Get Focused

• It’s okay if you don’t know exactly what you want to do in an internship. Think about the type of work you’d like to do, skills you’d like to develop, and industries you’d like to explore. Refer to our Self-Guided Career Exploration page if you need some ideas.
• Organize your search. Keep track of organizations you’ve applied to, when, who you spoke with, and when you need to follow up.
• Check with the internship contact in your major's academic department to ensure you understand the process of receiving credit if you choose to do so.

Assemble Materials

• Most internships will require a resume and cover letter. Review our Resume Guide, stop by the CareerLab, or schedule an appointment to have your documents reviewed.
• Use our new tool ResumeAI to scan your resume and get immediate feedback. Once logged in using your GVSU SSO, navigate to the Resumes tab and choose "ResumeAI".
• Update your LinkedIn and Handshake profiles. This will ensure you are receiving internship updates that fit what you are looking for.

Network

• On average, 75% of internships are never posted, so identify companies/organizations you are interested in and contact them directly.
• Reach out to contacts and GVSU alumni through LinkedIn to conduct informational interviews. This is a great way to learn about opportunities and build your network.
• Attend events. The Career Center brings hundreds of employers right to campus and these employers want to talk to you about opportunities.

Search and Apply

• While networking is the number one way students find internships, online tools can also be helpful.
• Handshake is a great online tool for searching for internships. How to Use Handshake
• Experience Matters is a helpful resource to search out other places GVSU students have interned.
• Work Abroad is a great resource if you’re interested in an international opportunity.
• How to recognize and avoid fraudulent jobs.

Get ready to interview

• Visit the interview section of our site to review tips on how to prepare for an interview.
• Schedule a practice interview with your career advisor.
• Practice at home using Big Interview.

Follow-up

• It’s always important to follow-up; whether you’ve applied online for a position, sent an email inquiry to a contact, or met a recruiter at an event.
• Follow-ups can be done over email, phone, or LinkedIn.
• Keep track of when you’ve followed up so you can be consistent, but not pestering. One to two follow-ups is a good rule of thumb.

• Attend all orientations offered and read all available onboarding handbooks
• Observe everything…what people wear, how they interact with each other, where they eat, etc.
• Ask questions if you are unsure of anything
• Get to know everyone- even those outside your department. This is a great way to learn more about the organization and possibly develop a mentor.
• Dress for the job you want. Just because your boss might wear shorts and t-shirts, doesn’t necessarily mean you should. Be observant of what others wear, especially those in positions of leadership.
• Learn a new skill. Even if your internship isn’t exactly what you thought it  might be, it’s important to know that you walked away learning something new.
• Ask for new projects. Supervisors may underestimate the amount of time it takes an intern to complete a project.
• Take initiative - It’s always good to look for things that need to be done.
• Ask for feedback. Hopefully your, supervisor will conduct an evaluation at the end of your internship, but don’t be afraid to ask for ongoing feedback. This keeps the lines of communication open and ensures you’re meeting expectations.
• Stay connected after the internship. It’s great if an internship can turn into a permanent position, but that doesn’t always happen right away. Maintain relationships with those you worked with as they will likely keep you posted on upcoming openings, and may also serve as a reference for you.