-Check out any connections you may have. Maybe a friend of a friend knows somebody who can put in a good word for you. Don't think of yourself as bothersome to that person. There is nothing wrong with asking them about a possible opportunity. If the answer is no, they'll tell you "no." But there is no way to find out until you ask.
-Stay on top of things. Dedicate at least a small portion of your day to working on the internship, whether it's researching companies, writing your cover letter or resume, networking via Twitter and Facebook, or communicating with people that have shown an interest in you.
-Always ALWAYS follow up. The quicker, the better. Be prompt. This ties in to the previous tip.
-Allow word of mouth to work for you. If you contact someone and they're interested in you but can't take you at this time, let them know they are more than welcome to forward your information on to anyone who might be able to use you.
-Follow people in the industry via Twitter or blogs. Start conversations with them. Learn from them. Contribute to the discussion.
-Participate in any contests or games that the company hosts. Show them you're interested. Even if you don't win, it may get you a bit of name recognition.
-If the companies have put out any books or blogs, read them. Not only will you learn an immense amount of knowledge, but you will also have something relevant to talk about when speaking to the author of the book or owner of the company.
-Retweet anything especially important that the company tweets. Spread their news.
-When having an interview, know it is okay to be nervous. It's a sure sign that you truly care about the opportunity.
-In an interview, smile and be confident, but above all- be yourself.
-Before the interview, make sure you set aside some examples of your work that you can refer to. Be ready to talk about them- what you like the best and what you could have done better. I was asked if there were any articles I had written that I was particularly proud of. Fortunately, my favorite one came to mind quickly, but the question caught me off guard.
-Just because you are a college student and they're a business professional does not mean they can walk all over you. Above all else, be polite and courteous. But if you're not okay with some of the terms, it's completely acceptable to address your concerns. Don't let people walk all over you, and don't settle for less than you think you can get.
-As tempting as it may be, do not automatically accept the first offer you are given-- especially if you have other offers pending. The company will want a quick response, but a 3-7 day time period to consider the offer should be completely acceptable in most cases.
-Discuss your options with different kinds of people. Grandparents will look at it a different way than your parents do. Friends will look at it from another perspective. Teachers and mentors will have their own view too. Everyone's advice is valuable. In the end you must make your own decision, but listen to what those who care about you have to say.
-Before accepting an offer, make sure you completely understand the whole thing. Ask as many questions as you need to. Be thorough.
-Always be polite and courteous!
Hope this helps!
-Rachel
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