2 minute read
Discovering Hidden Internships
Not all internship opportunities are advertised publicly. Apply speculatively, and you may just get what you seek!
When it comes to advertising internship opportunities, some smaller companies may not have the budget for it. On the other hand, some employers may not need to take in large numbers of students as interns.
However, that doesn’t mean that such employers are against the idea of having interns on board. They may be amenable to taking on one or two interns for a short period of time, or they may also be open to the idea of having students on board to shadow professionals at work.
As these opportunities may not be advertised, the onus is on you to find them through research, and sending in speculative applications. Here’s how you can get started.
STEP 1
Identify prospective employers
Start by shortlisting employers in the industry you’re interested in. Google and LinkedIn are two primary tools you can use to help you in your search.
Use search engines to learn more about prospective employers, and don’t forget about online press releases and news portals! Fully utilise LinkedIn by looking up department heads or managers working in the companies you’ve shortlisted. You can connect with them to ask about possible internship opportunities.
Alternatively, you may speak to graduated seniors who are currently working in the industry you’re interested in. You can get in touch with them to ask if their employers are open to taking interns.
STEP 2
Craft your speculative application
If you aren’t sure if the contact you’ve connected with on LinkedIn is someone who makes hiring decisions, you can always drop them a professional message to ask for the specific department head or hiring manager’s email address.
Before initiating contact with the person in charge, be sure to update your resume and customise your cover letter to the specific employer, so you can attach them in your first email.
You can use the content of your cover letter as the body of your email or message. Here are some tips on how to structure it:
• Address the recipient by name, instead of using “Dear Sir/Madam”.
• If you were asked to send your application to an email address, make sure to also ask for the name of the person who’ll be reading your email. Otherwise, you can call the organisation to find out who the best person is to address your application to.
• Clearly state your objective of finding work experience opportunities, along with how long you’re able to commit.
• Show that you’ve done some research on the employer by highlighting why you chose to apply to them.
Showcase your knowledge on what the organisation does in its specific market, and why you’re interested in its business.
• Mention the skills and knowledge you can bring to the table, and emphasise how you can contribute.
STEP 3
Follow up on your application
If you haven’t heard back from the employer about a week or so after you’ve submitted your application, give them a call. Considering that speculative applications are made for opportunities that aren’t advertised, there may be no urgent need for the employer to bring on interns.
Hence, it would be wise to call them directly to get the recruiter’s or manager’s attention. If they haven’t decided on whether to recruit you as an intern, the call will remind them to expedite the decision-making process.
