Getting a summer internship is a major priority for many LSE students, and the application process can be a time-consuming, stressful one. However, if you go about it the right way, you can ease a lot of the stress that stereotypically comes with it, and put yourself in the best possible position to secure an internship, and hopefully a graduate job afterwards. Having completed some internships in the legal field myself, these are my top tips to help you secure one. 

Cast your net wide

Internships should be done at an organisation you find interesting, at a place you could truly see yourself working at if they offered you a permanent graduate position. However, although it’s good to have a general idea of where you’d like to work, it’s still advisable to keep your options open, as an internship will help you gain a much greater idea of the company’s culture and the work you might complete. 

I advise that you put out a considerable amount of applications, but strike a good balance between quality and quantity. It’s no use for you to put out a great deal of applications that are riddled with mistakes, and don’t convey any passion as this will simply be a waste of your time. Rather, make sure that you put out enough applications that you have a good chance of success, and make sure that you’re proofreading them with a high level of detail. This will put you in a great position of success as you won’t be relying on just one or two companies to give you a chance. 

Do your research 

Firms need to know that you want to work for them. An internship is an investment in you as a person, not only in a monetary sense, but in the skills that will be useful in getting a future job. Anyone can make a generic application, but the ones that truly stand out are those that convey passion, attention to detail, and proper research. 

The best place to start is the company’s website and career’s brochure. Surprisingly, many people fail to explore the website properly, as well as the company’s graduate brochure which is an essential part of the process, as this is where they store all their relevant information. You can find out exactly what they’re looking for in a candidate by looking through their desired competencies, or by assessing yourself against their values. 

Make yourself marketable 

Getting a summer internship is all about putting yourself in the best possible position for success. In the race for work experience, everything counts, and that includes those things that you might not have ordinarily thought were particularly relevant. Often, companies won’t be expecting that you have a great deal of industry-specific knowledge and experience. They’ll understand that you’re trying to get your foot in the door at their company. As long as you have shown interest in the industry you’d like to get into, it’s not necessary to have a lot of work experience in the field. What really matters is that you’re able to show transferable skills. 

Many of your experiences will be applicable to the internship you’re applying for, even if not directly. Make a note of the different open days, past jobs, and careers presentations you’ve attended, and try to highlight what skills and knowledge you’ve gained. I’ve found that everything from my retail experience, to my first year schemes have been relevant in my successful internship applications. It’s not about what you’ve done, but how you decide to use it to your advantage.

Be resilient and learn from your mistakes

Rejection is inevitable when applying for internships. You’ll need to come to terms with the fact that many of these positions are very competitive and you won’t be successful in all of your applications. However, the most important thing to do is to learn from your mistakes. If you’re given feedback, make sure you read it and apply it to your next application. You’ll be surprised at how helpful this quick and easy step is. Stay resilient, keep applying, and stay enthusiastic. If you do this, you’re much more likely to be successful in the future.