Internship Tips

Once you understand the job description and role, connect your skills and interests to the opportunity. Identify the critical areas where you have experience and use the STAR          (S-Situation, T-Task, A-Action, R-Results) method to walk through prior experiences.

If you are seeking an internship and need to decide which career to explore, look at your resume and identify your strengths and experiences. Then, utilize TMCF for an exploratory coaching and development session to identify your passion and interest and receive immediate feedback. Remember your campus’s college and career center; most centers have resources for enrolled students and recent graduates.

When seeking an opportunity, you must conduct thorough research to understand the company’s culture, mission, vision, and values. The results can help you connect to the company and understand its why.

Suppose the company you’re most interested in is currently out of stock. In that case, you can express your interest by emailing and sharing your continued interest in addition to networking on platforms such as LinkedIn. It is essential to be intentional with this message. Please express your interest and ask questions about the company and its internship program. It is a great way to connect and learn more about the company. If the conversation goes well, request a virtual meeting to learn more about the work the individual you have been in contact with is doing.

You’ve landed an interview! Here are a few interview-specific tips:

– Be on time! You want to be checking in for your interview at least five minutes before your scheduled start time. Nothing looks worse than showing up late for an
interview.

– Dress professionally. Even if it is a more casual company or occupation that doesn’t require professional clothes, always dress a little nicer than the job entails.

– Practice your handshake. Weak handshakes are not welcome in the professional world and you want to impress them from the beginning.

– Bring a few copies of your resume with you, even if you previously sent it to the employer.

– DO NOT USE YOUR PHONE DURING THE INTERVIEW. Even if you are completely used to entering information or taking notes via your phone or tablet, just this once use a notepad. It’s disrespectful to be on a device during an interview, because it’s impossible to know if you’re paying attention or doing other things.

– Write any questions down you may have for the interviewer, and take notes during the interview, all on the same notepad.

– Be honest. If the interviewer is detailing the job’s responsibilities and it requires something you can’t do—such as working nights, weekends, and/or more hours in the week than you can give—tell them! It may be uncomfortable, but what’s more uncomfortable is accepting a job offer you can’t fulfill the duties of.

– To keep everything organized, invest in a portfolio to bring to interviews.

– Write and email/mail a note once the interview has concluded, that day, to the interviewer thanking him or her for their time and insight about the job.

Congratulations! You’ve landed an interview. Here are a few interview-specific tips:

Be on time. Remember to be on time to arrive 10-15 minutes before the scheduled start time. First impressions are impactful; always make a good one.

Dress professionally. The job may require something other than professional dress each day, and you want to ensure you take this opportunity seriously.

Have a firm handshake for in-person interviews, a welcoming smile, and a non-distracting background for virtual interviews.

Bring a notepad and pen to the interview. Leave digital devices and rely on pen and paper to limit any distractions.

Have copies of your most updated resume for in-person interviews.

Come to the interview with at least three questions to ask the interviewer after your interview. Always ask about the next steps in the process.

Make a note of the interviewer’s name and email to send a thank you email within 24 hours following your interview. In detail, thank the company for their time and consideration and express your interest and excitement for the next steps in the process.

Thurgood Marshall College Fund provides coaching and development to HBCU students interested in improving their interview and networking skills. Sessions and webinars are held throughout the academic year to offer additional resources to enrolled HBCU students and recent graduates. If you seek to unlock your passion and identify your strengths, click here to schedule a coaching and development session with a TMCF coach.