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How to Land a Summer Internship in the Creative Arts

Creative arts internships offer you a valuable opportunity to learn and grow your skills, to build your professional network, and to find a solid professional reference or maybe even a mentor—and finding the right internship can make a big difference in your future.

The job market can certainly be a competitive place, and having one or more internships on your resume alongside your creative arts degree can help to give you an edge on other candidates. Summer is around the corner, but there's still time to find and apply for a summer internship that's right for you. Here's how to get started!

1. Sell Your Skillset

It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a lot experience. In fact, no one expects you to. Find a way to sell yourself as the best person for the internship by talking up what makes you unique—things like your art, your interests, and all your relevant achievements so far. For example, if one of your photographs won an award in a competition last year, be sure to mention it! Even better, make sure you have it in on display in your portfolio. Or, if you’re the president of your school’s media arts club, definitely include that on your resume.

2. Make Your Cover Letter Stand Out

Hiring managers review dozens of cover letters for each open position, so they know how to spot a generic one crafted from a template. No one wants to read a boring cover letter that could be written for any internship at any company, so take the time to personalize yours. If at all possible, find the name of the hiring manager and address it to them. Scan the job description for frequently used keywords and incorporate these into your message. Research the company and briefly explain why you want to be part of their team and what you can bring to the table that will benefit them. And, of course, don’t forget to triple-check for typos!

3. Network, Network, Network

Competition for the best internships can be intense, so it’s often who you know that can make all the difference. Talk to your instructors, career services, and other school staff to let them know you’re looking. Find local chapters of relevant professional organizations, join them, and attend their networking events; many even offer discounted memberships to students. If you’re not already on LinkedIn, be sure to join this social networking site, as it has more than 347 million members worldwide — 39 million who are students or recent graduates.

4. Create Your Own Opportunities

Are there any places you’ve always dreamed of working for? Organizations whose work routinely inspires you? Check their websites to see if they’re hiring interns. If not, find their HR or company contact information online and send a note explaining your interest along with your resume and a link to your online portfolio if you have one. It never hurts to try, and they might just be impressed with your initiative!

Current students, want help with your internship search? Contact Career Services at your campus!