Hispanic Internship and Scholarship Guide

While others waste their summers away, there are some important things you can do to both put some much needed money in your pocket while gaining essential work experience.  The internship is a staple in the quest to go from student to professional.  But did you know that internships can be as difficult to land as a real job?  To help you get the internship you want, check out these six essential steps.

1. Research – It isn’t just for term papers.  Researching can also help you land an internship.  By searching sites that specialize in internships, you can find tons of opportunities in your area and specialization.  Another key aspect of researching is going to the site of the employer(s) you want to work for.  Giving the HR department a call and asking about interning can land more results than you think.
2. Refine – Once you have a list of internships you would like to apply for, it is time to prepare that resume and cover letter.  And for many students, it can be the first time they have ever done it.  There are tons of resume examples on the web. Essential tips include leaving modesty where it belongs: somewhere else.  If you have a 4.0 GPA, are on the Dean’s List, or even sold record amounts of Girl Scout cookies, make sure it is front and center for your potential employer to see.
3. Personalize – When making out your cover letter, or a page or so that introduces you to the employer, don’t send the same thing to everyone.  Read or listen to what the employer wants in an intern and do your best to convey how you fit that in your submitted materials.
4. Promptness – If you are lucky enough to be contacted by an interested party who wants to see or hear more, give it to them as quickly as possible.  Potential employers can have short attention spans and getting your information to them in five minutes while the competition takes hours to do it can really set you apart.
5. Interview – If all the above has gone well, the interview comes next.  Again, do your best to schedule it as soon as possible and show up on time.  Bring supplemental materials to the interview, such as samples of your work or a list of references, aka people not related to you who will sing your praises.
6. Follow up – The interviewer may say that they will make a decision on blank day, but there are many occasions when they simply forget to do it or don’t get around to it.  A timely and polite call to enquire might not get the answer you were looking for, but you will at least be able to move on to the next thing and let them know to keep you in mind if anything else should come up.