Internship Hunting: How to stand out and understand recruiting cycles

5 Second Summary

Summer postings have the most opportunities but the highest level of competition
Fall postings have a decent number of opportunities but a decent amount of competition
Winter posting has limited postings but the least amount of competition
Highlight your achievements in your resume and keep it to a one-pager
Polish answering behavioral questions and the classic “tell me about yourself” which sets the tone of the interview
Some schools will have co-op programs which companies will only hire exclusively through them

Understanding how recruiting cycles work is critical to your success in landing your dream internship. Different industries have unique recruiting cycles, so it's essential to know when your target internship will start accepting applications. This knowledge allows you ample time to prepare, increasing your chances by avoiding last-minute applications and giving you an advantage over students who don't use their time effectively.

Prepping Your Resume

To prepare your resume for your desired internship, follow these steps:

Thoroughly research the company and the specific internship role to understand their valued skills and experiences.
Tailor your resume to highlight relevant academic achievements, coursework, and extracurricular activities that align with the internship's requirements.
Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) method to craft impactful bullet points showcasing your previous experiences.
Utilize CraftResume to create and tailor your bullets to pass through the ATS (Applicant Tracking System).
Ensure your resume is well-organized, easy to read, and free of typos or grammatical errors.
Seek feedback from mentors, career advisors, or peers to refine your resume before submission.

Crushing the Interview

Mastering the interview process is crucial. Start by excelling in the first question, "Tell me About Yourself," which indirectly answers the interviewer's underlying question, "Why should we hire you?" Structure your answer to highlight your current situation and align it with the type of candidate the interviewer is seeking.

Once you've mastered the introductory question, practice answering behavioral questions using the STAR method. Here are some examples:

Tell me about a time you demonstrated leadership.
Tell me about a time when you managed conflict.
Tell me about a time you had to manage multiple responsibilities. How did you organize and prioritize your tasks?
Tell me about a time you made a mistake. How did you handle it?

Leverage the insightful question formula: "I knew about X and wanted to learn more about Y." This demonstrates to the interviewer that you've done your research and are seeking answers beyond what is available online.

After the interview, always send a thank-you note to express gratitude.

These steps are crucial for positioning yourself effectively and securing your dream internship!