Part-Time Summer Internships: A Student's Guide to Gaining Experience

Summer internships are a fantastic way for college students to gain valuable experience and make lasting connections. Without the distraction of classes, students can fully immerse themselves in the internship experience and acquire both soft and hard skills. This article provides a comprehensive guide to finding and securing part-time summer internships, covering everything from when to start looking to what to include on your resume.

When to Start Your Internship Search

Securing a summer internship requires planning and preparation. It’s always better to start your research sooner rather than later. If there’s a certain company you want to intern for, definitely make an effort to look up their application process and when it starts. A great time to start looking for summer 2021 internships might be during your winter or spring break as that will provide you with an ample amount of time to research and apply.

How to Find Summer Internships

When searching for summer internships, entry-level or summer jobs near you, it’s always best to use the Handshake job filter and keyword search. Start by searching the available jobs and entering the job title, city you want to work in, or if you would like your summer jobs to be remote.

Application Timing and Preparation

If you’re wondering when to apply for summer internships: the sooner that you apply, the better! If there’s a specific job you have in mind, start researching when they take applications and get in touch with them if you have questions about the process.

Many internships will ask for a resume, cover letter, and possibly a few letters of recommendation. It’s a great idea to prepare these documents now so you can save time and stress later!

Types of Summer Internships

The “best” type of summer internship is always dependent on your major and interests.

If you're not quite sure where you want to apply, consider some of these general summer internships:

Research Assistant Intern
Social Media Intern
Business Analyst Intern
Copywriting Intern
Marketing/PR Intern

Companies That Offer Internships

If you’re unsure and asking yourself “where can I apply for summer internships,” check out a few examples of companies that hire interns through Handshake.

Companies that hire interns:

Apple
Morgan Stanley
NBCUniversal
Ernst & Young LLP (EY)
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)

Paid vs. Unpaid Internships

Like all other internships, there are both paid and unpaid options available. Some summer internships will qualify for college credits and others will compensate you with pay. When researching internships, make sure you consider your needs and which option will be best for you!

Read also: Student Jobs at UCF

How to Secure a Summer Internship

Companies hiring summer interns want to see that you’re conscious about how to translate your skills and characteristics to their position. You don’t need the most elaborate resume to wow them! Instead, look at the qualities they value and translate your experience to those characteristics.

Resume Building for Summer Internships

Many places hiring entry-level employees are looking for similar keywords in resumes, but what makes the right candidate is listing the skills that make you stand out.

Highlighting Your Experiences

Even if you’ve never held an official role before, you definitely have skills from past experiences you can offer. From mentorships, internships, to school projects that you did-there are always skills you can pull from your life that apply.

Essential Soft Skills

Six soft skills that might make you a better candidate on your resume:

Quick learner
Natural leader
Organized
Accountable
Detail oriented
Collaborative

Technical Skills

If this won’t be your first internship, then you may have some technical skills from previous jobs to add to your resume.

Read also: ECE Diploma Requirements

Internship Programs and Opportunities

There are numerous internship programs available, catering to diverse interests and skill sets. These programs offer valuable opportunities to gain experience in various fields.

Department of State's Pathways Internship Program

The Department of State's Pathways Internship Program includes both the Internship Temporary Program (ITEP) and the Internship Experience Program (IEP). These programs are open to U.S. citizens enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions from high school to graduate school and professional academic levels. Internships are available at U.S. embassies and consulates throughout the world, as well as in various bureaus located in Washington, D.C. and at Department offices around the United States.

Virtual Internship Program

The Virtual Internship Program connects U.S. citizen college students with the needs of federal agencies. Since 2009, more than 10,000 remote interns have advanced the work of the federal government. The time commitment is about 10 hours per week during the school year. There are opportunities for all, from data visualization to political analysis. Internships are paid but may be eligible for course credit.

The Colin Powell Leadership Program

The Colin Powell Leadership Program recruits highly motivated individuals from a variety of backgrounds who aspire to and possess the potential to become future civil service leaders in the Department.

MBA Special Advisor Fellowship

The MBA Special Advisor Fellowship seeks to strengthen the Department's strategic management and operations capabilities through leading-edge solutions and academia.

National Park Service Internships

If you are between 15 to 30 years old, or a military veteran who is 35 years old or younger, apply for a job or paid internship to help you figure out your career path. Gain work experience, while helping to preserve and protect our nation’s natural and cultural resources. The National Park Service collaborates with many organizations to offer onsite and remote internship and fellowship opportunities.

USAJobs

Whether you are looking for part-time work during the school year, a summer job, or are beginning a full-time career, check USAJobs for current openings.

Real-World Example: Quincy's Apple Journey

The first time Quincy visited an Apple Store, he asked how he could get a job with Apple, too. He listened attentively as the team member described what it takes and recommended that, for now, he focus on furthering his education. When the time came, he enrolled at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. While a sophomore, he was hired as an Apple Support College Advisor, assisting Apple customers with their product questions. With guidance from his training, managers, and mentors, Quincy developed a range of professional skills, including teamwork, collaboration, and empathetic communication. In his first role at the group’s offices in Raleigh, North Carolina, Quincy supported people at Apple similarly to how he supported customers as an Advisor. These days, he helps oversee major systems at Apple. And as always, he’s hoping there’s more to come. “The Advisor experience laid the foundation for me.

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