How to Get an Internship in College When You Dont Know Anybody

How to Get an Internship in College When You Dont Know Anybody How to Get an Internship in College When You Dont Know AnybodyYou know the drill. Good things happen to people who know people. Thats how internships and jobs are landed personal connections. But what if you dont know anyone? How are you supposed to get that internship, let alone a job?Here are four proactive and creative things that you can do to beat the odds.Brand yourself onlineIts never too early to craft a unique personal brand. Thats the kind of thing that really sings to recruiters, plus it shows a fluency with valuable social media platforms. Use your favorite apps to create a platform and an atmosphere around yourself and your particular skills and interests. And use web software and blog sites to showcase your best accomplishments online. Think of it as an online portfolio no matter what your field.And keep it professional. Double-check your e-presence, and then get involved in any important discussions in yo ur chosen field.Be specific with your job application materialsWhen youre working on your resume and titelblatt letter, do yourself a favor and make them as targeted specifically to the job or internship you want as possible. Try printing out both the job description and your resume and then go through both with a highlighter. You want as many keywords to overlap as possible. If you dont have many, go back through and retool your resume. Then draft a customized cover letter for that particular position. It shows your thoroughness and also your level of investment before you even get an interview.RelatedHow to Win an InternshipGo to the officeYour college or university has a career office for a reason. Use it. Career advisors are trained to help with general job-search strategies and can be an invaluable resource, but there are also career advisors there who have specific knowledge of the field youre trying to break into. Go and pick their brains. Have them run a fine-toothed comb o ver your materials. Ask them for strategic advice. You never know what they could turn up, including companies searching for candidates just like youGo above and beyondThe rest is up to your professionalism and charm. Read up on the company before the interview. Practice your answers to typical sample questions. Get a good nights sleep, dress appropriately, always be 10 minutes early. Shake hands with everyone. Make eye contact. Stay on your toes. Be personable and warm while making them see how qualified you are. Then write a thoughtful follow-up thank-you email and address it to your interviewers by name.Note This article originally appeared in TheJobNetwork.Click on the following link for mora advice on how to get ahead.Applying for internships? Find out if your resume is setting you up for success with afree, objective resume critiquefrom TopResume.Recommended ReadingTurn an Internship Into Your First Full-Time JobJob-Search Tips for Recent College GradsHow to Make a Great Resum e With No Work ExperienceRelated Articles