Getting into college is the hardest part of a young student’s academic career, right?
Wrong.
It’s simply one of many highly competitive situations that you will face as you look to lock in your return on investment from the college experience and begin a fulfilling career. So what should you do once you are in college surrounded by other equally capable students who have many academic similarities and similar aspirations?
For a growing number of students, a thoughtfully orchestrated and brilliantly executed gap year or semester before college offers a unique opportunity to stand out from your peers. Gap experiences focused on personal growth are excellent ways to develop those important “soft skills” that employers value and differentiate one applicant from the masses. Students who didn’t take a gap experience must build a track record of those skills while at college and during their summer breaks.
For most college students the summer internship is the most common form of personal and professional differentiation.
Internships can help students gain valuable skills, experience and connections that can boost your chances of landing a full-time job after graduation.
They can help students explore different career paths and industries, and help you identify what you are passionate about.
They can expose students to the latest trends and technologies, and help you stay ahead of the competition.
Internships can also offer students a chance to make a positive impact on the world, by working on projects that align with your values and interests.
But in 2024, college students find themselves navigating a challenging environment when seeking internships: demand for hands-on experience and industry exposure has skyrocketed to levels rarely seen, and recruiting lead times have moved so early that they defy explanation. (Why Companies Are Already Recruiting Their Interns—for 2025 - WSJ)
In this current environment, the imperative for students to differentiate becomes not just a desire but a crucial necessity.
It's no longer sufficient for students to merely rely on the prestige of their alma mater; they must actively cultivate a set of skills and attributes that sets them apart from their equally ambitious peers.
The urgency of this situation arises from the sheer volume of students vying for limited internship opportunities. Less than 50% of undergraduate college students have successfully secured internships before graduation. (Four in 10 College Students Have Had Internship Experience (gallup.com))
“Getting an internship you are genuinely interested in these days is like winning a raffle or the lottery.”
Getting An Internship Is More Competitive Than Ever—But The Experience Has ‘Really Eroded’ (forbes.com)
As market conditions continue to cool, many of the largest corporate recruiters have in fact significantly reduced or altogether eliminated internship opportunities for many undergraduate college students, thus making the experience even more challenging.
Without these valuable summer internship experiences, the outlook upon graduation can be extremely hard to navigate. Even the significantly more experienced and highly sought after elite MBA graduates are finding the job market much less welcoming than ever before. (Harvard, Stanford see drop in job offers for MBA graduates: Report - Times of India (indiatimes.com))
HOW TO BEST PURSUE THAT VALUABLE SUMMER INTERNSHIP
Top-tier companies are inundated with resumes, so the scarcity of internships has elevated the importance of differentiating factors that go beyond a stellar GPA or an impressive list of coursework.
BE A BALANCED CANDIDATE - You need to showcase a unique blend of skills, experiences, and qualities that make you stand out in the eyes of recruiters. This entails not only excelling academically but also actively seeking out opportunities that demonstrate initiative, leadership, and adaptability. Internship programs increasingly value candidates who exhibit a holistic skill set, including communication skills, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities.
TELL A COMPELLING STORY - You need to build a believable story about why you specifically and this internship opportunity are a perfect match for what you want to accomplish and what the organization seeks in the near term and beyond.
ALWAYS BE NETWORKING – A critical aspect of this differentiation strategy, building connections within the industry, attending career fairs, and engaging with professionals provide students with insights that extend beyond the classroom. Networking not only opens doors to hidden opportunities but also allows you to gain a nuanced understanding of the industry's expectations and trends.
The new era of young adults seeking summer internships is going to be largely driven by thoughtfully executed networking strategies that put “hungry” individuals in the right place at the right time. That extra effort will be the priceless differentiator that ensures you stand out not only during your college years, but most importantly, upon graduation.
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