How to Land an Internship: A Student's Guide
Internships are the single fastest way to turn a degree into a career. The students who land the best ones rarely have the best grades — they start early, present themselves well, and use their network. Here's the playbook.
Start earlier than feels normal
Most competitive internships recruit months ahead — sometimes a full year before the role begins. If you wait until the term it starts, you've already missed the best ones.
Treat the search as an ongoing habit, not a one-time scramble: set aside a little time each week to look, apply, and follow up.
Build a profile that does the talking
Before you apply anywhere, make sure anyone who looks you up finds something. A clear profile with your field, interests, projects, and a short summary beats a blank one every time.
Show your work — coursework, side projects, volunteering, anything that proves you can do the thing. On stryd you can keep all of this in one profile and share it with a single link.
Apply with focus, not volume
Firing off a hundred identical applications feels productive but rarely works. A smaller number of tailored applications — where you clearly connect your skills to that specific role — converts far better.
Use a single board where internships, jobs, and volunteer roles are filterable in one place, so you spend your time applying rather than hunting across a dozen sites.
Use your network — it's your real edge
A huge share of internships are filled through referrals and warm introductions, not cold applications. The student who knows someone at the company has a massive advantage.
Ask peers, alumni, and mentors what they did and whether they can point you in the right direction. Most people are happy to help a motivated student who asks well.
Put this into practice on stryd
Find mentors, ask the community, and discover opportunities — the career network built for students.
Get started