Internships

Internship Interview Thank You Notes

If you’ve ever interviewed for a job in your professional career, chances are someone who has conducted your interview doesn’t even remember who you are. You are much more likely to remember them, and can you even think of every person who has ever interviewed you for a position? These HR reps have the daunting task of interviewing hundreds of people. During an active hiring period, they conduct multiple interviews every single day. It must be difficult to think back and remember intimate details about every single applicant. Standing out is the only chance you’ve got at getting the job you’re gunning for. There are many creative ways to accomplish this, but let’s not forget the tried and true method of sending a thank you note to your interviewer.

Sending a thank you note for something that was part of their job may seem unnecessary, but it’s always a good idea to grease the wheels a bit. Perhaps you won’t blow them away with your courtesy, but sending an honest thank you card to your interviewer can definitely jog their memory as to who you are and show them that you’re appreciative. Sending a thank you card in this situation is a perfect balance between being a sycophant and being too nonchalant. It won’t be the deal breaker in terms of getting the position, but it very well might bump you up a few spots. Additionally, you will assuredly get a quick response from the company, and they are more likely to consider you for the next job opening if you didn’t land this one. You should never hesitate to send one after your big interview. Just be sure you spell the name of the recipient correctly!

What Students Look For In a Summer Internship Program

Well, I can’t speak for everyone, but it seems that just about every student is looking for the same basic things in a summer internship: experience, babes, and good references. Ok, maybe not babes…but the other two are still relevant. No one wants an internship that won’t be pertinent to the career path they choose after graduation. While it is good to intern at many different places in various fields of work to figure out which is for you, at the end of every internship, it always feels a lot better when you feel like you’ve advanced your career. In order to increase your odds of landing that perfect internship, be sure to maintain contact with employees in the company you’re applying to. Just ask them simple questions about what it’s like to work for the organization in order to express your interest. When application time rolls around, it will be nice to already have a reference from within.

You should be careful about revealing your availability when applying for a summer internship. If you tell a firm that you’re available five days a week, you better be willing to work those 40 hour weeks. Companies know what the demand is like for internships in the summer, and want to get as much labor out of you as they possibly can. Try to find out as early in the application process as possible whether or not you are going for a paid position. It can be tough to find a paid summer internship, but if it’s what you really want, stick with it. They’re tough to find, but they are certainly out there. It will be worth the extra effort to land a paid position if and when you’re receiving weekly paychecks.