions will make a great impression on your recruiter.
- Practice Answering Common Interview Questions: You can’t predict exactly what your interviewer will ask you, but you can practice speaking confidently about your professional experience and how you’d be a good fit for the role.
While you’re interviewing, remember to be respectful, engaging, and confident. A good first impression goes a long way. Don’t be afraid to take notes and ask questions where applicable.
Before you leave your interview, ask for two things:
- A business card
- A decision timeline
Don’t leave the room until you get a business card or the email address(es) of your interviewer(s). You want this contact information so you can send a thank you note following the interview.
A timeline will help you understand how long it’ll take them to make a decision. No one wants to stare at the clock for weeks, waiting on a call.
Post Interview Follow-Up
After you leave the interview, send a thank you note to your interviewers. Thanking them for their time is respectful, it shows your interest in the role, and it keeps you top of mind when they’re making a hiring decision.
Now it’s time to play the waiting game based on the hiring timeline you were given. If they give you a date and haven’t responded within that timeframe, then it’s okay to reach back out.
You may be worried about coming off as overbearing, but recruiters and hiring managers are looking for engaging candidates. If the decision timeline has passed and you still haven’t heard from them, it’s perfectly acceptable to reach out and ask if they’ve reached a decision.
Considering Your Offers and Accepting an Internship Position
The next step of the process is the fun part: accepting an internship offer! Before you accept an offer, carefully consider your options — especially if you have multiple offers in front of you.
If you have multiple offers, remember the following when deciding:
- Don’t make a decision solely based on pay
- Consider the company’s history and stability
- Consider your interactions with the recruiters and hiring managers
- Ask further clarifying questions
- Think about your long-term goals
It can be tough to decide between two options, especially when they’re similar. If you need to, ask the companies for more time to consider their offers. No matter your decision, be kind and respectful to each employer. Follow these tips for declining an offer.
Staying in Contact Until Your Start Date
With internships specifically, there’s often a wider range of consideration. You could be interviewing in February or March and starting the internship in late May. For you and other students like you, that means you might be interviewing for months at a time and considering multiple offers. For a recruiter, that means they might want to accelerate your decision-making process.
Recruiters do understand that you’re interviewing at other companies and continuing to look at other opportunities, so just keep this line of communication open with them.
You may get another offer a month after you’ve already accepted one. If you decide to take another offer, let the first company you accepted an offer with know as soon as possible via phone or email.
This gives the recruiter time to pursue other candidates and find a replacement for the role. By no means should you simply not give any notice and fail to show up on the first day.
The company you signed on with should reach out to you monthly until your internship starts. This will allow you to ask additional questions and solidify internship details.
Find Your Dream Internship
Securing an internship is an exciting step toward building your career, and understanding the process — from applying to staying in contact until your start date — can set you up for success. By being proactive, following up, preparing for interviews, and communicating professionally, you demonstrate the qualities that recruiters and hiring managers are looking for.
One of the best ways to find the right internship is by attending career fairs. These events connect you with recruiters, give you the chance to make a strong first impression, and often lead to opportunities you may not find elsewhere. By putting yourself out there and making connections, you increase your chances of landing an internship that aligns with your goals and sets the foundation for your future career.
So, if you're ready to take the next step in your career, research upcoming career fairs, prepare your resume, and start building connections that could lead to your dream internship.
To get you started, check out these great Minnesota internships! (ATS is one of them!)
