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By Nick Gidwani

The fall semester is winding down and students all over the country are busy burning the midnight oil, finishing final projects and papers or cramming for final exams. The semester had passed by at a frantic pace and once it is all over and the dust has settled you will have the time to think about something else besides schoolwork.

One thing that may be on the forefront of many people’s minds is planning for a summer internship. At this point in the year, very well prepared students who know what they want to do are way ahead of the curve and have locked up their summer internship with a leading investment bank, trending consumer brand, or government agency. Meanwhile, the vast majority of under- and middle-classman may be struggling to chose a major let alone, figure out which industry or job to intern in.

Worry not, an internship is the perfect chance to try out different industries and job roles. The great news is that although the fall semester has almost come and gone, there are plenty of internship positions that have gone unfilled and are waiting for you.

Get a jump on some of your fellow classmates and hone “hard” skills to give you that edge that will make you stand out from the rest. The following 3 skills are currently in high demand:

1. Excel

Excel is Microsoft’s classic spreadsheet application and can be used to store, manipulate, and analyze large amounts of data. It is a great skill set to have and has applications in almost any business setting, from statistics to accounting and finance. If you have advanced Excel skills it can benefit you in most any job where numbers play a role.

2. Content Marketing

When the Internet was in its infancy, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) specialists were able to game the search engines by using a very formulaic approach to webpage development, tricking Google into letting it rank #1, but the content was often irrelevant. However, in the past year or so all that has changed. Google made some major changes to its search algorithms and now quality content is the new rage in Internet Marketing. What does that mean? It means that web content needs to be written for a specific target audience, and written well so it engaging to that type of reader or buyer. Content marketing is also about creating interactive content like video and making it sharable. If you are interested in Social Media and Marketing, understanding content marketing is crucial.

3. Interaction Design

Interaction design (IxD), also known and User Experience Design (UXD), is all about designing for the digital world. However, rather than focusing on form it focuses on user behavior. Interaction design incorporates graphic design and web design with psychology. It is an emerging field that is scooping up more and more attention by the day, as computers and the Internet are becoming an important part of our lives. The applications that people use need to be created in a way that is easy and intuitive, and in business situations may encourage purchasing. Knowing the fundamentals of Interaction Design, can help you land a job in product design at gaming, technology, and internet companies.

The aforementioned skills are really just the tip of iceberg and there are a ton of “hard” skill areas that are in demand by employers. To find out more valued skills, you will need to get out and do some research on your own. Talk to your professors, university career services and get some first-hand insight. There is also a ton of information online, including free courses at your disposal.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and build that knowledge and expertise in to round out your resume and get that summer internship!

Lindsay T. is a recent college graduate. She currently writes on behalf of Skyo, an online site that helps college students save money with cheap textbooks and flexible rental options.

By Lindsay Traiman

As most students know, completing an internship during college is a great way to develop skills, build your resume, and explore new industries. Internships, however, can also help you with the job search if you know how to leverage them properly. Whether you are interning right now, have plans to intern this spring, or are looking for a summer position, the following tips will help you use your internship in preparation for the job search.

1. Write down everything you do.

As an intern, make a point of logging all the projects you complete or assist with. After your internship is over, you will want to be able to discuss the specifics of your position in an interview or at a career fair. It is important to know exactly how you added value to the company. You may also learn terms or concepts that you can use later to demonstrate your industry-specific knowledge. Showing an understanding of the industry landscape will make a positive impression during interviews.

2. Update your resume during your internship.

Not only are your tasks fresh in your mind while you’re on the job, but you can ask your supervisor to review your resume for you. He or she will likely be able to improve the language you use in each bullet point and may even provide you with a list of intern duties that you can use. Have several people within the company look your resume over to receive as much feedback as possible.

3. Practice networking

For every interaction you have as an intern, treat it as an opportunity to make a connection. Whether that means attending an industry event hosted by your company or simply meeting a new employee, you have the chance to become a more confident networker with every conversation you have. Exchange information with people you would like to stay in touch with, and add them on LinkedIn. Continue to stay in touch, and you never know what career opportunities may arise for you.

