3 Keys to Success: Networking for an Internship

Scroll down to read more!

3 Keys to Success: Networking for an Internship

Scroll down to read more!

Table of Contents

I recently connected a college junior with a new business associate who is also a local employer. This particular young lady, Julie Hannan, is the daughter of my good friend Barbara.  The most important thing I try to do as a connector is find a great match. You may be the connector ( like me) or the student (like Julie) or even the parent of a student seeking an internship (like Barbara).

3 Keys to Success: Networking for an Internship

Students need to leverage all of their networking opportunities in order to find the right internships. If you are working your network well, you can expect to get introductions to new contacts and interesting employers. Here are the best ways for a student to react to these types of introductions.

  • Do not delay with research and follow through. Julie immediately jumped on the opportunity and did her research. She found that the employer was a good fit by studying the company website. She made contact right away. Show your enthusiasm to the employer. Find out the special things that you can mention. Julie studied the website.  I got an email from her stating  “Their philosophy and approach are very unique – and exactly what I am looking for.”  She quickly uncovered what was special about this employer.  I expect Julie to be able to connect well during any communications or interview as a result.
  • Thank your connector. Julie’s email went on to say “Thank you for the guidance – I am drafting a response to Josh’s email as we speak .” As the connector, I am very interested in Julie’s success. The fact that she kept me in the loop makes me even more vested. I expect to hear more as she continues her internship search.
  • Repeat this process.  Again. This particular opportunity may or may not result in an internship. College students need to have many of these type of opportunities working at one time.  Students who only pursue one opportunity are often disappointed.  Most likely you didn’t apply to only one college right?

Note that if you find that the company is not a good match for you, determine that early on but remember to still thank the employer and the connector.

Finding internship opportunities through networking will result in a much higher “win rate” than applying through an online portal.  You still want to play it smart with great follow-up, enthusiasm, and appreciation. Personalize your approach and you are on to a winning networking plan.  Julie did all of these things very well. How do you show enthusiasm and appreciation while you network in your internship search? 

Did you like this post? Share it!

2 Comments

  1. Great follow through by the student by doing her homework and taking the initiative! It shows the connector that the student is reliable and willing to put forth effort!
    Thanks for the example Sandra!

  2. Thanks Aziz for your comments. I agree that Julie did everything right. Follow up communication is key and makes me want to help her again in the future. Thank you.

Comments are closed.

A Word From Our Sponsors

Ads help make Workology resources free for everyone. We respect your privacy. To see our Privacy Policy click here.

Recommended Posts

best business books for HR consultants

The 8 Best Business Books for HR Consultants

Want to develop your HR consulting skills? Get our list of the best business books for HR consultants right here....

Episode 406: Digital Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility With Oneisha Freeman and Nikhil Deshpande

Workology Podcast powered by PEAT with Nikhil Deshpande and Oneisha Freeman talking about making the digital world accessible for all people....

Checkout Our Products

Ads help make Workology resources free for everyone. We respect your privacy. To see our Privacy Policy click here.

More From Workology

Episode 406: Digital Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility With Oneisha Freeman and Nikhil Deshpande

Workology Podcast powered by PEAT with Nikhil Deshpande and Oneisha Freeman talking about making the digital world accessible for all people.
best business books for HR consultants

The 8 Best Business Books for HR Consultants

Want to develop your HR consulting skills? Get our list of the best business books for HR consultants right here.
Interview questions for chief people officer

List of Interview Questions to Ask a Chief People Officer Candidate

Interviewing for a Chief People Officer requires a thoughtful approach to assess leadership, HR expertise, cultural alignment, and ability to drive organizational change.

Episode 405: Writing Honest Job Postings to Attract the Right People With Katrina Kibben

Workology Podcast interview with Katrina Kibben on how to write job postings the right way to attract the ideal candidates.