Everyone has that same question on their minds: How is it already December? Before you know it, the fall semester will be over and it will be time to start thinking about spring. Figuring out exactly what you want to do so early can be nerve-wracking, but your worrying stops here.
Here are some easy ways to plan for the spring semester now.
1. Plan Ahead
Time passes by quick and so do job opportunities. Start researching different opportunities for the spring semester now. Being by evaluating your strengths and interests, and use those to figure out what it is exactly you want to do and based off of that. Research the industry you’re interested in and companies within it that you’d want to work for. Pinpoint your favorite companies, dig through their websites, and follow all their social media profiles. The earlier you have those applications in the better. Spring may seem far off, but there is a lot to be done.
2. Become A Member
Being a part of the FindSpark community gives you access to tons of online and offline resources and a community of young and established pros. General Membership is free and gives you access to hundreds of job and internship opportunities, you will be the first to know about any upcoming events, and you’ll receive weekly opportunity emails from CEO Emily Miethner herself (pretty cool, huh?).
You can also become a FindSpark Premium Member, which comes with perks like 50% off FindSpark events, access to the FindMentorship program, and many other great perks.
Being a part of the FindSpark community is much more than just (awesome) perks. Membership guarantees you a community like no other. One that supports and helps its members grow successfully. Click the big orange “Become a Member” button up top to join the community.
3. Set Goals
Understand what you want to be working in and why. And then narrow down those dream companies so you can do your research. It’s much better to spend more time focusing on a few companies that you’re really excited about and get a deep understanding of, rather than spending less time researching and applying to tons of companies. Understand the company culture and the position you are applying for. Spend a ton of time on doing your research. Is the company more casual or professional? What is the best way you can present yourself to this company? Once you have done your research, it is time to try to reach out.
4. Use the Job Board
Constantly check the FindSpark job board for new job and internship opportunities. The board is updated almost every day so be sure to see what’s up there to see if it appeals to what you are interested in. Constantly look to see if there are opportunities at your dream companies. There are already tons of spring opportunities available so check those out fast.
5. Reach Out
Now that you’ve done your research, it’s time for implementation. Get in touch with company employees and recruiters through email or social media platforms. I have found that Twitter is a great way to contact these professionals. Even if you are occasionally favoriting tweets, show that you are following the people involved in this company. It shows that you are passionate about it.
LinkedIn is also a great way to connect with people. Use LinkedIn as a tool to view the profiles of people who work for the company and see how they got there. Do as much research as you possibly can, as this can benefit you greatly later on. Create your resume, cover letter, and messages based on the style of the company and person you are reaching out to. Preparedness can really go a long way.
6. Stand Out
There are a lot of ways you can stand out to your dream company. To really make an impression on a recruiter, you must be prepared to speak, know your intentions, look confident, and smile. Have positive expectations of an interview whether the results are good or bad; you can learn from any mistakes and use them to improve yourself.
7. Follow Up
Once you get in contact with your dream company, it is important to follow up on the experience. Thank the employee for their time and reach out to them through email and social media. Stay on their radar. If that person does not immediately reply, try to contact them again through other platforms. Employers are busy, but if you continue to get in tough with them, they will notice you. Explain why meeting up with this person is so important.
8. Have a Backup
If you don’t find an internship for next semester, there are plenty of alternative options. Come up with alternatives early on so if your first plan doesn’t work out, you can go straight to your second one. You can focus more on school, or volunteer more. You could even dedicate the time to prepping for summer by going to events like Hustle Summit and searching for a summer internship. Be prepared and confident. You got this.
Have any tips on getting ahead? Share it with us in the comments.
