Manage CareerEdge Alerts Students often ask, “What’s the secret? Tell me what I need to do to land that internship or job!”
Here’s the truth: there is no secret sauce.
Landing an internship or job comes down to three things – and none of them are mysterious.
1. YOUR APPLICATION MATERIALS NEED TO BE FLAWLESS.
Before anything else, your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn need to be clean, clear, and error-free.
Why? Employers receive hundreds of applications. They’re actively looking for reasons to screen people out – and your attention to detail is judged long before you ever speak with anyone.
Your materials should be:
- Free of typos
- Written with clear, results-oriented bullets
- Clean and consistent in layout
- Tailored to the roles you’re targeting
If your materials aren’t strong, nothing else matters. Submitting applications with weak materials is simply a waste of your valuable time.
2. YOU HAVE TO APPLY – A LOT.
Many students underestimate this. You cannot apply to five roles and expect results.
Successful candidates:
- Apply consistently
- Apply widely
- Apply early
- Apply even when they’re tired of applying
The more high-quality applications you submit, the better your odds. Your goal is to strike the right balance – applying to enough roles to create real opportunities, but not so many that you’re applying at random or to positions you’re not genuinely interested in. And then you need to follow up (see #3).
3. NETWORKING IS NON-NEGOTIABLE
Networking isn’t “extra.” It’s a critical part of the process.
Reaching out to recruiters and alumni, attending employer events, and having real conversations all increase your visibility – and visibility gets you interviews.
You don’t need to be the most outgoing person in the room. You just need to be intentional and consistent.
AND THEN? YOU KEEP GOING.
Even when it feels slow.
Even when you get rejected.
Even when everyone else seems to be getting opportunities before you.
Even when you are tired of applying!
Students who land strong roles aren’t lucky – they’re persistent.
THE BOTTOM LINE
There’s no secret, no hack, no insider trick.
Strong materials + consistent applications + real networking + persistence = results.
That’s it. And the good news?
Every single one of those things is completely in your control.
If you want help strengthening your materials or building a plan, the Career Development Center is here for you – but the work (and the payoff) starts with you.
Blog Posted: 12/4/2025
