Summer Internships - Already??

Dear Tamara, Is it too early to start thinking about summer internships? The summer seems so far away. The summer does seem far away especially as it's getting colder outside! Deadlines for internships vary tremendously. The larger, more formal, structured, and competitive internships usually have earlier deadlines because the Human Resources department can anticipate the number of interns they will hire for the summer, and they need more time to process the numerous applications. Deadlines for these internships can start as early as November. The bulk of the internship deadlines come about in the early spring, but again, there's quite a range. Some interns aren't hired until close to (or even after) the spring semester ends. So to answer your original question... Yes, now is the time to start thinking about summer internships, even though you might not apply yet. It's time to make your game plan, and the sooner you start, the better your plan will be. Some ways to get started:

• Think about how you want to spend your summer and what you would like to achieve. What types of skills would you like to build? What are your interests and passions? Is there a particular career path that you are working toward? How will an internship add to your career development?
• Take a realistic look at your situation. Do you need to make money? If so, how much? Is there a commitment or event like a long family vacation that will restrict the time you can devote to an internship? Is getting an internship important to you?
• Think about your options. If you would like to intern outside of your hometown, perhaps you have family members or friends you can stay with in another city. What are your transportation options? If you need to make money during the summer, but can only find unpaid internships, could you work a side job in the evenings or the weekend?
• Research opportunities. Speak with your career advisor and discover what internships will be available. Map out the deadlines and prepare your cover letter and resume so you'll be ready to apply.
• Network and conduct informational interviews so you can learn more about a particular field or employer (and you'll be making good contacts in the meantime).

By starting now, you will have the luxury to really look around and make decisions in a thoughtful and unhurried way. You will be able to apply to more opportunities because you will be ready. If you are a first-year or sophomore student, it's particularly important to send out many applications because you will be competing with juniors who may have more experience than you. By starting now, your resume and cover letters will be better because you've worked on them longer. You will have contacts in place through networking. You'll have the time to do some creative problem solving if you run into problems and formulate a back-up plan in case you don't get the internship you want. The folks in the Career Planning Center can help you map out your search, direct you to internship resources, and devise a back-up plan. There are so many amazing opportunities to grow through internships. I hope that you are excited by your search and that you find a wonderful internship of your own. Good luck! Tamara

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