Even if the job market is booming, post-college internships are still important. Internships are a great way to learn more about a company or industry and help identify what you want to do as a career. Just like shoe shopping, it’s all about the right fit, and internships are a valuable way to find your fit.
As a long-time Edelman employee, former Edelman intern and manager that reviews intern candidates, I wanted to share some advice with all prospective interns on how to get that internship and what to do when your foot is in the door.
My advice, “Don’t be afraid to ask questions. We don’t expect you to know it all, but make sure after those questions have been answered, you’re clear about what you need to do.”
But rather than just hear from me, I also compiled feedback from 12 current and former interns (now full-time staff) to chip in. Let’s see what they have to say.
Gloria Hurtado, full-time employee
“Set money aside for career building. Use it to pay for conference fees, luncheons, taking people you want to network with for coffee, etc.”
Nick Lucido, part-time employee
“Take on a mix of assignments & be sure to involve yourself with long-term projects, as this will help you develop a strategic perspective. You’ll become indispensable to the agency and the client, this will be important as you transition from intern to full time.”
Rebecca Denison, full-time employee
“Get on Twitter. Follow people in the industry. Read what they’re reading and ask them questions. Don’t be afraid to be out there and be new, everyone is encouraging and wants to help you grow.”
Nivene Judeh, intern
“Find a specialty and focus on it. You want to be the person people go to about free online press release websites, Facebook TOS, correct Twitter etiquette or the presence of sports teams in social media. Stand out.”
Lindsay Brown, intern
“Network, Network, NETWORK! And be sure to follow up with everyone you meet!”
Lucia Bayt, full-time employee
“Manage up and ask smart questions. Know when to ask and when to find out the information on your own.”
Sarah Rothe, intern
“Take the initiative!!! I have found that colleagues really appreciate someone who is constantly looking for new opportunities to help, get involved, make suggestions, or improve their personal performance.”
Katie Gardner, intern
“Be proactive. The perfect opportunity is not going to fall into your lap. In order to get to where you want to be you need to be persistent. Whether this means following-up with a recruiter, or calling until someone looks at your resume. A big part of what may make you standout is showing how badly you want the position you are applying for.”
Sarah Pagel, full-time employee
“Make sure your cover letter stands out – don’t make your cover letter a list of all of your skills and everything you’ve done. Make sure you personalize every cover letter and speak to your passions.”
Kurt Hauptman, intern
“Never underestimate the value of becoming expert in a subject. Depth of knowledge, rather than breadth, can make you an invaluable asset.”
Lindsay Garlin, full-time employee
“Think about where you want to be (and how you are going to get there). Start thinking about what you ultimately want to be doing and a path for how you will get there will soon follow.”
Gabrielle Reynolds, full-time employee
“Be persistent. In my experience, it pays off. I knew I wanted to work at Edelman in some capacity not long after I started my internship, and I quickly learned that one great thing about working here is the ability to change practices. I interned for 6 months in the consumer PR team. As my internship was ending, I knew there wasn’t a position available within the group, so I started checking in with HR every day. While I’m sure I nearly drove the HR coordinator crazy, I know it is the reason I’m still here today.”
If you’re interested in an internship at Edelman, check out the Interns page on Edelman.com and find your region to submit your resume. Good luck!
