Getting an internship in college starts with identifying the experience and skills you already have, building a resume, using your campus network and applying to opportunities early. You do not need an extensive work history to begin a successful internship search.
Employers hiring college interns understand that students may have limited professional experience. Your coursework, academic projects, campus involvement, part-time jobs and volunteer work can all help demonstrate skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership and problem-solving.
If you are wondering how to get an internship with no experience, the key is to approach your search strategically and show employers how the experience you already have connects to what they are looking for.
Follow these eight steps to learn how to get your first internship in college.
Step 1: Identify the Experience and Skills You Already Have
You can apply for many internships without previous internship experience. Start by thinking about the skills you have developed through coursework, academic projects, part-time jobs, volunteering, campus involvement and other experiences.
Next, review internship descriptions that interest you and note the skills and qualifications employers are looking for. Then identify specific examples from your own experience that show how you have developed or used those skills.
Experience Comes in Many Forms
When describing your experience, emphasize impact over tasks. Think about what you contributed, what you learned and how those experiences relate to the internship you want.
Relevant experience can come from:
- Academic projects
- Class presentations
- Campus organizations
- Leadership roles
- Part-time or summer jobs
- Volunteer work
- Athletics
- Technical or creative projects
Rowan alumna Alyssa S. turned campus involvement into valuable professional experience. “One thing I learned at Rowan is that almost everything you do can become a résumé builder. Whether it’s joining a student organization, taking on a leadership role or attending networking events, every experience helps prepare you for what’s next.”
Step 2: Build Your Resume Before You Feel Ready
One of the most important internship application tips is to create a resume based on the experience you have now rather than waiting until you have more professional experience.
Your first resume should clearly communicate your education, relevant experience, skills and accomplishments. You can continue updating it as you complete new projects, take on leadership roles and gain work experience.
Focus on Skills, Results and Involvement
Your resume should make it easy for employers to understand what you have done and what you can bring to the internship. Depending on the role, highlight:
- Relevant skills
- Specific accomplishments
- Leadership or initiative
- Results or impact
- Technical abilities
- Certifications
- Coursework or projects that directly relate to the position
Whenever possible, describe what you accomplished rather than simply listing your responsibilities, and quantify your impact when you have relevant numbers or results to support it.
For example, instead of writing that you “helped manage a student organization’s social media,” you could explain that you “created and scheduled social media content to promote student organization events.” If you have meaningful metrics, you can make the example even stronger by noting results such as increased engagement, event attendance or audience growth.
Specific examples give employers a clearer picture of what you can contribute.
Step 3: Use Your Campus Network to Find Internships
Knowing how to find an internship means looking beyond public job boards. Your college network can connect you with resources, advice and potential opportunities related to your career interests.
Talk with professors, academic advisors, career services professionals and other people on campus who understand your field. Let them know what kinds of internships interest you and ask what resources they recommend.
Networking does not have to mean asking someone to get you an internship. It can be as simple as asking for advice, learning about an organization or getting feedback on where to search.
Start With the Resources Already Available to You
Your campus may offer several resources to help you with your internship search, including:
- Career services
- Internship databases
- Faculty mentors
- Alumni networks
- Career fairs and employer events
- Student organizations
- Academic advisors
- Resume and interview support
If you are a Rowan University student, ProfsJobs allows students and alumni to search for internship, summer, part-time and full-time opportunities. Rowan’s Career and Professional Development team also offers career counseling, resume and interview preparation, internship search support and other career resources.
Rowan student Natasha W. built familiarity with Spirit Halloween by connecting with the company through multiple Rowan experiences, including career fairs and a Women in Business event. Those repeated touchpoints helped get her name in front of the company early, and she ultimately landed a marketing internship with Spirit Halloween.
“If there is an employer you are really interested in, keep showing up and making connections. Sometimes getting noticed starts with making sure the right people know your name.”
Step 4: Start Searching and Applying Early
Internships for college students are available throughout the year, but application timelines vary by employer, industry and internship.
Some organizations recruit for summer internships during the previous fall, while others continue hiring throughout the winter and spring. Smaller employers may also recruit closer to an internship’s start date.
Because there is no single application timeline for every internship, start researching opportunities early and check the deadlines for the employers and industries that interest you.
