Top Tips On Applying For An Internship

It doesn’t matter what role you’re applying for, you’re always going to need to send an up-to-date CV, and in most cases, a cover letter as part of your application.

Your CV should highlight any relevant work experience you have to date, as well as any volunteer work, extra-curricular activities, skills, education and contact details.

It’s important to align any experience you have with that of the internship job description, so you can really show employers why you’re the right fit.

Consider these tips when writing your CV:

• If you’ve already had some work experience, use the STAR technique – situation, task, action and result – to highlight your achievements.
• List your key accomplishments – backed up with examples and/or figures, as well as the everyday tasks performed in other jobs.
• Highlight any certificates or training courses you have done
• Try to keep your CV to one page where possible. Bullet point skills and responsibilities, keep your writing concise, and remove any waffle.
• Include a very brief bio at the top of your CV comprising one to two sentences maximum, which outlines your experience and why you want the role.
• Include any links to your personal website, portfolio, LinkedIn, or other professional channels.

Once you’ve written your CV and tailored it to the internship you’re applying for, it’s time to tackle your cover letter.

A cover letter adds additional context and information to your application, whereby you can go into more detail about your skills and past roles. It’s important that you don’t just repeat what’s on your CV, but instead persuade the reader why you’re the right candidate for the internship, including how you can benefit the business and what you’d hope to learn along the way.

A convincing cover letter might just make your intern application stand out from the crowd, even if you haven’t got as much experience as somebody else.

Use these tips when writing your cover letter:

• Demonstrate that you’ve done your research into the company, you understand it’s mission and the purpose of the internship
• Show that you have a genuine enthusiasm to work there
• Explain how previous roles or experience helped you prepare for the internship
• Share how you see yourself contributing to the success of the company, as well as the skills or training you’d like to gain along the way.
• Be sure to keep sentences clear and concise, and try to keep your cover letter no longer than two-thirds of a page.
• Ensure your cover letter is bespoke to the role and company you’re applying for.

If you’re unsure how to structure your CV, there are dozens of free CV templates online to give you a helping hand, and if in doubt, ask an ex-tutor, colleague, or trusted friend to check it over for you.

When filling out an intern application, be sure to attach any recent and relevant examples of your work. If you haven’t got any work from a full-time role you’re able to share, relevant college work or details of any volunteer work can also be helpful. Be sure to highlight how any skills or experience gained relate to the internship role you’re applying for.

When you’re thinking of applying for an internship, or any role for that matter, it’s good practice to take a look at your online presence and check that it conveys a professional image of you.

That means checking your social channels including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, to ensure they portray you in the best possible light, as often, recruiters and potential employers will look at these to get a better idea of you.

Boosting your online presence can also mean updating or creating a professional LinkedIn page for yourself, sort of like an online CV (minus any personal contact details), which outlines your skills, experience, any jobs held and education.

LinkedIn is also a great way to connect with likeminded professionals and companies, and can be a good tactic to finding internships and job roles that interest you.

Lastly, consider creating your own website. This could be a blog about your passions and interests, a place to showcase any work that you’re proud of or any past projects.

Ahead of an interview for an internship, it’s a good idea to practice your interview technique, so you’re fully prepared for what’s to come. It can also help you feel more relaxed on the day.

You could try:

• Searching online for common questions interviewers ask prospective interns and rehearsing your answers.
• Writing down questions you might want to ask the interviewer.
• Role-playing an interview scenario with a friend or family member.
• Practising non-verbal cues – including eye contact, where to place your hands, and so on.
• How to manage Zoom in the event of a virtual interview.
• Managing pre-interview nerves.

Writing down bullet points listing your key skills and relevant experience, tying them back to the internship job description.

As a common courtesy, following an interview for an internship, try to send a quick thank you email to your prospective employer. Whether or not you secure the role, it leaves a positive impression – and you never know what opportunities may arise in the future.

Whether or not you secure an internship role, always ask for feedback following an interview. If it went well, you’ll learn what your strengths are and know you’re on the right track. If you didn’t get the role on this occasion, any feedback gained provides you with valuable areas of improvement for next time.

Yes, all of our internships and apprenticeships with Better are paid. We are also a real living wage employer in over 90% of our locations.

An internship with Better typically lasts two years. During that time, candidates will get exposed to a variety of different areas of the business in order to develop staff and ensure all are multi-skilled. For example, with a corporate internship, you’d get the chance to work with HR, finance and marketing, allowing for a full and rounded knowledge of the business.

Typically, you may find more internships advertised early in the summer time once school and universities have finished, while some are advertised towards the end of the year. 

For many of our schemes at Better, we begin our selection process in the spring and invite successful candidates to start their training between August and September.

It really depends upon the internship and the company. If there’s a job opening towards the end of your internship and you’ve managed to impress the company you’ve been working for, you may well be offered a full time role. Here at Better, following a two-year internship with us, ideally you’d be ready to take on an assistant manager role – which is what you’d have been training towards during the internship. If you’re unsure what opportunities there might be for you following an internship, don’t hesitate to set up a meeting with your line manager for advice.