It’s that time of year again; businesses are wrapping up interviews and will soon be making their selections for spring interns. Having been on the other side of the internship search for more than a year now, I’ve seen a lot of great applications and a lot of not so great ones. Here are four things to consider the next time you’re hunting for an internship or entry-level position.
Follow directions 
We had this mantra ingrained in our minds when we entered grade school, and it’s still relevant when applying for a position today. Read the entire job description and application instructions. There could be multiple steps to the process and missing one is a sure-fire way to get your application ignored.
Social media is a big part of what we do for our clients here at WordWrite. We ask that you follow us on each of our channels to show you share that interest as well. It doesn’t take long to do, but you’d be surprised how many people won’t. By following these very simple steps, you’ve already set yourself apart from the majority.
Adhere to deadlines
This one is a biggie. I’ve noticed its importance now that I’m on the other side of the internship fence. Deadlines are important in any professional industry, but they are even more important at a public relations agency. Often, our daily schedules are run by deadlines. By following the deadlines of your internship application process, you are showing the company you’ll have no trouble meeting a client’s deadline.
Proofread your materials, proof them again, and proof them one more time
One of the fastest ways to get your resume and cover letter ignored is to have mistakes. You should proofread your materials a few times for simple grammar, punctuation and spelling mistakes. At the very least, be sure to get the company name correct. Yes, we’ve actually received applications with the wrong agency name throughout a candidate’s intro letter. If you do the right thing and have someone else review, then take the time to look at what they’ve changed. They may have used tracked changes and you wouldn’t want to pass those along to the firm. Yes, we’ve seen that as well.
Search and apply early
As the time for scheduling spring semester classes is approaching, you may just now be thinking about an internship. But for many places, it’s too late to apply. Decide the previous semester if you have time to do an internship. Start your search early to ensure you don’t miss out on a great opportunity. At WordWrite, we try to have our interns selected before they have to schedule classes for the following semester. It’s a long process, so it begins relatively early.
An internship is an extremely valuable tool for landing a job after graduation. Often employers will give preference to applicants who have multiple, relevant internship experiences. Don’t get your application immediately tossed in the can; consider these steps the next time you’re on the hunt. For more information on applying for entry level positions and internships see my previous posts.
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Emma Walter is an account executive for WordWrite Communications. You can find her on Twitter @emmasreallytall.
