Why you should start looking for summer internships in the middle of winter

The weather is cold, the milo is hot, and summer feels a million years away. Why, then, am I persuading you to start looking for a summer internship? There is a very simple explanation:

Because employers are already recruiting.

If you want to secure an internship that you’ll love, the time to start looking is now. Many major companies begin their application process for summer internships in July and August. Oftentimes, these application windows are very short, and incredibly competitive. It can become increasingly stressful to find an internship the later you leave it, and procrastinating could mean that you miss the perfect opportunity in a company you love.

So, whether you need an internship as part of your degree, or are looking for experience in an industry, now is the best time to start. If you’re stuck on where to start, here are some simple things you can do to get the ball rolling.  

Figure out what you want

The first step to finding an internship you’ll love is to know what you’re looking for. If you need an internship for work experience as a part of your degree, find out exactly what that requires in terms of official roles. Then, brainstorm. What do you want to learn more about? What do you want to experience? If you go into the search knowing the answers to these questions, you’re more likely to find an internship that fulfils your expectations.

Start looking

Have a dream company you’d love to intern at? A role you’d love to try? Well, get your research cap on and get looking! The first thing you can do is take a look on the UTS CareerHub, to see what companies are currently hiring, and what internship opportunities are available to you. Or, if you have a specific company in mind that isn’t listed on CareerHub, most major companies will list somewhere on their website whether they have an internship program, or regularly take interns. Take a look at the bottom of their website if there is a ‘Careers’ or ‘Jobs’ section, as that is typically where this information is published. If that’s not giving you anything, throw the company name into google alongside ‘internship’ and see what’s out there. If you still can’t find anything, you could always try reaching out by email with something along the lines below:

Hi there,

I’m a _____ year student of (insert degree here) at UTS, looking for an internship opportunity in (insert industry here). I was hoping I could get some information on whether (insert company here) recruits interns and how the application process works if you do?

Thank you in advance for your help,

(Your name)

If you find out that an application window is in the future, make sure to set a reminder in your calendar to come back to it so you don’t forget! Remember, the application windows can be very short!

Prepare yourself for the application process

This is the time to get your resume, your cover letter writing, and your interview skills up to scratch, because you’re about to use them. The internship process is your chance to test and build your job-finding skills before you finish your degree and have to do it for yourself. Use the services and advice available to you here at UTS Careers to help you write or review your resume and cover letters, and get ready for when (not if – we’re manifesting here) you get an interview.

Get out there and apply

You read the heading – go do it! Submit your resume, write those cover letters, and don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone, because you never know what an opportunity might hold. Be open and professional, and remember: this is a learning experience. That learning doesn’t start your first day in a job, so let yourself soak in the process, and carry it with you into the future.

Finally, if at any stage of the internship process you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure about something, you don’t have to brave it alone! To get specific advice, you can book in to chat to a Peer Career Advisor here at UTS, or drop by the UTS Careers space on level 4 of building 2, around the corner from the Student Learning Hub!

Now, go make yourself a hot milo and get started because the best time to find an internship that you’ll love is right now.

Featured image courtesy of Unsplash