How to Build your Profile for Summer Internships

As you prepare for a very critical stage of your journey, I want to highlight a topic that is likely on your mind, which is internships. I know this might not be your top priority right now, but it is certainly lingering in your thoughts. Therefore, here are some practical tips to help you hit the ground running when you arrive in the U.S. and prepare your profile for summer internships.

One Page Resume:

When you applied for your respective master’s programs, you prepared a two-page resume that was comprehensive and perhaps covered everything from your extracurricular activities to the minor projects you completed in your first year. YOU WILL NOT NEED IT WHEN YOU APPLY FOR INTERNSHIPS. Without exception, every employer demands a one-page resume, whether you have one year of experience or seven. So, begin working on a one-page resume now. I can tell you that your initial draft will not be good enough. You will be extremely busy settling into your new environment and managing university coursework, leaving little time to build a new resume. Hence, start early! Create the first draft, seek feedback, and revise it through multiple drafts until you achieve the optimal version. Build your profile for Summer Internships

Keep in mind that your resume is dynamic and will evolve as you advance through your program. However, companies will visit your campus before you even finish your first month, so it is best to be ready. I attended a career fair on the second day of my Master’s program.

The career specific resume:

Remember that there is no universal resume for every role. Maintain tailored resumes customized for each specific position. For example, if you want to pursue an internship as a data analyst, have a resume focused on that. If you want to work in QA, create a QA-specific resume, and if you want to get into software development, make one for that field. This applies to many different roles, but I mentioned these three examples to make my point clear. It is much easier to modify tailored resumes than to try and adapt a single generic resume.

Career Centers:

While this may differ from one university to another, remember that your university career counselors can also assist you with your resumes if you have doubts. Be sure to interact with them, respectfully ask for their help, and they will be more than happy to support you. At many institutions, they may even arrange a mock interview for you. Take full advantage of this to boost your confidence.

Career Fairs:

You may hear mixed reviews about these events, but I can assure you that this is a great venue to interact with prospective employers and gain valuable insight into a company. Talk to people here, bring the one-page resumes you prepared, and remember to collect the visiting card of everyone you meet. Many people will not carry cards and will simply ask you to note down an email address. Take note of it, and at the end of the day, send a brief thank-you message mentioning how much you valued the conversation and your enthusiasm to potentially join their organization. If they hand you a visiting card, DO NOT CALL THEM. Many have made this mistake, and it almost never ends well.

Tip: I tried this approach at one career fair by bringing my own visiting card. One advantage of doing this is that even if a representative has a card and might not intend to hand it out, when you offer yours, professional courtesy compels them to give you theirs in return. If they genuinely do not have one, they will inform you, giving you peace of mind that it was not intentional.

Information Sessions:

An information session is an event where a company visits the college to introduce itself and outline what qualities they seek in students. Unlike a career fair, these sessions typically feature staff ranging from entry-level associates all the way up to Vice Presidents and Partners. Since attendance usually requires an RSVP, you are guaranteed an interaction with senior staff members, which is exceptionally important. At a career fair, students from every program attend, making it difficult to speak with all representatives or discuss your prospects. At best, you might meet a recruiter or a few current associates. If you want to make a real impact, attend an information session and engage with the managers. I once interacted with a senior manager and secured his visiting card while others simply wrote their email IDs on a badge. Take a guess how I managed that! While I did not secure an internship at that specific company, I took a meaningful step toward expanding my professional network.

The time of an internship:

Now, this is something that was never mentioned to me when I first arrived in the States. When do people actually secure an internship? I am sure this question may not have crossed your mind, as you were probably focused entirely on how to get one rather than when it will happen. Let me tell you: some individuals secure an internship during their very first semester. Did you not get one in the first semester? Do not worry. Many students landed one at the start of the second semester. Still nothing? I know people who secured theirs right around midterms. Still worried? I can tell you about students who found internships toward the end of the second semester. Still anxious? I received my internship offer a week AFTER finishing my second semester. Still not convinced? I have two friends who secured internships just last week, and we are currently in mid-June. So if anyone tells you that you can only get an internship in the first semester, know that it is not true.

THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN BE COMPLACENT IN THE FIRST SEMESTER

Remember, timing does not define your success. You gain nothing by being the first person to secure an internship, and you lose nothing by being the last. You simply need to reach the finish line. That is all that matters. With that, I wish you the absolute best for this upcoming chapter of your life and hope you have a wonderful trip to the States.

About Collegepond:

Collegepond functions as a comprehensive career guidance, entrance exam preparation, and admissions consultancy offering both online and offline support. Our main objective is to lead you toward achievement. Our core capability is identifying the most effective route to reach your professional goals. Simply gaining admission to your preferred institution does not guarantee future triumph. Your accomplishments rely on the choices and methods you adopt at every stage of your journey, whether during advanced studies or your professional career. Drawing from our background within the US system and insights gathered from alumni thriving on Wall Street, in Silicon Valley, as entrepreneurs, and in various other professional fields, we maintain that a well-defined and deliberate strategy is essential before pursuing higher education.

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