How a Charger Landed Her First Internship and What She Learned Along the Way

Preparation to get my first internship felt overwhelming. I remember asking myself: “Where do I start? What if I get rejected?” If you’re asking yourself these questions and many more, you’re not alone. Realistically, most students do feel unprepared at the beginning, no matter how much we did to be prepared – but I learned that landing your first internship is possible as long as there’s a right approach and mindset.

Even though I had some experience, I found myself questioning whether or not I was “enough.” Sometimes, it felt like there was always at least one person who was more qualified. However, I realized that internships are mainly meant for students who are still learning, building their path, and are willing to learn more. Employers aren’t expecting perfection. After all, no one is perfect. Ideally, they are looking for potential and a willingness to grow and learn. Once I knew that, the process became a lot less intimidating. This goes to say that you should never doubt yourself.

To prepare to land my first internship, I focused on building my resume with the help of the Career Development Center. With the experience I had, I wanted to make sure I was presenting it strong and professionally. Moreover, getting feedback helped me to understand what employers are usually looking for and ways in which I could highlight my strengths more clearly. It’s extremely important to ensure that your resume is organized and tailored to the position that you’re applying for and, with guidance, not only will your resume be improved, but you will also have more confidence when applying to internships. So, utilize those resources provided at the university such as the Career Development Center.

Another key part of the process was the importance of being consistent and intentional. Whether you’re applying for a job or internship, focus on roles that align with your interests and goals. In taking time to do this, it didn’t only make my application stronger but also helped me to feel more confident and purposeful throughout the process.

Another tip to land an internship is networking. This is something that I didn’t think was as important, but it turned out to be extremely so. Starting out, I didn’t have a huge network, but putting myself out there more and attending events helped me to learn about opportunities that aren’t showcased and that I wouldn’t have found on my own. I quickly came to the conclusion that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who knows you.

Further more, I learned to always be open-minded when starting a new experience. Currently, I am serving as a Computer Science intern for the City of New Haven in the (PSAP), where I’m helping the team transition to new systems. This has been a valuable opportunity that is allowing me to gain hands-on experience and grow both professionally and personally. It has given me insight into a work environment, and it’s helping me to better understand my strengths. This experience has been delightful, and I’ve been able to take on responsibilities, learn from professionals, and apply what I’ve learned in the classroom, which reinforces why the steps I’ve spoken about to land an internship matter. Gaining experience is important because it builds your confidence and prepares you for even greater opportunities in the future.

Most importantly, I learned to be patient with myself. Always remember that everyone’s journey is different. Some people land internships quickly, while others take more time. That’s okay. The only thing that matters is not giving up. At the end of the day, landing my first internship wasn’t about being the most experienced person in the room. It was about showing that I was willing to learn, put in effort, and take initiative. If you stay consistent and open-minded, you will find an opportunity that works for you.

So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, know that every application, conversation, and every step you take brings you closer to your goal. Remember to utilize your resources, focus on opportunities that align with your interests, and network. By following these steps, your process will be a lot smoother and increase your chances of securing that internship.

And something that I always like to remind myself of, and maybe you should too, is that: rejection is redirection.