Internship Application Season: Where to begin

Graphic created by Emma Rygiel

Internship application season can be a crazy time. Here are a few tips on how to begin the process.

As many of you may (or may not) know, once fall semester starts internship applications open. If you are anything like me, this is probably a difficult time and the questions about where to apply seem to keep piling up. Hopefully, by the end of this you will have a better understanding of where to begin with your internship search.

Identify what you want to do within the apparel industry.

I think identifying what I wanted to do within in the industry was vital for me. Only applying to internships relevant to your ultimate career goal helps differentiate yourself from other applicants. By streamlining your involvement, it enables you to get specialized experiences that your fellow peers may not have the opportunities for.

Focus on companies you want to apply to.

When beginning my internship search, I applied for every internship I found. This led me to spend a lot of energy on companies I did not have a passion for or interest. Then, when it came to companies I did want to apply for, I was burnt out. Find which companies you really want to work for. Whether it be because their values align with yours or their aesthetic inspires you, focus on the companies that matter to you. Don’t waste your time, be intentional about the applications you submit.

Do your research.

I cannot stress this enough- do your research on the internship programs you are applying for.  By researching what benefits were offered throughout the internship the internship program, including housing and pay, I was able to eliminate some companies right off the bat. It is also important to know what perks are being offered and to be conscious of these when making your decisions. Maybe not so much about perks, but the actual work, values of the company, the people etc.

Hopefully this will help you begin with the internship search. Finding the perfect internship can take time and work, but once you land that dream internship it is all worth it.