4. Conduct informational interviews.

Arrange to interview people in divisions you would like to learn more about, and prepare a list of questions beforehand. Use these opportunities to find out about different career opportunities, and stay in touch with the people you interview. Not only does this make a good impression at your internship, but it will help you consider jobs you hadn’t thought of before. It can also be a way to learn more about that particular industry.

5. Strengthen your weaknesses.

You probably know some of your weaknesses, and you can also ask for feedback from your supervisor. Once aware of what you need to improve upon, make sure you do just that. Use your internship as a chance to strengthen skills that need work. Not only will you develop a more well-rounded skill set, but you can use this as an interview talking point to show that you are capable of self-assessment and improvement.

Your internship is not just a way to build your resume, but an opportunity for career growth. It is an experience that can make you a more confident interviewee, networker, and future employee. If you play your cards right, you can open doors for yourself that will last long after your internship is over.

Jennifer E. is a professional freelance writer and a columnist for several magazines and news publications. She writes for Degree Jungle, a resource for college students.

Landing your dream internship position calls for applying creative ways to stand out from other internship applicants. Good internship positions attract a lot of interest from prospective applicants; consequently, increasing the competition for such juicy spots. In order to stand out from the crowd, you must apply some creativity to give yourself an edge over equally, or even more qualified applicants. If you do not make the extra effort to distinguish yourself from the rest in some manner, your application might be relegated to the background while more interesting ones will be considered for the position.

1. Outstanding Resume

Most students quake in trepidation at the thought of writing a resume. The reason for this apprehension is usually because they have very little work experience to put in such resumes. This should not be a barrier because prospective employers do not really expect students to have very much work experience. Most of them look for other qualities in their interns. Most employers list the qualities they want in their interns when they advertise such openings in their organizations. The best way to write a resume for an internship position is to make a copy of the internship description and lay it next to you while you fill out your resume. Aligning your resume to match the requirements for the internship position will allow a prospective employer to find out if you are a good fit for their organization, just from scanning the first half of your resume. Include all of your volunteer activities and other internship positions, where applicable.

2. Outstanding Cover Letter

Just like a remarkable resume, a well-written cover letter will increase your odds of landing that great internship position. Avoid generic cover letter templates that allow you to fill in information into pre-programmed cover letters. Do not just say that you are applying for the internship position because you are the best candidate. This is very common and doesn’t really say very much about you or your capabilities. Expand further on this claim by including the reason why you feel that you are the best applicant for the internship position. Make this a brief, but memorable statement that will get the attention of any recruiter.

3. Sharpen Your Interview Skills

Eloquence, good eye contact, confident body language and firm handshakes go a long way towards giving a good interview.

When your fabulous resume and cover letter result in a call from a recruiter to come for an interview, you must practice your interview skills so as to make a good impression at the interview. Eloquence, good eye contact, confident body language and firm handshakes go a long way towards giving a good interview. Tell the recruiter that you want the job and make sure you pay attention so that you can ask questions later. This shows that you are enthusiastic about the position, in addition to showing off your listening skills/intelligence. After the interview, make sure you follow up by sending a thank you letter to the interviewer, indicating that you really enjoyed the interview and talking with the interviewer. The thank you letter may mean the difference between getting the job when the choice comes down to two, or more, equally qualified internship applicants.

Have a tip you want to share? Leave it in the comments below!

Mariana Ashley is a freelance writer who particularly enjoys writing about online colleges. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to her here.

By Mariana Ashley

Finding ways to incorporate unpaid work experience onto your resume and cover letters can be a real challenge. Many young job hopefuls fail to realize how valuable the unpaid work they’ve done in the past can be for their current “real world job” search. In today’s competitive job market, internship and volunteer experience have increased in worth on a resume. It seems today more emphasis is being put on work experience than it is education, because actual job experience can demonstrate some things that education cannot.

