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Four Tips From Recruiters to Secure Your Next Internship

Recruiters and human resources staff are often overlooked but are vital to a career in public relations. For many companies, these are the people who decide if your résumé is “worth” sending on to the desired internal teams. For this reason, it is important to network with these professionals when you’re at PRSSA, PRSA or other networking events, as they may hold the key to your future career success.

So, how do you stand out from the crowd and impress these recruiters? Amy Sadek, HR assistant for Ketchum San Francisco, outlines four recruiting tips for securing your dream internship.

1. Raise the Bar

The bar for interns has risen dramatically in recent years. The ability to show your creativity is extremely important. Candidates can create videos, blogs and personal websites to showcase their individual creativity and expertise.

2. Think Digital

It is important that candidates have a digital footprint. You need to show companies that you understand the social media space by using social media to engage in a dialogue with other thought leaders.

3. Experience

Gaining experience is no longer a plus. It’s a necessity. You can do this through real-world experience in PRSSA, internships and volunteering. It is also important to make your experience relevant to your desired career path.  For example, if someone is applying to intern on the food team at Ketchum, it helps if the candidate emphasizes his or her experience in the food industry.

4. Double-Check Everything

Always double-check your work. You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression — so make sure to put your best foot forward.

What tips do you find vital in securing an internship? How do you set yourself apart from the pack?

This is a guest post by California State University, Long Beach, PRSSA Chapter president Brittany Mehciz. Mehciz is a journalism major with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in communications.