Internship applicants should use all tools

I have recently found myself lost within the unforgiving cycle of finding an internship, which has knocked me off my feet and has given me, frankly, a reality check about the real world.

The job market has become increasingly tough over the past decade. Jobs are hard to come by, especially those in a field you are actually interested in. As the job market becomes more competitive, college students are starting to feel the heat of rejection and are pressured to begin the internship and job search earlier than in past generations. Our parents spent college taking classes that they enjoyed and going to parties with friends; we struggle to fill our schedules with as many related experiences and research positions possible. The anxiety to get ahead sometimes inhibits our ability to experience our life in the present.

The problem with finding an internship in this world is the level of experience that is required for such positions. Nearly every company that I applied to was looking for previous experience in the field, making it difficult for a younger applicant to reach the qualifications that were required. Despite involvement in clubs relating to my field at Hopkins, as well as various other activities showcasing a wide range of interests, my resúme seemed thin and paled in comparison to those of my classmates. Everyone else was in one more organization, had a higher GPA or went on one more volunteer trip than me. As much as I tried to beef up my resume and as proud as I was of my accomplishments, I kept falling flat throughout the application process.

Age limits also stood in my way when applying. Many of the jobs I was looking at specifically requested seniors or graduate student applicants but would accept very qualified juniors. As a sophomore, I applied for these positions anyway to get my name out in the industry, knowing that I was probably going to come up short. Due to the current state of the job market, many recent graduates are having a harder time finding employment, leading companies to hire the more qualified grad as opposed to an undergrad for an unpaid internship. This pushes undergrads out of worthwhile opportunities, and thus reinforces the cycle of “under qualified” undergrad applicants. More and more undergraduates are falling through the cracks, their age and year in school almost overshadowing their credentials.

Networking has also become fundamental in the job and internship search — people that know someone or have even some sort of connection with a company are more likely to be chosen for a position over another applicant of comparable qualifications. While having connections has always been an important component in the job search, the flux of media promotions like Linkedln has made connecting with employers easier. This type of resource needs to be utilized for one to be successful in the work world. Those who ignore these tools may run risk of being ignored themselves when they apply for a position. I have been lucky enough to have older and wiser friends guide me through the internship search, making my experience equally as demanding but emotionally more manageable. Their support and advice has been the only thing guiding me; without it I would have been lost in the dark. I still have my fingers crossed to hear back from some awesome companies and can only continue to work hard to be hired. To all of you out there struggling with the internship process, you are not alone. Your time will come with a lot of work and little sleep. 

Megan is a sophomore from Newtown Square, Pa. majoring in Writing Seminars.