Use these tips to better discuss and display the positive attributes and experience you’ve gained from your successful internship period.

Understand Its Weight

Many employers accept professional internship experience in lieu of professional work experience.

Many people entering the job market today become discouraged by the requirements for those with “more experience”. For recent grads and newbie job-searchers, this can be an extremely difficult thing to hear time and time again. We find ourselves in what feels like a stalemate—employers are looking for individuals with more work experience, we can’t gain work experience until we land a job. It’s a tricky situation, but it doesn’t have to be impossible. Understand the value of your internship (and volunteer) experience in your job search. If you don’t believe in its legitimacy, neither will a potential employer. Many employers accept professional internship experience (if it is in an area related to the position) in lieu of professional work experience. Be confident in your own internship experience and work to find its real worth, so that you can communicate it on your resume and cover letters.

Really Evaluate Your Experience

Internships.com has tips for writing your resume

Once you realize just how important your internship experience is, you must find what specific aspects of it are valuable to your resume. Think about the things you have done and learned during your internship. Before you sit down to actually compose your resume, try to outline various things about your internship. By thoroughly considering everything that you did and learned during this time period, you will be better able to communicate the internship’s worth to a potential employer. What are the specific tasks or projects that you completed during your internship? What specific skills did you gain during this time? Consider times that you had the opportunity to observe or work directly with professionals in positions that really interested you. If these positions are related to the position you are applying to, this can be a huge asset. What did you learn about yourself and your own personality during the experience? Use these evaluating questions to determine what areas of your internship you want to discuss on your resume and during your interview.

Showcase Responsibilities and Achievements

Look at initiatives or goals that were set in the beginning. Where they accomplished or met?

Pay special attention to your achievements and responsibilities within the internship position. Create a list of bullet points outlining your major responsibilities within your professional internship. Choose the top ones to include within your resume, and use the rest as talking points during interviews. This makes it very clear for both you and for employers to pinpoint what type of experience your internship has provided. Go about doing this by starting with a list of all the responsibilities you performed during the internship. Start with the most primary and important responsibilities and then consider any indirect (seemingly) minor responsibilities or task you might have performed. This will give you the big picture of your duties on the “job”, so that you can better delineate them on your resume.

Next, look very carefully at your achievements within the internship experience. This part will take some serious consideration, but is certainly one of the most important things to discuss when it comes to internship experience. Look at initiatives or goals that were set in the beginning. Where they accomplished or met? Did you eventually assume some sort of a leadership role? While leadership is not common among interns, your participation as an intern in the projects and tasks of the company are just as important. Communicate any projects that were completed, goals met, or specific successes made within the company during your time there on your resume and during your interview.

Internship experience can be extremely valuable within today’s competitive job market. Use these strategies to communicate the value of your experience on your resume for potential employers.

For more resume tips, visit the free Student Resources section on Internships.com.

Chelsea Evans is a recent graduate from Tufts University. She now works in Her Campus‘s Human Resources department. Chelsea and her Her Campus colleagues recently went on a Contiki trip and saw first-hand the benefits of traveling abroad to gain global experience.

By Chelsea Evans

In today’s competitive job market, college students must take advantage of every opportunity available to make themselves stand out to potential employers. It’s one thing to list expert communicator, detail oriented, and adaptable as skills on a resume, but it’s another to have a plethora of real-life examples to explain how you’ve strengthened and utilized these talents. One of the best ways to gain this real-life experience? Travelling abroad with Contiki!

Contiki organizes over 200 trips across the globe for 18 to 35-year-olds, so you are sure to find one that fits your preferences and schedule. Group travel and exposure to foreign cultures will help you fine-tune your communication and organizational skills, both of which are valued by employers.

Chelsea and her colleagues on their recent Contiki trip

For instance, in my role at Her Campus Media, I am expected to communicate effectively with many different college students. My fellow travelers on my London, Paris, and Amsterdam Contiki trip represented several different countries, but this didn’t stop us from becoming fast friends who were familiar with each others’ cultures and perspectives. This ability to communicate well with people from other backgrounds will surely help me relate to and communicate with college students across the country on a daily basis. Moreover, I now know it’s best to examine situations (work-related or not) from several different angles in order to identify the best plan of action. This is an invaluable problem solving skill.