Plan Ahead for Your Internship Search
Rather than waiting for a specific month to begin, work backward from when you would like to intern.
If you want a summer internship, for example, begin researching employers and opportunities during the fall and continue searching throughout the academic year. If an employer you are interested in has not posted an internship yet, look at its careers page or previous internship listings to get a sense of its typical recruiting schedule.
Keep these internship search strategies in mind:
- Research application timelines for employers that interest you.
- Check internship listings regularly because opportunities are posted at different times.
- Pay attention to application deadlines.
- Attend career fairs and employer events throughout the academic year.
- Continue applying even if you did not begin your search as early as you planned.
Starting early gives you more time to research opportunities, prepare strong applications and adjust your strategy as you go.
Step 5: Look Beyond the Biggest Companies
A recognizable company name may catch your attention, but valuable internships are available at organizations of many sizes.
Expanding your search can help you discover opportunities that align closely with your interests, skills and career goals.
Great Internship Opportunities Exist in Many Places
As you search for internships, consider:
- Small businesses
- Nonprofit organizations
- Government agencies
- Healthcare organizations
- Startups
- Schools and educational organizations
- Research organizations
- Regional employers
- Large corporations
Think about the experience an internship can provide rather than focusing only on the size or name recognition of the organization. Keeping an open mind can also help you recognize opportunities you may not have originally considered.
Rowan alumna Ashley L. found the internship that eventually led to her first full-time job after graduation by stopping at an employer table on her way to class. “Looking back, it is crazy to think that one quick stop at an employer table led to the start of my career. With Rowan’s strong employer connections, opportunity was right in front of me. I just had to pursue it.”
Review the responsibilities listed in each internship description. Ask yourself whether the opportunity would allow you to develop relevant skills, contribute to meaningful projects, learn more about your field and connect with professionals.
Broadening your search gives you more ways to find an internship that supports your goals.
Step 6: Customize Every Internship Application
Submitting the same resume and cover letter for every internship may save time, but tailoring your materials can help employers more easily understand why your background fits a particular opportunity.
Before you apply, read the internship description carefully. Identify the skills, qualifications and responsibilities the employer emphasizes, then make sure your application highlights the most relevant parts of your experience.
Small Adjustments Can Make a Big Difference
Use these internship application tips to tailor your materials:
- Prioritize relevant experience on your resume. If a particular class project, job or volunteer experience connects closely with the internship, make it easy for the employer to find.
- Connect your cover letter to the opportunity. Explain why the role interests you and use specific examples to show how your experience relates to it.
- Use relevant language from the internship description. When the employer’s terminology accurately describes your own skills or experience, incorporate it naturally into your resume and cover letter.
- Follow the application instructions carefully. Make sure you submit all required materials in the requested format.
- Proofread before submitting. Check the employer name, position title, dates and contact information as well as spelling and grammar.
Customization does not mean rewriting your entire resume for every internship. Focus on making the experience most relevant to each role easy to recognize.
Step 7: Prepare for Your Internship Interview
Receiving an interview means you have an opportunity to show the employer more than what fits on your resume.
Before the interview, review the internship description again and identify the skills the employer appears to value. Then prepare examples of times when you demonstrated those skills through coursework, employment, volunteer work or campus involvement.
You can also practice with a professor, career services professional, mentor or someone else you trust. Saying your answers out loud can help you become more comfortable explaining your experience.
Turn Everyday Experiences Into Professional Stories
You do not need a previous internship to have useful interview examples.
Think about situations when you:
- Solved a problem
- Worked as part of a team
- Took the lead on a project
- Managed several responsibilities at once
- Learned something new
- Responded to feedback
- Communicated with different groups of people
- Adapted when something did not go according to plan
When answering interview questions, explain the situation, what you did and what happened as a result. Specific examples can help an employer understand how you approach challenges and work with others.
You should also prepare questions of your own about the internship, such as what projects an intern may work on, how interns receive feedback or what skills can help someone succeed in the role.
After an interview, send a brief thank-you message and follow any timeline the employer provides for next steps.
Step 8: Keep Applying and Improving Your Approach
Getting your first internship may require more than one application. Do not judge your potential based on the outcome of a single opportunity.
Instead, treat your internship search as a process you can continue refining.
