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If you are a student, a recent graduate, or looking for a career change, you have probably considered an internship. While internship positions can be a great starting point to build your future career, getting one can be tricky.
Employers usually expect candidates with little or no work experience to apply for internships. However, the competition for such entry-level opportunities can be huge, making impressing an employer tough. To help you stand out from the crowd, we’ve compiled some clever tips on how to get an internship with no work experience!
How to Land an Internship Without Experience
You can get an internship with no experience. Since internships are designed to provide candidates with professional training, having any previous experience in the field is not mandatory. Instead, you can show that you deserve the job by emphasizing your qualities.
To get an internship without previous experience, you need to rely on your soft skills, industry knowledge, and motivation. While work experience is certainly an advantage, employers can be equally impressed by the skills you have acquired through education, extracurriculars, and volunteering.
Below, I have outlined some tips that can help you increase your chances of getting the internship you want:
1. Research the field
Before you start writing your resume, take the time to research what skills and qualifications are required for the job position you want to pursue. Visit the websites of companies you would like to apply to learn more about what they do and the professional qualities they seek.
Additionally, you can try talking to someone who works in the field you are interested in. This can be a university professor, friend, or family member. Ask them for some insights and advice. Once you understand the expectations, reflect on how your skills align with the industry and how best to present yourself as an ideal candidate.
2. Think of your extracurricular activities
When you have no work experience to bargain with, it is important to lean into your other skills and experiences. Perhaps you participated in a club, sports team, or cultural activity throughout high school, which helped you develop your time management, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills.
All these qualities can help you professionally and are highly valued by employers. If you haven’t participated in many activities or want to expand your resume, most universities have various student societies, so consider joining one that suits your interests. Employers like to see you have taken the initiative to challenge yourself and hone your skills.
3. Take part in a training course
Nowadays, plenty of online or in-person courses can help you level up your job skills. There are various courses, ranging from a couple of weeks to several months to complete. The good news is that you will receive an official certificate or diploma at the end of most courses, which you can add to your resume.
You can also attend a workshop that focuses on professional development. The first place to check would be your university or college. You can also expand your search by checking with institutions and organizations near you that might be hosting one.
4. Join a volunteering program
While volunteering is not officially recognized as work experience, it can benefit your employability. Many organizations need help but don’t have the budget to afford it, so why not take advantage of that and gain some helpful experience?
The more closely related the voluntary work is to your major or field of interest, the better. Volunteer work has many benefits, both for the community and for you. Offering your time and effort free of charge shows that you are proactive and will help you gain experience and broaden your skillset.
Moreover, there is nothing better than the mental reward you receive by participating in a volunteering program, knowing that you help the community.
5. Emphasize your previous experience
If you have previously held an occupation unrelated to your desired internship, you may have relevant experience and transferable skills worth highlighting.
No matter what your job has been and how minor your responsibilities may seem, consider how you can relate it to the internship you are applying for. Include these experiences on your resume and make it a point to relate them to your internship in greater detail during your interview to show how you can apply the skills you acquired to your future work.
6. Enhance your language skills
Employers and recruiters love multilingual candidates. Of course, it depends on the position you are applying for, but in most cases, knowing more than one language can be very beneficial. Many companies hiring for high-paying positions expect candidates to be fluent in at least one foreign language.
Even if language skills are irrelevant to your desired internship position, speaking foreign languages can still be a huge advantage. Employers recognize that learning a language requires hard work, consistency, and patience. Thus, they see candidates who have made the effort to learn a language as highly beneficial for their company.
7. Get yourself a good recommendation
Some companies will ask you for a recommendation letter or references when you apply for a job. Even if this is not obligatory, asking a university professor or former manager to testify about your character, skills, and knowledge is extremely valuable when searching for an internship or job opportunity.
If you ask someone for a recommendation letter, give them plenty of time. The person writing the letter shouldn’t feel pressured to provide it immediately. If you plan to list them as a reference on a job application, make sure to ask them beforehand and tell them a little about the job you’re applying for so they can have a few remarks prepared.
Can You Get an Internship With No Experience?
Most internship programs are intended for students and recent graduates who have no experience yet but are looking for some experience and a role that will help them find their place in the world of employment.
If you are a student searching for an internship, consider on-campus opportunities. Colleges and universities often host work fairs and networking events where students can meet with actively recruiting companies and quickly land a suitable internship.
Another option is to visit a career center. Universities commonly have an employability office where you can ask for help finding a part-time job, internship, or placement. In addition to providing you with a list of current vacancies, the staff there will also be happy to assist you with your CV preparation and application process.
It may sound like a lot of work, and you may wonder if pursuing an internship is really worth it. Here are some recent internship stats to help you decide if one is right for you.
- The number of internships in the U.S. per year is approximately 300,000.
- Two out of five internships are unpaid.
- The average hourly pay for internships in the United States is $16.56-$20.76/h.
- Companies offer two out of three interns a full-time job after their internship.
Can You Get an Internship Without a Degree?
You don’t necessarily have to hold a degree to get an internship. If you are a student, depending on your program, you may even need to do an internship before you complete your studies. However, don’t think that if you are not a current student, it means that you won’t be able to secure an internship. Some employers will require you to be enrolled in university, but others will not.
After all, if you have relevant skills, knowledge, or experience, you’re just as likely to be considered for an internship as any other degree-holding candidate. Of course, this depends on the nature of the work. To land an internship in an industry like healthcare, technology, engineering, or business, you will have to be at least in the process of pursuing a degree.
Land Your Internship With Ease
Getting an internship is not as hard as you may think. While you can get an internship without having on-field experience or a degree, the tricky part is standing out from the crowd.
Eventually, you will get calls from one of the companies you applied to. With an outstanding resume and the ability to promote your qualities, any internship could be an excellent opportunity.
If you want to improve your prospects, remember to:
- Regularly browse through internship-focused websites, like Chegg Internships and Interns World.
- Check job search websites, such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor.
- Follow companies you like on social media and check their websites often for open positions.
- Attend job fairs and networking events, where you can speak in person to recruiters.
- Email companies where you would like to work and ask if they offer intern positions.
Soon, the challenge will become deciding which internship opportunity you want to accept!
