As a marketing major student, internships play a crucial role in preparing you for your future career. By participating in internships, you can gain hands-on experience in the field and apply the knowledge you've learned in the classroom to real-world scenarios. Moreover, internships offer an opportunity to network with professionals in the industry, which can lead to job opportunities and mentorship. In addition, internships can help you build your resume and develop important skills that employers are seeking.
However, finding the right internship can be challenging, and it's important to know when you should start looking for internships during different stages of your college career. Not all internships are created equal, and it's important to choose the ones that align with your future career goals. In this post, we'll provide you with many valuable insights on how to find the right internships at the right time, and which internships can best help you achieve your career aspirations.
When should I start applying?
Internships play a vital role in a college student's academic and professional growth. It provides with practical experience, helps students explore various career options, and build networks with professionals in their field of interest. However, finding the right internship can be overwhelming, especially when you consider the diverse stages of a college student's academic journey. Here we provide some tips on how to find internships that align with your goals and interests through the different stages of college.
Freshman Year:
- Attend career fairs and networking events on campus: Many college will host career fairs and networking events where students can meet representatives from different companies and organizations. These events can be a great opportunity to learn about various industries and get a sense of what types of internships are available. It's also a chance to practice networking skills and make connections that could lead to future internship opportunities.
- Consider volunteering or doing community service: Volunteering or doing community service can help you gain transferable skills that are relevant to many different industries. For example, if you volunteer at a local non-profit organization, you could gain experience in event planning, fundraising, and project management. This type of experience demonstrates your commitment to social responsibility and can make you a more attractive candidate for internships.
- Join clubs and organizations related to future career goals: Joining a club or organization related to your career interests can provide you with hands-on experience and help you build your resume. For example, if you're interested in marketing, you could join some brands or local businesses as a campus rep, learn how to promote the company, recruit new customers, provide customer support or collaborate with other campus reps. This type of experience can be valuable when applying for internships later on.
Sophomore Year:
- Use your college's career center: Your college's career center can be a valuable resource for finding internships. They may have job boards, resume and cover letter reviews, and career advisors who can help you navigate the internship search process. Make sure to take advantage of these resources early on to give yourself the best chance of finding an internship that aligns with your goals and interests.
- Apply for summer internships early: Many companies and organizations start recruiting for summer internships in the fall or early winter, so it's important to start your search early. Make a list of companies you're interested in and check their websites for internship postings. You can also use job boards like Indeed or Glassdoor to search for internships by location or industry.
- Consider informational interviews: Informational interviews are a great way to learn about different career paths and gain insights into the industry. Reach out to professionals in your field of interest and ask if they would be willing to talk to you about their job and career trajectory. You can use this information to guide your internship search and gain a better understanding of what types of skills and experience are necessary to succeed in your chosen field.
Junior Year:
- Attend industry conferences and events: Industry conferences and events can be a great way to meet professionals in your field and learn about the latest trends and developments. These events often include networking opportunities, keynote speakers, and panel discussions. Make sure to bring your resume and business cards to these events and be prepared to talk about your career goals and interests.
- Reach out to alumni: College's alumni network can be a valuable resource for finding internships. Reach out to alumni from your college who work in your field of interest and ask if they would be willing to provide advice or recommend internship opportunities. Alumni may also be able to give you insights into the company culture and what it's like to work in a particular industry.
- Use social media: Social media platforms like LinkedIn can be a powerful tool for finding internships. Make sure your profile is up-to-date and includes relevant keywords and skills. You can also use LinkedIn to search for internship opportunities in your field and connect with professionals who work in your target industry.
Senior Year:
- Consider doing a capstone or research project: Doing a capstone or research project related to your field of interest can be a great way to gain practical experience and demonstrate your skills to potential employers. For example, if you're interested in environmental science, you could do a project on sustainable agriculture or renewable energy. This type of experience can be valuable when applying for internships and can set you apart from other candidates.
- Consider doing a post-graduation internship or fellowship: Doing a post-graduation internship or fellowship can be a great way to gain additional experience and make connections in your industry. Many companies and organizations offer post-graduation internships or fellowships that can lead to full-time job offers. Make sure to start your search early and apply to as many opportunities as possible to give yourself the best chance of success.
What internships would be beneficial for marketing majors?
There are many different types of internships that can be beneficial for marketing majors. Here are some options to consider:
- Product marketing intern: This is perhaps the most obvious choice for marketing majors. A marketing internship can provide hands-on experience in areas such as market research, advertising, promotions, and digital marketing. You may work on projects such as creating marketing materials, managing social media accounts, and analyzing data to measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns.
- Public relations intern: Public relations (PR) is closely related to marketing, and a PR internship can provide valuable experience in areas such as media relations, crisis management, and event planning. You may work on projects such as drafting press releases, pitching stories to journalists, and coordinating events for the organization.
- Sales intern: Sales is another area that is closely related to marketing, and a sales internship can provide experience in areas such as lead generation, customer relationship management, and sales forecasting. You may work on projects such as identifying new sales prospects, building relationships with existing customers, and analyzing sales data to identify trends.
- Market research intern: Market research involves gathering and analyzing data to make informed decisions about marketing strategies. A market research internship can provide experience in areas such as survey design, data analysis, and market segmentation. You may work on projects such as designing and conducting surveys, analyzing data to identify trends, and presenting findings to stakeholders.
- Social media intern: Social media is an increasingly important component of marketing, and a social media internship can provide experience in areas such as content creation, community management, and analytics. You may work on projects such as creating social media posts, responding to comments and messages, and analyzing data to measure the effectiveness of social media campaigns.
- Event planning intern: Event planning is another area that is closely related to marketing, and an event planning internship can provide experience in areas such as logistics, budgeting, and marketing. You may work on projects such as coordinating vendors, managing event timelines, and promoting events to increase attendance.
Places to Find a Great Marketing Internship this Summer
Many opportunities for marketing internships are published every day. It pays to look for them in several different places. In our research, we’ve found that websites list interesting marketing internships:
Indeed is always a good place to start looking for marketing internships, because it aggregates online internship postings from other websites. The marketing internships on Indeed are comprehensive and up-to-date. You can also filter listings by keyword and location. That comes in handy if you want to do a marketing internship in a specific place.
Another good place to look for marketing internship listings is LinkedIn. LinkedIn is the top social media platform for professionals and corporations. If you want to do an internship with specific businesses or organizations, then it pays to follow them on LinkedIn. Check regularly so you’ll be one of the first to see their internship postings. You can also connect with employees in these companies and start building your network.
Glassdoor also lists marketing internships. However, it’s more than a job board; it’s also a review site for employers. When you find internships you’re interested in, you can research the business or organization that posted it to see if it’s a place you’d like to do your internship. You’ll find a lot of useful information about internships, employers, and jobs on Glassdoor. You do have to create an account and submit your reviews to access the content.
SimplyHired is another job board that has listings for marketing internships. Simply type “marketing internships” in the search bar, add a location or “remote,” then click Search Jobs. SimplyHired also provides a suite of tools and resources to help job seekers with their job search, including salary estimators, resume builders, and career advice articles, which can be helpful for individuals searching for internships as well.
If you’re looking to do a marketing internship overseas, then Intern Abroad HQ is the job board for you. This site lists internship programs in Europe, Asia, Africa, Central America, and South America. Remote internships are included as well. They take care of everything, from placement to overseas accommodation and providing local support to interns.
