Ask Mandy: I Have No Idea Where to Start Looking for Internships in the Midst of COVID-19

What does the job market look like right now, in the midst of the global pandemic? For college students, another important question to ask is, what do internships look like in these trying times? 

I could write for days on this topic, as I’ve worked as a student worker in Career Development for two years now, and I could point you to an article I wrote about my own personal experience completing an internship from home, but honestly, there is no straightforward answer to this question.

Each industry is different, and the complications that arise because of coronavirus are plentiful, but this article is my attempt to clarify some questions many students may have about searching for internships in 2020. With that being said, this week’s main Ask Mandy question is as follows:

“I haven’t gotten an internship yet and I feel like I’m so far behind! I have no idea where to start. What are internships like now with COVID-19? Any advice?”

To begin answering this question, I spoke with Laura Zirngible, internship counselor in the St. Kate’s Career Development Office. She had great insights and offered plenty of advice on how to get started in the internship search process.

“Now is the perfect time to be searching and applying for both Spring and Summer 2021 positions!” Laura says. “There are many internships listed on Handshake for both terms and more will be posted soon. It's best to start searching for internships at least one semester ahead to allow time to find internship positions and apply with a well-formulated resume [and] cover letter, and in order to not miss important application deadlines.”

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

How to Search

As Laura mentions, Handshake is the best tool for St. Kate’s students to look for internships. Employers post positions daily, and the website is very user-friendly, with filters for type of employment and location. 

In this case, you can simply click the “Internship” filter button at the top of the search page. The Handshake algorithm automatically selects the most relevant internships based on your major, year in school, and your past searches.

Handshake is one of the best tools for the internship-search process. Here’s a screenshot of the job search page with the internship filter button selected.

Things to Consider

Laura mentions that it is best to apply for multiple internships and to further narrow your search by keeping things like location, transportation needs, and COVID safety and precautions implemented by the company in mind. Be sure to think ahead about how an internship will fit with your school or other work schedules.

“It is also important to know that it doesn't always have to be the perfect company or internship title to be a great internship experience,” Laura says. “It is often the effort that the student contributes to the experience that can make it the best internship experience ever.”

Internships and COVID

Even amidst the global pandemic, there are internships available for students of all majors, but there have been changes made in the availability of roles, especially in healthcare or non-profit organizations, where the focus of many internships includes interacting directly with people. 

“Many organizations including business, corporate, government, and some non-profits have adapted their internships to be virtual roles. This change has provided new options to students for positions that would have otherwise been non-virtual in nature,” says Laura.

Because of changes in the availability of positions, there has been an increase in competition for many internships, which is why it’s so important for students to plan ahead at least one semester. This allows time for students to find positions and apply to them with a well-prepared resume, cover letter, and any other materials the company asks for on the application.

Career Development is Here to Help

The last thing I will say about this topic — and I have it on good authority that Laura agrees with this point — is that the Career Development Center on campus is an excellent (and free!) resource for anything career, major, or internship-related. Though now virtual, all career appointments and services are still available and you can schedule an appointment by calling (651) 690-8890 or emailing askcareer@stkate.edu. Check out the Virtual Career Center page for more information and career-related content.