5 Unspoken Rules to Know About Following Up On Internship Applications

By Alicia Geigel on January 28, 2021

One of the first things college students hear about during the application process and even upon first arriving at college is the importance of internships. Internships serve as a way to gain work experience, make connections, and create meaningful relationships that will help you network in the future. The pressure to get an internship while in college is strong, which can make the application process more stressful and scary.

When applying for an internship, the application process is often the simpler, easy part- it’s the waiting and the following up that can be difficult. There are just so many questions that you have to ask yourself while in this process! Am I being too persistent? Am I following up too early or too late? What are the right words to say? Though all of these questions and possibilities can be overwhelming, gaining control of applying and following up on your internship applications will be a breeze if you know these unspoken rules.

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1. Don’t Anticipate the Worst Right Away: When you send that first email or drop off that first internship application and do not hear back right away, you’ll probably panic and go over a plethora of reasons why you weren’t good enough to get the position. Employers encounter countless people on a regular basis, which almost always occupies most of their time. Unfortunately, this means that you might not hear back from them as fast as you anticipate. The best thing to do in this situation is to be patient and do not take the lack of response personally. If you find yourself obsessive over a response, consider my next tip — be pleasant and kind following up.

2. Pleasantly Follow Up: So you haven’t heard back from the employer for two or so weeks and you are concerned about the status of your application. When following up with your interviewer or employer, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, whether you’re writing an email or making a phone call, make sure to either write out or go over your message first. You do not want the mistake of contacting your potential employer angrily or annoyingly; instead, be sure to thank them for their time in reviewing your application and express your understanding of their timing in getting back to you. Regardless if you hear back after this, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you did everything in your power to put yourself out there!

3. Network Before and During the Application Process: As technology has advanced, so has the increased presence of internship opportunities on social media platforms such as Linkedin and Twitter. In order to create and build a strong social media platform, clean up your accounts by removing unwanted pictures, posts, and comments as it helps to make you look better in the eyes of an employer. Second, search for your ideal internship with keywords and even look for people with similar interests as you in regards to finding a job. According to Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D. of livecareer.com, “For the vast majority of job-seekers, a large and strong network of contacts — of people who know you and want to help you uncover job leads — results in more job opportunities.” Building a strong presence on these websites can not only expose you to internships you may not have found regularly but also help establish contacts that can help you get the internship of your dreams!

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Image via Pexels

4. Maintain Professionalism: Etiquette and professionalism will continue to amplify you and make you stand out over other applicants. Avoid spamming their emails with unnecessary questions, and instead, settle on sending one email to address all of what you have to say. Type up a formal letter, with a proper header, addressing the right person or persons, and check for any grammatical or spelling errors. Cathy Marquez, Assistant Director for Employer Relations at the University of Maine, writes, “Emails of any kind to a potential employer should always be composed as one would any business letter, with a formal salutation (Dear Ms. or Mr.)”

5. Express Gratitude and Reaffirm Your Interest: When following up on an internship application, expressing gratitude to the employer can help you stand out and give them an idea of the type of person you are. When you follow up, be sure to thank them for their consideration and time reviewing you as a potential candidate for a position with their company. This will not only make you feel better but will also make a lasting impression with your interviewer or recruiter. Additionally, reaffirm your interest in the position by expressing your passion and ability to fill the position with your skillset and credentials.

Remember that while it is important to follow up with potential employers after the internship application process, it is just as important to remind yourself that applying for internships is indeed a journey and can be a slow one in order to find the job that works best for you!

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