“Keeping up in a fast-paced work environment will be a piece of cake after learning to navigate a foreign city.”

Employers look for adaptable and flexible employees. There’s no better way to demonstrate these qualities than by recalling the time you travelled to a foreign country and swiftly adapted to the local customs! Keeping up in a fast-paced work environment will be a piece of cake after learning to navigate a foreign city, ordering food and buying stamps in a foreign language, and visiting every tourist attraction all in one day on a Contiki trip.

So what are you waiting for? Have the adventure of a lifetime and boost your resume –learn more & sign up for your Contiki vacation!

Dante Hamilton is the founder of Internet Webpages Newspaper, Inc, a print, online and event company located in downtown Chicago, IL USA. Dante has been using Internships.com to recruit his interns, and has some tips for students on how to stand out.

By Dante Hamilton

As an active employer on Internships.com I’ve personally reviewed 200 replies from prospective interns. I will share how to impress an employer like me with one simple tactic: basic personalization.

Customize the Name of Each Resume Attachment

Do not name your attachment “Resume.doc” or “My Portfolio.pdf” because once I download it there is no way to tell who that document belongs to. I have dozens of “Resume.doc” files on my hard drive. What do I do with them? I empty them in the trash and delete forever. Do not suffer this fate.
TIP: Open your generic Resume or Portfolio document and save it with a new name. Start with your name, the company name or initials and add an abbreviated position title.

To illustrate what I mean, take a look at the three below files below:

1. Resume 2012.doc
2. My Portfolio.pdf
3. Gitma Attenshun Resume – IWN Acct Exec.pdf

Which do you think I will remember to open after I download it from Internships.com? Easy choice: Gitma Attenshun stands out. I know they prepared the resume for my company, IWN. I also know they are applying for the Account Executive position. Even before I open this resume I’m already interested and ready to email or speak to them on the phone. Why? They appear to know exactly what they want.

Gitma Attenshun made it effortless for me to respond. What happens to Resume 2012.doc and My Portfolio.pdf? They’re recycled.

Include the Company Name and Open Position in the Introducti0n

Next, let’s tackle your cover letter (known as the Personal Message on Internships.com). Most respondents use the same impersonal cover letter with each new application. Some don’t even do this much, they simply leave it blank, not even bothering to tell you if they are seeking a summer or year round internship position, or if they are planning to relocate.

I discourage using “To Whom It May Concern” in your opening sentence. I received a reply like this earlier today using those exact words, and it wasn’t the first time.

You’re applying to a company and you may not know the person’s name who will read your reply. Therefore, simply say “Dear [Insert Company Name]” as your opening salvo. When I see “Dear Internet Webpages Newspaper” (the name of my company), right there you got me just by stating the name of my company. Now I’m listening. Tell me more.

Don’t Strike Out – Hit a Home Run

You’re at bat. You can strike out or hit it out the ball park. Here’s how to do the latter.

Tell me who you are, what you’re looking for and what’s in it for me. Keep it simple. Give me a little mystery, not everything all at once.

It only takes one sentence to strike out. Here’s a great example: “I am very interested in the internship your company has listed.” Okay. Which one? I’ve got two listed. This person struck out. Don’t be like them.

Good luck in your search! Take the advice above and apply to Dante’s paid internship in Event Sponsorship, Print Advertising and Online Media.

Synthia Salas

By Synthia Salas

I’m not all about hanging out and chatting with you guys on Facebook and Twitter all day — sometimes, I have to get bossy. Managing the interns is fun and can be challenging, but not as fun and challenging as going though the TONS of applications we’re receiving for our summer marketing internship.

