With summer break around the corner, students are experiencing the dreaded ‘hurry up and wait’ period as some internships are doing final rounds of selection.
The waiting leaves on-campus students in challenging positions, as they navigate planning for summer as the May 8 deadline to be out of the dorms approaches. Additionally, others are left wondering if they should be searching for part-time jobs, or hold on to hope for that “Congratulations!” email to hit their inbox.
Sunny Bedford, a junior marketing and film double major, has had internships for her marketing major, but continues to struggle with finding an internship related to film.
Her marketing internships came from connections.
“Every internship I’ve held, it’s because I knew someone that personally recommended me, which was great for those isolated circumstances,” Bedford said.
This summer, Bedford is looking for an internship in film or script writing, but she’s had trouble finding connections and hearing back from companies.
“Now that I’m looking for another internship, the search has been so difficult because I’m fully reliant on my resume,” Bedford said.
Fallon Chiasson, a career coach with the Career Development Center, acknowledged how challenging the process is.
“For students who may be struggling to find summer internships, I think it’s important to first acknowledge how frustrating the process can feel,” Chiasson said.
Bedford is feeling that frustration. She said that relying on her resume is discouraging, as it feels more like she’ll be selected by chance rather than based on the quality of her application.
“It’s like my talent or experience doesn’t matter. It’s a touch entry barrier that feels like it relies on luck,” Bedford said.
According to Chiasson, students often have more experience than they realize.
“Class projects, extracurricular involvement, volunteer work, and service-learning experiences all build transferable skills that can and should be highlighted when applying,” she said.
Chiasson also encourages students to be strategic when applying to internships, and to shift away from a “quantity over quality” approach. She advises that students focus less on applying to as many internships as possible, but rather hone in on internships that are more valuable.
“Focus on opportunities that align with your interests and experiences, tailor your materials, and spend time networking,” Chiasson said.
Sometimes, the formal internship doesn’t come through, but according to Chiasson, students can create their own experience. These could be personal projects, building a portfolio, or conducting information interviews. Additionally, Chiasson said that part-time jobs are still important for a resume.
“Part-time jobs, including roles like working in a coffee shop or retail, are still incredibly valuable. These experiences build skills like communication, teamwork, time management, and problem-solving—some of the top traits employers look for,” she said.
Chiasson highlighted the availability of Loyola’s career coaches, and that they’re available throughout the summer as well as up to one year after graduation.
“Stay confident and committed to your goals—you don’t have to navigate this process alone!” Chiasson said.
