Get ahead: Why Early Internship Planning Matters
If you’re a first-year student, now is the perfect time to start planning your internship for next year.
Let’s face it: Internships are competitive and giving yourself the time to strategise and prepare will go a long way to help you secure a fulfilling internship experience. The great news is that you don’t have to do it alone. The Internships Team is here to guide you every step of the way, from finding the right internships to polishing your applications.
We spoke with Dara from the Internships Team about how to avoid common application mistakes and what steps you can take to be proactive and make a favourable impression.
1. Personalise your application
Your time is precious so make the most of it by focusing on what will make your application stand out.
When applying for internships, personalising your application, including your cover letter, to the specific organisation you’re interested in lets employers know why you are the right fit.
Employers and the Internships Team can easily spot when a student has reused the same application for multiple opportunities, which can be a red flag. Unlike job applications with clear selection criteria, internships are focused on the learning experience, so how can you stand out?
The key is to highlight what excites you, or why you are passionate, about that particular organisation. Mention specific projects you’ve worked on, projects the organisation is involved with, and/or how the organisation aligns with your values. Yes, it’s important to showcase your skills, but also make it clear why the organisation is the right fit for your internship goals.
2. Apply for internships that most interest you
The University offers internships through Career Hub and specific degree-related internship webpages. Instead of applying for all of them, focus on the top three that genuinely interest you. Research the organisations and craft tailored applications. Quality beats quantity — putting effort into a few applications is more likely to land you an interview than submitting a generic application to many organisations.
Hot take: While important, your GPA is not the determining factor. The Internships Team and organisations look at the application as a whole. We want to know absolutely everything about what motivates you to apply and what skills you can bring.
3. Interview skills: What's your story?
In an internship interview, what sets candidates apart is their passion for the organisation and the industry. Many students miss the chance to express why they’re excited about what they're studying, so highlight this in your interview. When asked about why you applied for the internship, emphasise your enthusiasm for the industry and what drew you to the organisation.
Also, prepare thoughtful questions to ask at the end of the interview. Instead of asking when you’ll find out about the internship outcome, consider questions about the company culture, what a typical day might look like and the teams you’ll work with. These questions show that you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in the role. You will find out when they are going to decide at the end of the interview.
To help you prepare for behavioural questions you might be asked, use the STAR technique as a guide. STAR stands for:
Situation – set the scene by talking about the key details of your example.
Task – describe your role and responsibilities in that scenario.
Action – explain the steps you took to handle the situation.
Result – highlight the outcomes your actions achieved, and what you learned from the situation.
Behavioural questions are the most common type of interview questions and answers. For example, what was a challenging situation you overcame in the workplace or in a university setting? Tell me about a time when you were communicating with someone and they did not understand you, what did you do? What did you do when a project changed direction at the last minute?
4. Contact organisations
If you’re interested in a particular organisation consider reaching out to them directly. Introduce yourself, mention your upcoming second year, and inquire about potential internship opportunities. The Internships Team offers resources, including email templates to help you craft your message. The templates also provide guidance on setting deadlines, knowing when to follow up, and recognising when it’s time to move on if you don’t get a response. This proactive approach can help you secure an internship with an organisation that aligns with your goals.
5. Make use of the University's free services
Reach out to Career Services, which offer workshops on writing cover letters and resumes, and interview practice sessions. These resources are designed to help you prepare for jobs and internships. While internships may not have specific selection criteria, tailoring your cover letter to highlight what interests your about the organisation is key — just as it is for job applications.
Information about internships is available on the Internships website, and our team is here to answer any questions. These services are free, and getting started in your first year will set you up for success in the years to come.
How to contact the Internships Team
The Internships Team facilitates elective internships. Students need to ensure that they have sufficient elective space in their study plan to undertake an internship.
Phone: +61 8 8313 0400
Email: internships@adelaide.edu.au
Resources
Internships – resources for self-sourcing an internship and eligibility
Internships - Faculty specific internships
Career Hub – resources for preparing applications
Headspace – job interviews: how to ace behavioural questions