I want to help y’all out, so here are a few easy-to-implement tips that I think you’d really appreciate:

• Save your resume as a .pdf – it’s so easy and it instantly makes your resume look good. You know, like those wonderful mirrors that make you look tall and skinny? That’s what saving as a .pdf instead of a .doc does for your resume.
• SynthiaSalasResume.pdf is good. A resume saved as “Resume.doc” is bad, you know, because of the other 115 applicants who also called it that.
• Internships.com has a unique system going on. The “Personal Message” actually is one of the first things we see as employers – use it to your advantage (BTW, “I will love this internship and you will love me” = not the best message…). Here are tips on what to write and what happens after you Submit your application.

On a positive note: Holy moly, some of you have impressive resumes! There is a drastic difference in an application from someone who has done their research and is genuinely interested vs. someone who is applying for the sake of saying they applied for internships.

I leave you with this tip: do not bring your boyfriend to the interview. If he gives you a ride, tell him to wait outside. And whatever you do, DO NOT have him come in and sit with you in the room that we are about to interview you in. I can’t believe I even have to write that…

This afternoon, we’re bringing you a little fashion internship advice from Ashli Townsend, founder of InternChic.com. For more tips, follow Intern Chic on Twitter (@InternChic).

By Ashli Townsend

When applying to fashion internships, it can be difficult to stand out amongst hundreds of applicants. Here are a few suggestions on how to do so:

Ashli Townsend, InternChic.com

#1: Be a fashion fanatic.

No matter what your major is, make sure that your love for fashion is evident on your resume. Include any related activities (like participating in school fashion shows & blogging) that shows fashion is close to your heart.

#2: Stay busy in the fashion world.

If you haven’t already, start a fashion blog or Tumblr. Include that you run the blog on your resume with a brief description.

#3: Follow up by being pleasantly persistent.

From time to time email fashion related updates or even entries from your blog. You need to stay on their minds, display your love for fashion & that you really want this.

#4: Know the company.

Do a little research and include what you’ve learned and relate it to you in your cover letter.

#5: Add a little color to your resume.

… But don’t turn it into a coloring book. I was once told by an interviewer that because my resume had a light blue border around it they picked it up first from out of the pile. A simple, professional template that adds a small amount of color could help you stand out.

#6: It’s all in the details.

If it’s been awhile and no response, try mailing a brief handwritten note expressing your desire to intern there. Don’t overwhelm them with all of these emails and notes, but over time gradually contact them.

#7: Network on Twitter.

Get to know those in the fashion industry that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to chat with. Find the companies and employees on Twitter and chat with them about fashion. Don’t necessarily bug them about a job but if it naturally comes up, go for it.

I’ve tried all of the above suggestions, so I know from my own experience that they can be useful. I wish you all the best!

Melissa DiVietri (@missydi) from Traverse City, Mich. will be an intern this summer for DetroitDigitalAdvertising.com.

Melissa DiVietri (@missydi)

This year’s spring break was the first time I went to New York City in search of opportunity. I was motivated to utilize my passion for graphic design to land a job in the design industry.

Months before Brooklyn, I searched high and low for opportunities that would further my education, add to my knowledge of design trends and feed my obsession with living in a huge city someday!

Here are a few things I learned along the way:

1) Polish your resume/portfolio! I updated a professional resume and included an online portfolio displaying my current graphic and web masterpieces. This is an ongoing process, and should highlight paid and non-paid projects.

2) Research companies everywhere! Each night, I wrote a blog post on the pros and cons of various graphic and web design studios in Brooklyn Heights and Manhattan. I bookmarked websites with new media job offers such as Craigslist.com, Behance.net and Internships.com. When I found companies relevant to my field, I would share the link on my Facebook and Twitter for peer-to-peer feedback. I started to connect with other professionals and build networking opportunities.

3) Personalize Your First Impression! Weeks before the trip, I mailed 10 prospective employers a mini-packet of my work.  Each folder had a personalized cover letter, resume and three letters of recommendation from the president and vice president of my university. I designed a professional approach, DIDesigns and included extra business cards! After a few days, I sent follow-up emails regarding the packet.

