Love, Lucy is the New School Free Press’ weekly advice column, where writers anonymously share thoughtfully researched solutions to your questions about life. Send submissions through Love, Lucy’s official Google Form, and you might hear back from Lucy herself.
Dear Lucy,
I can’t get an internship in my field and I’m feeling really dissuaded about my lofty ambitions. Do I give up on my dreams? Get a new dream? Try harder?
From,
Dreamer in Doubt
Dear Dreamer in Doubt,
First off, I just want to say, asking this question alone is proof that you’re already trying your best. Acknowledging the need to do more is a sign of willingness to excel in any way you can. So, I applaud you for that.
Secondly, I want to assure you that the dreams placed on your heart are there for a reason. Sure, things change and life can throw some curveballs, but we were all born with a passion. And I think in some form, regardless of how it may look, that dream does come true.
Some words of wisdom my mom shared with me a couple of years ago are as follows — what is meant for you will never miss you. I know that can sound like an empty, optimistic promise, but it’s true.
Look at it this way — there have probably been several points in your life where you were hoping for something and then watched it come true. It might have been as small as getting an A on an essay you wrote or maybe something larger, like getting into The New School. Whatever that thing is, it came true, right?
Worrying about securing an internship is completely understandable. When it comes to job hunting, there are countless workplaces, especially in New York City, so I feel confident in assuring you that the right workplace will find you.
According to an employment analysis table conducted by the Department of Labor, employment has been on a steady rise since the beginning of the year, with over nine million people reporting to have a job. So yes, it might feel discouraging now, but if you take a step back and try to look at the grand scheme of things, I hope you’ll have faith that the right workplace will hire you.
I had the hardest time securing an internship during my first year here at The New School. Impostor syndrome is a very real thing, and I constantly asked myself, “Who would possibly hire a first-year college student?” However, one thing that gives most college students a leg up is being tech savvy, especially when it comes to social media.
An article published on LinkedIn shared that being present on social media isn’t the only thing that can give you an advantage. Reaching out to people via direct message (DM) or polishing your social platforms are some other good ways to secure an internship.
I actually received my first writing internship by applying for it through the organization’s Instagram. They had announced they were hiring writing interns and posted a link to the application via their Instagram stories. And because the organization happened to be aligned with one of my more niche passions, I found myself ahead of the game.
Finding ways to set yourself apart are key. Whether you’re cold emailing (or DMing in this case!) business professionals or touching up your LinkedIn account, just make sure to keep an open mind. It can feel good to have something like “graphic design intern at Chanel” on your resume, but I would also make the case for having all kinds of experiences at smaller companies on your resume too. All experience is good experience.
Another helpful tidbit I received from a mentorship program I attended recently was to make your cover letter stand out. Cover letters aren’t always required during the job/internship application, but it’s always good to go above and beyond. If you’re a journalism major, you could turn your cover letter into a feature story about yourself. If you’re a design major, you could design an attention-grabbing (but still professional!) layout for your cover letter. Just find ways to make yourself stand out. No one is you, and that is your power, so use it!
According to Forbes, 56% of employers actually prefer a cover letter, per an article published by “Business and Professional Communication Quarterly.” The study also goes on to say that 45% of recruiters believe that not having one could result in a rejection. All that to say, going above and beyond is always the way to go.
Don’t give up on your dreams, Dreamer in Doubt. I know things may seem bleak now, but I want to encourage you to keep the faith. The right internship is around the corner, so just keep up the hard work and don’t stop applying yourself. You never know how close you are until you get there. And just because I want to ingrain it in your head — what is meant for you will never miss you!
Love,
Lucy