Application for a student internship: this is how you get started

When applying for a student internship, similar things are important as with any other application. This type of application is a useful aid for schoolchildren because the application for a school internship is usually the prelude to many other applications. So, of course, it doesn’t hurt if students deal with the topic before submitting their documents.

How do I get a student internship?

A student internship is primarily organized directly through the school. This is, of course, good news for students. This way, they don’t have to worry about how to find companies that offer internships for schoolchildren. You can also get active yourself. There are special exchanges on the Internet aimed at students looking for an internship. Besides, internship positions in the area are occasionally advertised in the local newspapers.

What does an application for a student internship include?

The application for an internship as a student usually follows the same rules as any other application.

Students should also make sure to prepare the application carefully. Even if it is “only” about a student internship. Firstly, with this application too, you should try to get the internship that you want to have. Especially the interesting internship positions are hotly contested. Means: Many students apply for it. If the competition is fierce, you should therefore be particularly careful with your application.

On the other hand, applying for a student internship is also a good exercise for later applications. Because after leaving school, students will certainly have to write more applications. Be it to get an apprenticeship or a place at university. The opportunity offered by this type of application should therefore not be wasted.

Tips for applying for an internship

For many students, the application for a student internship is one of the first or even the first application at all.

If you send your application by post, you should still use an application folder today. Simply for the reason that it makes a better and more complete impression. The cover letter is on top of an application portfolio. This is followed by the cover sheet, which, however, may be omitted when applying for an internship. Then the curriculum vitae and then the certificates. Here, for example, students can put the last two certificates, i.e., half-year and annual certificates, in the folder.

With a conventional application, references or work samples would follow. Students usually can not have this. What you can still do is ask your teacher for a short written assessment. This may increase the chance of one of the more coveted places.

Tips for the cover letter

The cover letter is sometimes the most difficult part of an application. Because unlike in the résumé, in which only the previous school stations are listed, the cover letter must convince. The candidate must “sell” himself with the cover letter. It is therefore important to find a particularly good and interesting introduction. Sentences like “I am applying for the internship as…” should be deleted immediately. Most HR managers don’t care. Rather, they want to know why you are applying for this position and in this company. And that’s exactly what you have to make clear at the beginning.

• Have you known the company for a long time?
• Do relatives or acquaintances work there?
• Are you interested in the industry and/or the profession? If so, why?

These are all important pointers that can help you to formulate a start that is worth reading. Answer all of these questions in writing and try to write as much as you can about the company and your motivations. The next step is to shorten the content and align it accordingly with the cover letter.

A few more general tips: Make sure that the cover letter is free of errors. Means: spelling and grammar should be checked carefully. Ask your teacher for help or ask friends and/or acquaintances to take a quick look at the cover letter. In addition to tips on spelling, these may also have a hint about what could be optimized in the cover letter.

This is how the résumé works

Once the cover letter has been completed, the next step in applying for a student internship is child’s play.

Students naturally have a rather short curriculum vitae (also known as a CV). This means that they cannot distinguish between school and professional training – as is usual in most CVs.

Instead, you have to improvise a bit at this point. The previous school education belongs in the curriculum vitae in any case. If you already know when you will leave school, you can also include this expected date on your resume.

The point “practical experience/internships” can be filled with vacation jobs, smaller part-time jobs, or other internships. Voluntary activities such as coaching activities or similar things also belong in the résumé. So the rather short CV of a student can still be relatively meaningful.