The spring semester is in full swing, and you are working hard to meet your course deadlines. During this time, many students ask themselves when should I begin applying for internships and jobs? How do I start? What do I need to begin the application process?
Much of the timing depends on the opportunity you want to obtain and where it fits in with your educational goals. You should start searching for those opportunities early in the fall semester. If you start now, you’ll have everything you need and be well prepared.
Before you can submit your applications, there are things you can do, such as create or improve your employment documents like a resume and cover letter. You may also need guidance preparing for an in-person or online interview. These opportunities are prime training grounds for learning more about your chosen field. Now, let’s look at what resources you have available to you at Texas State University.
Internships and jobs
There are several places where you can find internship information; two places are:
- Your field of study’s academic college or department.
- Career Services’ Student Employment web page.
On-site support
Texas State University offers many levels of support from the English Department’s Writing Center, Career Services, and even fellow students. These are all the people and places on our campuses who can help you develop those materials. If you are wondering what kind of support on-campus offices provide, here are some examples.
- The Writing Center can help you write and proofread your essay, resume, cover letter, and any other documents you may need to submit along with your application.
- Career Services can help you search for internships or jobs and help you prepare with mock interviews and more.
- Fellow students can help you by sharing their journeys to find and apply for internships and jobs.
Technology support
Did you know you have access to some very robust free technology? Tools like Microsoft 365 (Word, SharePoint, OneDrive, PowerPoint, Excel) and YuJa can provide the foundation for you as you build and organize those materials. (For a full list of available technology, visit the IT Services web page.) Then you can explore LinkedIn Learning videos for guidance on the kinds of interview questions most asked in your chosen field to videos showing how best to prepare for an online interview and so much more. Also, if you have a LinkedIn (the networking app) profile set up, you can find, follow, and connect with industry leaders to build your network.
Here are a few LinkedIn Learning videos I found helpful:
- Research internship opportunities
- Mastering Common Interview Questions
- Video Interview Tips
- Creating great first impressions
- How to leverage a portfolio in interviews
These are just a few helpful links to get you thinking about the application and interview in general. The LinkedIn Learning library includes topics in Business, Creative, and Technology and offers varying learning options, from short 30-second audio clips to complete learning paths with multiple videos. Use this platform to your advantage to gain new skills listed on those internship and job descriptions or brush up on a current skill that you haven’t used in a while and earn certificates you can include on your resume. You can also connect your LinkedIn and LinkedIn Learning accounts to display all your acquired skills.
Regardless of the learning path you choose, you have so much information on demand! With all this in mind, take advantage of your resources and be successful in reaching your goals.
Best of luck to you on your internship or employment search.
Rebecca Ormsby is a communications specialist for IT Communications and Outreach.
