Initiating Process One: Making Contact for the Internship
Ellie Breitfeld, the Natural Sciences Correspondent, recently attended the "Insider's Look at Internships" event as an ambassador for OURSIP - the Office of Undergraduate Research's Student Initiated Internships Program. This event provided valuable insights into the process of finding research internships for the upcoming summer.
One key strategy is to start early and stay organized. Beginning your search months in advance and keeping track of potential opportunities, deadlines, and application statuses in a spreadsheet can help you stay on top of things.
University Career Services play a crucial role in this process. Utilizing your university’s career website or platform (e.g., Handshake) can help you find internships specifically curated for your institution, including for-credit options that can count toward your academic progress. Career fairs and university-hosted networking events are also excellent opportunities to meet recruiters and professionals who offer internships or may provide future contacts.
Don't forget to schedule appointments with career advisors for personalized guidance tailored to your field and goals. They can help you narrow your search, optimize your application materials, and prepare for interviews.
Searching online platforms, from broad to niche, is another effective strategy. Apply on large job sites such as Indeed and LinkedIn, but also consider niche platforms like Extern or industry-specific boards to uncover hidden or specialized opportunities.
Networking strategically is essential. Build connections with professors, alumni, and professionals via LinkedIn or at career events. Request informational interviews to learn about their work and express your research interests, which can open doors to self-initiated internships or referrals.
Proactively contacting faculty members or research groups at your university or other institutions can lead to unpaid or credit-earning research internships that may not be publicly advertised. Prepare a concise proposal or statement explaining your research interest, what you hope to contribute, and why you want to work with them.
Tailor your application materials for every internship. Customize your resume and cover letter, incorporating keywords and highlighting relevant coursework, projects, or volunteer experience related to research. Practice mock interviews to prepare for behavioral and technical questions.
After applying, send polite follow-up emails to show your enthusiasm. If your search is slow, consider externships or volunteer research assistant roles to build experience and strengthen your resume.
Programs like OURSIP exist to help make self-initiated internships financially possible. Princeton's Summer Research Programs database is another resource for finding summer research opportunities. Meeting with an adviser can help narrow down interests, refer to other Princeton professors, and help with reaching out to potential internship providers.
Remember, reaching out to academic advisers or professors with whom classes have been taken can be helpful in the internship search process. Other Princeton programs like PICS or IIP assist students in the internship search process as part of the program.
This guide aims to help students searching for research internships next summer. Whether you're looking for funding for unpaid internships or seeking to broaden your horizons through research abroad, these strategies can help you navigate the process successfully.
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