Have you locked in your internship yet? If not, what’s holding you back?

Landing an internship can be daunting.

You might be asking yourself…

• How do I stand out from the competition?
• Will it be possible to find an internship while so many people are being laid off?
• How can I increase my chances of success?

You are beginning to ask the right questions. Now is the time to get the process going so that come Fall, you’ll be a prime candidate for an internship.

Internships are important because they will give you practical experience, build your professional network, and develop your specific skills.

The PROBLEM is that most international students go about their internship search strategy the WRONG WAY.

I know - it’s easy to do what everyone else is doing, but I believe that you have what it takes to be and do something different.

Here are 4 ways to GUARANTEE you NEVER get an internship (and some things you SHOULD do instead!).

1. ONLY APPLY ONLINE ❌

Applying blindly to internships online to companies you don’t have a relationship with is a complete waste of time. In terms of ROI, it’s the worst you can use. Hundreds or even thousands of applications won’t lead to an internship that you enjoy - no matter what you may hear from your friends.

✅ Instead, attend 2 networking events each week.

Do something that will have a greater ROI for your time investment. Focus on building relationships and face-to-face connections with people in your industry. Whether on or off campus, there are always opportunities to meet people. Don’t know where to begin? Start an account on Meetup.com to find out what is happening in your area. These connections will grow your network and increase your chances of landing an internship.

2. BEG FOR AN INTERNSHIP ❌

If you want to do what everyone else is doing, sure, go right ahead and beg for internships from strangers. The problem is that you’ll get the same results that everyone else is getting. Strangers won’t help you because they have no relationship with you.

✅ Instead, provide value and insight to your LinkedIn connections by posting every day.

Posting on LinkedIn every day will help you stand out from the crowd and catch the eyes of recruiters. Use LinkedIn as a platform to share what you are learning and contribute to the conversation.

Display the work that you’ve done and show people why they should hire you. Wondering what to post on LinkedIn? Check out my post on Instagram where are lay out my posting strategy. It will give you the plan to be sure that you are showing up each day.

3. ASK STRANGERS FOR A REFERRAL ❌

In America, friends help friends find jobs. If you don’t have a genuine connection to someone, they are not going to give you a referral. This strategy will leave you looking weak and desperate.

✅ Instead, learn from others who have gotten internships.

Find people at your college, alumni, or current connections and take them out for coffee. Ask them about their job search journey and show a real interest in who they are and how they got to their position. When you take on a posture of learning and humility, people are willing to go the extra mile for you.

4. STAY IN YOUR COMFORT ZONE ❌

Did you really move across the world to stay in your room and spend time only with people from your culture? There’s a big world outside of your doors for you to explore. It’s easy to stay where you are comfortable, but it will never result in the future you are hoping for.

✅ Instead, step out of your comfort zone by joining a club or student organization.

Being involved in college club or student organization can provide many opportunities for internships. There are so many benefits to participating in groups like this:

• develop your people skills
• gain practical experience
• build your professional network

Completing a project or winning an award in these clubs are a great way to show off your skills and in turn, make yourself more appealing to potential employers. More and more clubs are partnering with local businesses and companies to provide real-world projects, opening the doors for an internship opportunities.

If you want to guarantee that you never get an internship, go ahead and do what everyone else is doing. I think by now you know where that will lead. But, you’re better than that.

With the right strategy, you have what it takes to secure an internship even in an uncertain economy.

I know it may seem simple and you’re probably skeptical that things like attending networking events, getting active in college clubs and organizations, and posting on LinkedIn will lead to anything.

Over and over again, I’ve watched students secure internships following these strategies and I know that you can too!

It will take a lot of work and you’ll find yourself doing things you’ve never done before, but at the end of they day you’ll have an amazing internship.

You got this!

Your friend,

Rob