Career & Living, Life


What To Do When You Can’t Find An Internship

If you’re a uni student, chances are you’ve faced the struggle of trying to find an internship and the constant rejection that can come with this search. Missing out on an internship can mean missing out on more job opportunities in the future which isn’t ideal when trying to land a job in a competitive industry.

So here are a few tips for when nothing else seems to be working, so you can secure your dream internship and hopefully one day; your dream job.

Ask Your Friends And Family Who They Know

Being a student and not having extensive professional experience in your industry can often mean you have a lack of connections to fall back on when it comes to getting your foot in the door. This is why it can be really helpful to ask the people around you if they know anyone who can help get you find a place to intern.

The more people who know you are looking for work, the more likely you are to actually find some!

Networking Is A Must, So Get Chatty

If you are interested in a specific field or industry, there are likely to be events in your area that are targeted towards other students and industry peers offering advice for this exact situation. Check out Facebook Events, sites like Eventbrite and attend seminars relevant to your field.

Not only is this a great way to build connections with other students and people in your position, but it also allows you a chance to introduce yourself to the those already in your field who likely will know how to find an internship in the field. A lot of universities also host events explicitly for networking which might also prove useful.

Take Your Networking Online

We really have no excuse not to succeed with the accessibility the internet has provided us with. Create profiles on websites like LinkedIn and Seek which are explicitly geared towards people searching for employment and internships.

This is also a great way to find out what qualifications other people employed in your field have and can often indicate what your industry is looking for specifically. Websites like Twitter can also help to set you up for success in your industry if you use it correctly.

Try tweeting out your interest in interning to prominent figures or businesses in your field and you might even catch their attention! 

Gain More Experience In Your Industry

If all else fails, there is really no harm in gaining some extra experience in your industry. This can be done really easily by taking on extra-curricular projects relevant to your field of study, participating in relevant volunteer work or even helping your classmates with their industry projects.

The more experience you have, the more employable you are; just don’t lose hope if success is taking a bit longer than you thought it would.

All in all, finding an internship can be very beneficial to the launch of your career. Be persistent, work hard and eventually you’ll find yourself exactly where you want to be.

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Izzy Votsis is a Melbourne-based writer with a passion for music, travel and anything fun! When she's not busy writing, Izzy likes to spend time with family, friends and living life to the fullest.

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