The experience gained during internships is invaluable. You have studied several theories and concepts throughout your college career. Furthermore, you are more likely to get a full-time job after completing these courses. If you’re applying for internships or entry-level jobs, employers always look for core skills and traits regardless of your major.
In addition to your GPA, your prospective supervisor is also interested in other factors. If you are applying for your first job after college, seeking a summer internship, or seeking to improve your time-management skills this year, it is worthwhile to point out your transferable skills. In this post, you’ll learn how to find internships and key competencies employers seek to improve your hiring chances.
How to Find Internships
You stand the best chance of finding the perfect internship if you employ several strategies, including:
- Internet listings — Internship postings are abundant on the internet. If you’re looking for one, you can search online job search engines like Indeed and narrow your search by location or industry.
- Your network — You can also find internships by word of mouth. You can still find new professional opportunities by making relevant industry connections or asking someone close to you about upcoming training.
- Career centers — You can find internships at your local career center. If you have any questions about applications or interviews here, they can provide you with information about upcoming opportunities in your area.
- Company websites — Go to the careers pages of companies you already know where you’d like to work. A company’s careers section usually lists any internship opportunities they may have. Don’t miss out on any opportunities by checking back periodically.
Top Skills and Competencies Employers Seek
The key competencies employers will seek for your internship include:
Communication
Employers are interested in your ability to communicate professionally, especially in writing and speaking. You can demonstrate your writing ability during an interview by preparing a resume and cover letter and answering questions thoughtfully.
Consider mentioning your experience giving oral presentations during your interview. Communicating effectively, translating ideas and conveying information are essential in any career, whether working with a supervisor, coworkers, or clients. It is a skill that employers value highly.
Interpersonal
It is often necessary to have good people skills to communicate effectively. Depending on your industry, you may work with clients, vendors, coworkers, and even your boss. You must build relationships with team members and be the kind of person they want to work with.
Employers also value interpersonal skills because they want employees that can recognize and acknowledge different perspectives as well as identify the needs and wants of others.
Time Management
You have already demonstrated time management skills by taking a full course load and meeting assignment deadlines. In contrast, you will not have a syllabus giving you information about your deadlines as an intern.
Time management and producing results are your responsibility. Your employer wants to know that you can plan and prioritize duties.
Research and Analysis
Suppose you’ve written research papers or completed projects with the help of online study resources like this Biology paper as part of your coursework. In that case, you already have research and analysis experience. You don’t have to be shy during the internship interview.
Bring up the empirical research you conducted for your psychology class and what you concluded about your peers’ purchasing decisions at the campus bookstore. It’ll expose you to a lot of new information as a new member of the organization, and your ability to process that information determines your ability to perform your function.
Receptiveness
The ability to receive feedback is just as important as taking the initiative. If the employer asks about a time you made a mistake, you can explain how you handled the input and how you corrected it.
Your interviewer must know that you are capable of addressing any weaknesses that may exist.
Technical Proficiency
Suppose you intend to intern for a company within a highly specialized industry. In that case, you won’t the employer won’t expect you to know all the intricacies of the platform the company uses.
Nevertheless, you should be familiar with computers and the usage of essential productivity software.
Conclusion
The following are commonly sought-after skills among interns and entry-level job applicants. Ensure you research your particular industry and are familiar with other skills or character traits that you find helpful.