Keep track of the internships you apply for, including:
- Organization
- Internship title
- Application date
- Application deadline
- Materials submitted
- Interview dates
- Follow-up information
- Application status
If you begin receiving interviews, pay attention to which parts of your experience employers ask about most often. If you are applying consistently but not receiving interviews, review your resume and application strategy with career services or another trusted resource.
Progress Matters More Than Perfection
Your first application does not have to be perfect, and it does not have to result in an offer to be worthwhile.
Rowan student Tashir B. encourages students to stay open to opportunities, even when they feel uncertain: “If I could share one piece of advice, it would be to say yes to opportunities. Apply for the position that seems out of reach. Some of my most life-changing experiences began with a single ‘yes.’”
Each application gives you another opportunity to refine your resume, become more comfortable describing your skills and learn more about the types of opportunities that interest you.
Continue looking, applying and improving your approach.
Your First Internship Starts With Taking the First Step
You do not need to wait until you have extensive professional experience, a perfect resume or complete certainty about your career path before beginning your internship search.
Start with the experience you already have. Build your resume, explore internship opportunities, use your campus resources and apply to positions that connect with your interests and goals.
The process becomes more manageable when you take it one step at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting an Internship in College
How do you get an internship in college with no experience?
You can get an internship without previous professional experience by showing employers how your coursework, academic projects, part-time jobs, volunteer work, campus involvement and other experiences have helped you develop relevant skills. Review each internship description and connect the qualifications the employer is seeking with specific examples from your own experience.
How can I find internships while I am in college?
Start with your college’s career services office, internship or job database, professors, academic advisors, alumni network, career fairs and student organizations. You can expand your internship search through employer career pages and reputable job and internship platforms.
Using multiple internship search strategies can help you discover opportunities you might not find through a single source.
When should college students start applying for internships?
Internship recruiting timelines vary by employer and industry, so there is no single application period that applies to every opportunity. Some employers begin recruiting for summer internships during the previous fall, while others hire during the winter, spring or closer to the internship start date.
Start researching opportunities early, check individual application deadlines and continue searching throughout the academic year.
What should I put on my resume if I have never had an internship?
If you have never completed an internship, your resume can include relevant coursework, academic projects, part-time jobs, volunteer experience, campus organizations, leadership roles, technical skills, certifications and other accomplishments.
Focus on the skills you developed and the results of your work rather than whether an experience was formally labeled an internship.
How do I make my internship application stand out?
Start by following the application instructions and tailoring your materials to the internship. Highlight experience that relates to the role, use specific examples of your accomplishments and make it easy for the employer to identify the skills you would bring to the position.
A focused application that clearly connects your experience with the opportunity is more useful than trying to include everything you have ever done.
What should I do if I do not get my first internship?
Keep applying. One employer’s decision does not determine whether you are capable of succeeding in an internship.
Review your application materials, ask career services or a mentor for feedback, continue building relevant experience and look for additional opportunities. Your internship search can become stronger as you learn what employers are seeking and gain more practice presenting your experience.
Get Internship Ready at Rowan University
You do not have to navigate your internship search on your own. Rowan University students can access Career and Professional Development resources for internship searches, resumes, interview preparation, career planning and other areas of the job-search process.
Students can also use ProfsJobs to search for internships and other employment opportunities and find information about career fairs and on-campus interview events.
Whether you are preparing your first resume or actively applying for internships, leveraging these resources can help you take the next step in your search.
Internship & Experiential Learning Stories
Learn how Rowan Profs go beyond the classroom to grow professionally, as well as personally, through internships and other experiential learning. Experiential learning includes hands-on learning opportunities provided through research, student clubs, campus leadership, student worker jobs, service-learning projects and volunteerism. In addition, Rowan’s Career and Professional Development Services Office provides career support that’s more than just advice – it’s events, connections and real guidance to help students thrive after college.
About Rowan
A top 100 national public research institution, Rowan University offers bachelor’s through doctoral and professional programs in person and online to nearly 25,000 students. The fastest-growing public research institution in the Northeast and among the country’s top 10 fastest-growing, Rowan offers a thriving multidisciplinary environment with a strong emphasis on practical research in health care, engineering, science and business, while ensuring excellence in undergraduate education. Nationally recognized for innovation, high-quality, affordable education and public-private partnerships, Rowan is one of two universities in the U.S. to offer M.D., D.O. and D.V.M. degree programs.