How to stand out and secure that internship spot

Seasoned public relations practitioner Jacqueline Arnold shares practical tips on how students can prepare for internship interviews, avoid common mistakes, and improve their chances of landing a placement.

Many institutions of higher learning have made internships a compulsory component of their degree programmes. So, one would think that every student would prepare diligently for an interview to secure an internship.

My expectations are, of course, higher for students in mass communication, public relations, media studies, and journalism because, after all, they should be good communicators. Sadly, this is not always the case.

Nothing disappoints me more than someone who is not prepared for an interview. And after a recent interview that went very badly for the candidate, I thought offering some advice to students preparing for internship interviews was in order.

It’s important to start with preparation

Research the organisation that you’ve applied to. Do a Google search and check its website and social media platforms. Find out all you can about the organisation and make a list of questions you could ask the interviewer.

Ask insightful questions that distinguish you from other applicants. These questions should relate to information that is not already available on the organisation’s website.

Prepare what you could share

This can include your interests, involvement in non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and student projects to share with the interviewer to impress them.

Refresh your memory about the projects you’ve been involved in; what the objectives of the project were, what challenges were faced during the planning and implementation, how you overcame them, the measurable results of the project, whether the objectives were achieved, any lessons learnt, etc.

LinkedIn and social media platforms

First and foremost, delete any highly personal or inappropriate content. This could include photos, posts, and comments.

If you have a LinkedIn account, ensure that you post regularly about your subject of study or relevant opinion pieces. There is no point in having a LinkedIn account if you do not have any content.

If possible, get someone to role-play or rehearse the interview with you and give you feedback for improvement.

What to do on the day of the interview

Be early for the interview. It makes a very good first impression.

Throughout the interview, exhibit enthusiasm and be honest.

Greet the interviewer(s) with a pleasant smile, thank them for the opportunity, and express how excited you are for the chance to intern with their organisation.

Prepare to talk about yourself to give the interviewer deeper insight into who you are as a person. In addition to basic information about which state you’re from, how many members are in your family, and where you live, talk about your hobbies, interests, which societies or NGOs you are active in, and any major successes while at school or university.

These are some possible questions the interviewer may ask you:

Tell me about yourself.

What do you like to do in your free time?

What’s your favourite novel and why?

Why did you decide to take up this field of study? What do you like most about it? What do you like least about it?

What’s your favourite subject and why?

What do you think your strengths are?

What are your weaknesses and how do you overcome them?

Tell us about a student project you were involved in; what was the biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?

Do you think the project achieved its objectives and why do you say so?

How do you feel about working after hours and on weekends?

What do you think is the most important role of a spokesperson?

Who, in your opinion, is a good spokesperson for their organisation?

What do you hope to achieve during your internship?

Finally, close the interview by thanking the interviewer for their time and saying how much you’re looking forward to a positive result.

Post-interview

After the interview, follow up with an email thanking the interviewer for their time; restate what you could contribute to the organisation and your hope for a successful outcome.

Remember that to catch their attention, you need to shine. So, preparation is the key to success. When you’re prepared, you will be able to clearly articulate how your skills match the internship position, and your confidence will directly increase your chances of securing the position. Good luck!

The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the writer and do not represent that of Twentytwo13.