Job Doc

Too late for a summer internship? Maybe not

Pattie Hunt Sinacole suggest steps

Ask the Job Doc. Boston.com

May 20, 2024

2 minutes to read

Q: I am a sophomore in college. I have been told over and over that I need an internship this summer. I don’t know where to start. I am nervous because summer is approaching. This has me very anxious.

A: Congratulations on realizing that an internship would be valuable to your professional work history. You are a bit late to the process, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a role that would contribute to your professional skills!

Here are some tips on where to turn to find internship leads —

1. The career services office of your school should be a first stop. Often one of the roles of this office is to develop relationships with employers as well as help students track down opportunities. Local employers will often post internships at career services offices of local colleges. Get to know the employees who work in this office. You want to make sure that they keep you in mind, if something lands on their desks.

2. Family and friends also are a good source of information. An uncle who works at a biotech might know of an internship within his company. The neighbor who works at a technology company in Cambridge. Or even your professor who consults to tech companies. All of the personal relationships can sometimes yield a promising internship or job lead.

3. Develop a target list of companies and search online to determine whether there might be a need. Some companies, especially larger ones, have a section on their website dedicated to internships. When I quickly googled internships in the Boston area, the Celtics popped up, as well as the Federal Reserve. If you do not live close to Boston, you will have to think about commuting to the city.

4. Visit internship-specific sites, like internmatch.com or internships.com. LinkedIn has a specific section on their website featuring only internship roles. and includes many tech employers.

Finally, develop positive relationships while you are an intern. Smart employers often hire bright interns as full-time employees, after the intern has completed their undergraduate or graduate degree. It is important to demonstrate solid work habits and to build a strong professional reputation. Leave your internship in a professional manner. You want to ensure that your colleagues could be professional references someday.