Dear Readers,

    I don’t know if you will be looking into internship opportunities this summer but for those of you who are and those of you who will someday, here are a few tips I have summed up from two summers of internships and multiple learning experiences over the years.

    First and foremost, to secure an internship offer and do well throughout your preparation and actual internship, you must do your homework well ahead of time!

    To prepare, do the necessary due diligence on the companies and/or programs that you are interested in. Make a list of your goals and include a timeline to make sure you hand in your applications before the official deadlines. Ask friends, family and utilize any resources you have to find out what skills the internships entail and what responsibilities will be expected of you. Use this newly-acquired knowledge to perfect your resume, cover letter and all other application materials.

    Once you have secured your interviews, practice interview questions with a classmate, a friend or even a video camera or voice recorder. Remember, practice makes perfect.

    If all goes well, and with some luck, an offer should materialize. If not, not to worry! Try again next time and be sure to keep in mind everything you’ve learned the first time around.

    Most summer internships last from eight to ten weeks. It is crucial that you are “on your best behavior” while at work.

    Stay focused, engaged, and curious. Ask as many questions as you like and show that you are there to learn.

    When possible, you can ask for projects or tasks that will benefit the firm or team that you are with. Should you make a mistake (and mistakes are often unavoidable), never try to cover it up; instead, be forthcoming about it and ask for guidance immediately to fix it.

    Prepared for pressure; although the internship is a learning experience, it can also be an ongoing interview with the firm in which they are assessing your capabilities and may want to extend a full-time job offer to you at the end of the summer.

    My personal methodology is to just do my best each and every day, one task at a time, and to be respectful, humble, genuine and myself at all times! If things work out, that’ll be wonderful; and if not, we’ll walk away with experience and knowledge, as well as confidence and a new skill set, so all’s well that ends well.

    Good luck and enjoy your carefree summer days whatever you plan to do with them! Stay safe.

    Sincerely, Laiyin