Finding an Internship: Reality Hits Me in the Face
Anya Rasulova
NSHSS Student Council/Claes Nobel Academic Scholarship Recipient
Brown University
I remember those warm, cozy days of orientation week, making life-long friends, freshman advising, worrying about picking the perfect major, and more. It seems like it was just yesterday. As difficult as those days were, I now realize that being a junior has been the most challenging college stage so far. You are more than half-way through, and you cannot “test the waters” any more. It is the time when you are (hopefully) set on your major, and the difficult part is stepping back and questioning what it is that you truly want to do for the rest of your life. I faced a lot of pressure with choosing my summer internship, because this is the last summer that I get to try things out as a student before my full-time employment. I have recently accepted an offer with a consulting firm in San Francisco, and I am very excited about this upcoming opportunity.
My internship process has been somewhat stressful, so I would like to share some tips so that your own internship hunt might be a little easier. Here are the most important things that I have learned from the process:
- Start your homework early
Start investigating your interests and opportunities in the field(s) early. After focusing on a particular field, I found it very helpful to make a list of companies that I was interested in investigating, and kept a list of information that I collected. Tailor your resume and cover letter well before the recruiting process begins, because once it does, it can get overwhelming. - Network
Start networking early as well. You can memorize all the information that the company’s website provides, but nothing will be more helpful than personal insights and first-hand perspectives. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your school’s alumni, your friends, friends’ friends, family acquaintances, and anyone you can think of who is working in the field or the company of your choice. Many times people will be very willing to give you advice and share information about the company/field. Sometimes you even get lucky and get a referral. Talking to people will expose you to many nuances that you might not catch otherwise, and hearing people’s stories and advice will always prove helpful at some point. Start early because that will help you strengthen those bonds with the people that you talk to, and you can gain a valuable mentor out of the process. I was very lucky with that. - Stay true to yourself and your core values
At one point, I caught myself trapped in a career field because all my friends were doing it and it was considered very prestigious. I had several interviews and even a few offers in the area. But the more tangible it became, the more I realized that that particular area did not align with my core values and goals, even for a 10-week internship period. I think it is very important to do something, even if just for 10 weeks, that you are really passionate and interested in, and not because that particular company/field will look good on your resume. That is what I call being honest with yourself.
Do not be afraid of making a wrong decision--you always have an opportunity to switch gears whether it is for an internship or a full-time position. Life is full of opportunities! Change is inevitable in this world. I am about to experience that, so wish me luck! This will be my first real-world experience after being somewhat “sheltered” in college: real job, real paycheck, real bills, and an amazing learning opportunity.
Good luck to everyone who is in the same boat.
Anya Rasulova
Brown University Class of 2008