Friday, May 31, 2013

Finding a Last Minute Summer Internship



No set plans for the summer yet? Tired of listening to your friends talk excitedly about their upcoming internships? Don’t worry, it’s still not too late to secure a summer internship!


  • Browse through the internship postings on Chicago Career Connections – While most Metcalf positions have already filled, there are still many employers accepting summer internship applications. Check Chicago Career Connections frequently because new postings appear every day. 
  • Follow employers on Linkedin/Facebook/Twitter – Due to various unexpected issues such as relocation problems, family emergencies, or getting a more suitable position, interns sometimes commit to another company even after accepting an offer. By following companies of interest on their social media websites, you can be the first to know if a previously filled position opens up. Since employers are in a rush to make those last-minute hiring decisions for the summer, being amongst the first to know and apply will give you an edge over other applicants
  •  Design your own internship – If your dream is to intern at a local business or start-up that isn’t offering internships, approach them and propose your own internship! Reach out to the hiring manager (or the owner/CEO if it’s a very small organization) there and set up a meeting. Come to the meeting prepared with exactly why you want to intern there and what you can do to add value. Be sure to do your research ahead of time and come to the meeting knowing exactly what projects you can take on to help the company grow and succeed. 
  • Consider unpaid internships – Have you only been exploring paid internships? Everyone wants to earn money for their hard work, but unpaid internships can offer experiences that are just as meaningful as paid internships. Many employers outside of the finance/banking/consulting industry start their hiring later on, so check out unpaid internships in non-profits, government, arts, journalism, fashion, etc. Idealist.org is a great place to start exploring! 
  • Utilize your personal networks – Your parents, aunts, and uncles are all adults with many years of job experience and they have friends who also have plenty of experience. Let the adults in your life know that you’re hardworking and you’re looking for a summer internship. Many of them may have high positions within their companies and if they like you and think you’re capable of the job, they might even be able to create positions suited just for you.
  • If all else fails…Study for a standardized test! Whether it’s the MCAT, GMAT, LSAT, or GRE, summer is the perfect time to prepare for the big exam. During the school year, you’re too overwhelmed with school work to make extra study time. If you’re interning, you’re too busy with work to study. So if you don’t end up with an internship this summer, don’t let that time go to waste. Study for whichever test you’re planning on taking and schedule to take the exam before school starts, when you have plenty of time and everything you’ve learned is still fresh in your mind.