So, you want to be competitive for an internship? Read this.

Freshman and sophomore year of college are the beginnings of your career journey and sometimes it can feel a little overwhelming. These are the years you start building your resume to prepare for competitive internships, and it can feel like there aren’t many opportunities out there for you. However, there are plenty of ways to make yourself stand out and land an internship during this period.

Join clubs regarding your field and interests

Clubs are often bi-weekly and aren’t a huge commitment. A lot of students don’t take advantage of these clubs and therefore aren’t exposed to crucial opportunities and connections. Remember, the same people in your field attend these clubs and are motivated like you. You gain exposure to what might be your future coworkers.

Volunteer experiences related to the club are often only introduced to members, which means you can work on projects related to your interests. Furthermore, clubs are a fun way to learn, oftentimes there are guest speakers that are extremely successful in their industry and are a goldmine of valuable information.

Guest speakers are a great way to see if you even like what you are studying early on, if you can’t sit through 15 minutes of a lecture from an industry leader explaining their role, it might be a red flag.

Reach out!

            Being a college student gives you an amazing advantage for networking. People are ready and willing to help a university student because they were in your shoes. Use your college student title and reach out to people that have the same jobs you want. You would be surprised how many people are willing to talk to you over the phone about their role and their career journey. The best way to prepare for your career is to learn from example, so asking others about their humble beginnings will serve you well.

            Linkedin is usually the go-to for networking. Try to connect to those you have something in common with. Maybe you went to the same college or high school or participated in the same clubs. Do not be discouraged if you are given a no at first, you will eventually get a yes and be able to form an industry connection. 

            Some schools even have platforms that can connect you with alumni. Make sure to contact your career center and ask them about any alumni programs. Career centers can also prepare you for informational interviews if you find the process intimidating.

Volunteer

Volunteering doesn’t always mean doing miscellaneous work for a charity. Charities are still businesses and have the same needs as a for-profit institution. In order for charities, especially large ones, to stay afloat they have to have HR managers, IT specialists, financial analysts, and legal. If you are a college student that has highly applicable skills, you can make a tremendous contribution to a nonprofit by volunteering and utilizing your education.

The Idealist is a great website to look for opportunities related to your career goals. Currently, there are over 55 thousand ways to get involved and a good chunk is specialized.

Volunteer Match also has thousands of listings, a lot of them categorized as volunteer internships, which means that they generally will be unpaid but will provide value with experience.

A great way to show your passion for a subject, especially if you are inclined to grad school is tutoring. Many colleges have programs dedicated to tutoring school districts near the campus, but if that is not an option there are plenty of organizations like UPcheive where you can tutor remotely.

Micro Internships

Micro internship is a term that’s not thrown around a lot, which is surprising because they are a great way to get experience. Companies will pay you small amounts, ranging from one hundred to five hundred dollars, to complete projects for them. These projects can range from photography to private equity. There is a project for virtually every specialty, and the pay is great, usually around the 15 an hour mark.

Parker Dewey lists different micro internships available, along with start and end times. A lot of the positions do not even require a resume and instead require you to answer questions about why you are interested and your relevant experience. It is a great way to get your foot in the door while earning some extra cash.

Research

You would be surprised how many schools are tier-one research institutions, meaning every professor is required to do research. If your college is tier-one this means you can ask virtually any professor if they need a research assistant. Colleges have a plethora of research opportunities that students can take advantage of. If your institution is state-funded this may mean they have millions, if not billions dedicated to research grants. If you’ve always been extremely curious about a subject do not be afraid to apply for funding. Getting research funded is not only very impressive but it can be a crucial experience if you see yourself pursuing graduate school.

Do not be afraid to get in contact with your institution’s research department to discover more about the resources available to you.

Now what?

Maybe you’ve done all of these or at least a good chunk, and you’re ready to hunker down and write an awesome resume with your college career center. However, you’re looking at a lot of internships that say they want juniors and seniors, well here are some great freshman and sophomore internships to apply to.