Advance your career

Getting Started On Your Internship Search: March Is The Best Month to Apply

Getting started on your internship search doesn’t have to be daunting. We took a look at LinkedIn data to see where you should look and when to apply.

As we approach the middle of the spring semester, it’s time to get started on your internship search. While the competition is fierce and many students don’t typically know where to start, LinkedIn has new information that can help. We took a look at how millions of university students landed their internships to help get you started on your search.

If you’re interested in learning more about the most popular internships by major and the industries that have the highest chance of translating an internship into a full time job, look no further than this post about the three things you need to know to get started on your internship search.

Apply now to increase your chances of landing an internship

Last year, internship applications spiked in March. The data also shows that if you apply in March, you increase your chances of getting an internship.

We know spring break is coming up, but now is not the time to procrastinate. It’s the perfect time to start exploring which internships are right for you. Start by browsing more than 65,000 internship openings on LinkedIn, or take a look at where 2016 grads ended up to get a sense for the companies that are hiring entry level talent.

chart

Focus your internship search on large U.S. metros

It’s no surprise that big metro areas in the U.S. offer the greatest number of opportunities for interns. Focus your search on these cities to give yourself the best chance of landing an internship.

Map

Set yourself up for a successful internship search

  • Complete your LinkedIn profile. A complete LinkedIn profile increases your chances of being discovered by recruiters; even just adding a photo makes you stand out in a crowd. Add any relevant job or volunteer experience, education, and skills (e.g. Collaboration, Leadership), and you’re well on your way.

  • Grow your network. Your professional network is the best tool you have as you embark on your job hunt. Add friends from your class or campus clubs, and consider joining LinkedIn Groups that are relevant to your professional interests.

  • A warm introduction goes a long way. Reach out to university alumni. They may be more open to talking with current students and it’s a great way to get the conversation started. In addition to helping you in your search, talking to alumni is a good way to get a sense for the types of jobs people with your major took after graduation.

Time to get out there and start searching. This could be the start of getting your foot in the door.

#StartSomething

*Applies among hires is based on members who started a new position within 4 months of applying to their employer’s internship job posting. Data for the final four months of the year has been adjusted to account for missing data and reflect prior trends.