4) Show Off Your Talent! A good way to set yourself apart from the pack is to be up-to-date on trends within the industry. I emailed 10-15 design studios a week since November 2010!

I was determined to network with people who could exchange my information, offer an opportunity or point in the right direction. To become successful, you have to be able to relate to people. Getting to know people takes time, but building a relationship is an important trust.

All the hours spent on internship research paid off: I had three interviews scheduled in Brooklyn Heights/DUMBO. Two of the interviews were on Monday morning and the second followed the next day. A better way to use my time was by putting myself out there. I carried extra resumes, standard cover letters and my portfolio in a backpack around the city. I went door-knocking on companies I mapped out in Manhattan and Brooklyn. After knocking on more than seven companies’ doors, I stumbled to an interview with an award-winning company called Red Antler. Simon, the creative director, was an inspiring individual. He was impressed that I took the initiative to get to New York on my own and present my skills. When the interview was over, I asked for a business card and sent a thank-you letter.

When I arrived home in Michigan, I had one last meeting with a advertising company in Farmington Hills. I met with Greg Swan of Detroit Digital Advertising, and he blew me away with his professional approach and impressive clients. After a few hours of flipping through clients’ pages and learning the job description, I knew I would benefit in the design industry and build a professional appearance in networking opportunities in Michigan. It was closer to affordable housing, paid more and meant that I could take a class or two over the summer.

To this day, I still receive emails and follow-up messages from  companies requesting a phone interview or tour of their company.

Check out this blog post about Melissa’s first day in New York, including a tip on intern housing and preparing the night before an interview.

Samantha Bankey (@SamanthaBankey) is a sophomore PR student at Ferris State University who just scored an awesome summer internship at ModelLoungeNYC. Today, she dishes out three tips that helped her press on after getting ignored on almost 30 applications.

Samantha Bankey

Most of us want to go far in life, and a big measure of how far we go is where we end up in our career. Many of us want the internship that is going to lead us in the right direction.

But how do you go about getting that internship?

Step 1: Get your resume ready.

This is a little obvious, but you can’t stress it enough. Be sure your resume is in tip-top condition. This means no spelling or grammatical errors (spell check AND proofread), appealing to the eye (bold important terms and titles and use some color), and is in the correct format. Be sure to go to your Career Services department at your school for a professional to look it over and give you ways to improve it.

Step 2: Don’t slack on your cover letters.

Write each cover letter as if you are talking to the CEO of that company in person. Explain to them how you found out about the company/internship, tell them about yourself and what you are trying to pursue, discuss your strengths and how you can help benefit the company in the department you are applying for, then discuss any last words.

I once worked at a used car dealership and then had an internship with the North American International Auto Show, but I was trying to pursue a fashion internship.

Write each cover letter as if you are talking to the CEO of that company in person.

I said to my employers, “I know you can see that I have experience in the auto industry, but I can assure you that I have a passion and eye for the fashion and beauty industries. I invite you to check out my fashion/beauty blog to see for yourself.” One more thing with your cover letters: be sure to put them in the body of your email. Some employers may not be compatible with different kinds of software, so it would be better to make it available right on the spot.

Step 3: Apply, apply, apply.

During the search for my summer internship, I thought it would only take me a few applications to hear back from something. Boy, was I sadly mistaken. I applied for five, heard nothing. Applied for 10, heard nothing. Applied for 20, heard nothing. I was in doubt that I would ever find an internship — especially in New York City, where fashion PR is mainstream. But a friend who had two interviews lined up for the summer told me to just keep applying, and I did. After about 25 or 30 emails to companies all over the country, I finally got an interview with one of them, which eventually led to a PR/marketing/event planning internship in the heart of Manhattan.

I believe by doing the things listed above, it is possible for you to land any internship you want. Just be yourself, and don’t get discouraged if you don’t hear back right away. Big companies receive applications from interns every day – you just have to show them why you stand out and why you are the best candidate for them!

Want to read more from Samantha? You can check out her portfolio page here and her fashion blog here.