Newsletter

Summer Internship after Second Year

November 2023

This time of year, many second-year students are experiencing a lot of anxiety related to employment and internship search. Students frequently believe that they are the only ones without a job offer, while close to 70% of the class is still seeking employment for next summer.

Recruitment for summer internships occurs throughout the school year, with peaks in Sept/Oct and again in Jan/Feb. Outside of these peaks, there is still plenty of hiring activity that extends right into the summer months.  

We find that two common mistakes that students make while searching for an internship are: 1) relying exclusively on job postings and 2) delaying their job search indefinitely (often due to feeling stressed or overwhelmed).

Here are two ways students can overcome job search inertia and stress:

Meet with a career coach

The Career Advancement Centre (CAC) has a team of coaches who are available to meet with students on an individual basis. Recurring meetings can be scheduled to support a student through the entire job search process, including self-assessment, resume and cover letter writing, interview preparation, networking, and job search strategies that go beyond job postings. Meeting with a coach can also help with the emotional roller coaster that many students experience as they seek employment.

Encourage your student to reach out to the Smith Network

Using LinkedIn, students can access an online platform that allows your student to expand their professional network and connect with alumni, faculty, staff and fellow students of Smith School of Business. Users have the ability to gain mentorship by booking a coffee chat or making new connections with alumni. The database can be searched by employer, type of work, geographic location and other criteria.

Connect with over 14,000 alumni and students who are already part of the Smith School of Business online network, by joining the award-winning SmithConnect platform. Find a mentor, connect for coffee chats, check out the Business Directory and stay up to date on upcoming events! It takes less than a minute to join!