February is almost over! For UCR graduate students, this not only means finals and spring break are coming, but it also means it’s time to start thinking about what getting an internship lined up before the summer starts!

If you want to gain some real-life experience, now is the time to get started on the internship application process. While preparing for getting an internship can be stressful and challenging, you don’t have to worry. You’ve come to the right place to learn three easy steps that you can follow to increase your chances of landing that internship!

 

 

Step 1: Understand why internships are important

[Image Description: Adam Driver, in his Saturday Night Live skit playing undercover boss Kylo Ren, looks out at the viewer flatly and says “Let’s intern.”]

Pictured: What your internal monologue should be when you think about summer break

 

An internship can be beneficial to you for a number of reasons. For example, an internship allows you to harness those skills you’ve been building over the academic year by putting them into practice in a professional setting. As a graduate student, the knowledge you acquired in college doesn’t always translate to your work if you’re looking at positions in administration or even outside of academia. This is where an internship can be particularly helpful. Your work as an intern can enable you to meet new people, become familiar with campus resources (if the internship is on campus), and gain first-hand experience in industry that can later help you transition into a full-time position.

For international students, it can feel intimidating applying for internships in a foreign country. However, a suitable internship can be both exciting and rewarding, as it allows international students to advance their careers and expand their professional networks. If you are on an F-1 visa, you can either participate in an unpaid internship or an on-campus internship without additional paperwork. If you plan to get an internship off-campus, you can apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT). And, most importantly, an internship can help you learn more about yourself and your larger career interest—possibly even while earning course credit!    

 

Step 2: Plan ahead

 

[Image Description: Carlton, From the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, cheers, tosses the stack of papers in his hands into the air, and then backflips off the arm of the couch while his father and cousin watch.]

Pictured: The energy you're bringing to your internship application process

 

Recruiters sometimes look over hundreds of resumes for a single internship posting. What can you do to stand out from your competitors? Plan ahead!

Planning ahead is the way to success! Before you actually start to apply for those internships, make sure you consider your passions and your ideal career options post-graduation. For example, I am a 2nd year Ph.D. student in the UCR Higher Education Administration and Policy program. I am interested in the areas of student support, professional development, and program assessment. My ideal occupation would be within academia after completing my degree. When I look for internship opportunities, I always consider if this internship can help me gain administrative and project management experience, as well as presentation, communication, and interpersonal skills. For me, these skillsets will be particularly important for future career success, so the more experience I can gain building these skills the better positioned I’ll be in the future.

Take a moment and really ask yourself: what do you want to do in the future? Where do you see yourself in five years? How can an internship help you gain the skills you need to reach that five-year goal? Once you know the direction you’d like your career to go, you can start the process of polishing your resume and prepare your answers to interview questions. Did you know you can have a mock interview at the UCR Career Center? Well, you can! Just like you can get feedback and support with application materials, such as your resume, at the Graduate Writing Center! Take advantage of these resources to really polish your application and interview preparation.

 

Step 3: Follow up

[Image Description: Elena Dawson, from The Young and The Restless, initially looks sad until she smiles with excitement and cheers, “I got the job!”]

Pictured: What you're going to share with your friends after following these three steps

 

In addition to planning ahead, make sure you follow up with your interviewers with an email to show your appreciation. You should also use this email to reemphasize your name and why you are the best fit for the internship by highlighting something specific and relevant from your interview. This way, your interviewers ar reminded of who you are and  what you spoke about with them, all while you make sure you end your interaction with them on a possitive note. 

So, be sure to get started on the internship search early, and remember to use all the resources UCR has to offer!