First things first
But first, let’s deal with the elephant in the room – do you need experience to land an internship? Luckily, the answer is “no." Most employers don’t expect you to have professional work experience.
📣 Hear it from a recruiter
“We're not expecting internship candidates to have had previous professional work experience. We don't expect you to have already worked as an engineer, architect or scientist - we know that an internship is designed to give you this experience, so don't stress about this.” – Graduate Recruitment Lead at GHD
However, that doesn’t mean you can send in a blank resume and call it a day! Notice the recruiter said they’re not expecting “professional work experience.”
In other words, while you don't need formal job experience in your chosen field, you still need to show that:
- You’re serious about the company and role.
- You’ve got the potential to succeed.
- You’re able to thrive in the professional world.
... and the more real-world experiences you have to show these things, the better!
Ways to show you’re serious
#1 Show you’re serious about the company and the role
👉 Here’s how
- Make sure you know enough to say what the company does (its core products & services), how they do it (their methods & technologies), and who they do it for (their target market or clients). After all, only then can you figure out how you fit in!
- Also ask “How does the company make money?” This question will often uncover surprising insights into the company’s strategy and direction.
- Look the company up in the news and ask your interviewer some questions about what you read.
- Research the company’s mission and values. (Though almost everyone does this at this point – anyone can read a corporate website! – so leave this for last.)
✅ Why this works
- Nearly 80% of employers expect applicants to know about their organisation. Yet this is where many students fall short.
- From the employer’s perspective, if you’re not serious about the company now, how can you be serious about it after you get the internship?
- And let’s be real: If you don’t have relevant experience, it helps to at least show that you’re serious … and not applying on a whim like many of your peers!
📣 Hear it from a recruiter
“An understanding of [our company] shows that a candidate has done prior research and indicates a genuine interest in our company and business.” – Recruitment team at FDM Group
#2 Show that you’re passionate about the industry
👉 Here’s how
- Find hands-on ways to demonstrate your passion. Participating in business case competitions or managing the finances of a student club say much more about you than saying “I’m passionate about business.”
- Regularly write on Linkedin about new things you learn about the industry.
- Join industry-related clubs or online forums to engage with professionals. If there aren’t any related clubs at your school, start one!
- Attend workshops and seminars to continually develop your knowledge and skills.
- If you’re majoring in something totally unrelated to the degree, highlighting relevant coursework can help convince recruiters of your interest.
✅ Why this works
- Whether it’s engineering or human resources, passion for a specific field often translates into motivation, creativity, and a willingness to go the extra mile – all things that recruiters like to see.
📣 Hear it from a recruiter
“In hiring interns for top financial services firms, as I’ve done for 15 years or so, I’m always looking for indicators that the candidate is genuinely interested in finance.” – Former Head of Recruiting at Goldman Sachs
#3 Get to know recruiters
👉 Here’s how
- Go to industry events and career fairs to meet recruiters.
- Connect with them online and send them a personalised follow-up message expressing your interest in the company.
- Keep in touch with them by commenting on relevant content they share on Linkedin or emailing them – just don't be overly pushy in your approach.
✅ Why this works
- Recruiters are the decision-makers of the hiring process, so it’s a good idea to show them in person how serious you are about the role.
- Recruiters get hundreds, if not thousands, of applications. So meeting them in person – and staying in touch – can help them put a face to your application.
Ways to show you’ve got potential
#4 Highlight relevant projects
👉 Here’s how
- If you’ve done any school projects or side projects that showcase skills that would be useful for the internship, don’t be shy about bringing them up!
- Focus on projects that are unique. For example, everyone who’s taken an intro software programming course has probably made a timer app. So make something that goes beyond the basics.
- Detail the projects on your resume, focusing on your role and the skills you used. Then relate the projects to the internship's responsibilities in your cover letter and interview.
- Create a portfolio to demonstrate your work and share it during the application process.
✅ Why this works
- One of the biggest concerns recruiters have when hiring students is the uncertainty about whether you can translate the skills you’ve learned into the real world. Working on pet projects shows that you can do just that!
- Projects also show that you didn’t just take classes (which anyone can do) - you care enough to work on your skills in your free time.
- This tip works well for tech jobs – after all, there’s nothing more convincing to a tech recruiter than an app or software program that actually works.
- But really it’s the case for almost any job out there. Whether it's a marketing campaign you designed for a class, a community event you organised, or even a personal blog you write, these experiences can set you apart from other candidates and provide tangible evidence of what you're capable of.
#5 Show that you can learn quickly
👉 Here’s how
- Provide examples of how you've adapted to new challenges, learned a new skill, or improved a process quickly.
- After your interview, ask for feedback. For example, you could say something like "This is one of my first times interviewing. Would you be able to provide any honest feedback or thoughts on how I did? I'd really appreciate your insights for my own personal development reasons!."
✅ Why this works
- Most companies prefer fast learners. They’re quicker to train, and therefore less costly for the company.
- Failing that, they’ll hire junior folks who are at least keen to learn. So show you can take feedback, adapt, and learn on the fly.
Ways to show you’re professional
#6 Show that you’ve got soft skills
👉 Here’s how
- Think about what soft skills the role requires. (Hint: The job description is a good place to start).
- Use specific examples to demonstrate how you’ve applied these skills in the past. For example, if you’re trying to show you’ve got teamwork skills, don’t just say you were on a sports team; share an anecdote about being a team player.
- It is totally OK to draw from your experiences working part-time jobs, student clubs, or volunteer activities as long as they help you make a convincing case for your soft skills.
- A survey found that 8 out of 10 graduate employers look for resilience and have emotional intelligence so find some examples in your life that demonstrate these qualities.
✅ Why this works
- At the junior level, employers don’t expect you to have too many hard skills. They know that soft skills are way harder to teach … so if you’ve got ‘em, make sure to flaunt ‘em!
#7 Show that you can get things done
👉 Here’s how
- Whenever you bring up an experience (e.g. in your CV, cover letter or interview), focus on showing how you “got things done” – this means highlighting not the tasks you performed, but the impact you achieved.
- Another way to think about this is to focus on achievements that are unique to you.
- For example, let’s say you worked a retail job during uni. If you bring it up in your application, don’t dwell on your day-to-day tasks (“I stocked shelves, operated the cash register, and assisted customers”) – anyone who’s ever worked in retail could say that! Instead, mention how you boosted sales (e.g. “Recognized as Top Salesperson of the Quarter for consistently exceeding sales targets by 20%”).
✅ Why this works
- In the world of working professionals, you’ll always be measured by your ability to get things done and contribute to their organisation – that’s why people hire you in the first place and why they give you bonuses and raises later on.
- Focusing on specific achievements allows you to present yourself as a capable and results-driven individual, even without a traditional employment background in the field.
What next?
If you're ready to take the next step, Prosple is here to help!
So explore, apply, and let your unique qualities shine. Start your search on Prosple today, and take the first step towards a rewarding career.