[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-how-to-cold-email-for-an-internship":3,"blog-index":16,"mdc--o8rqxq-key":524,"live-hubs":994},{"slug":4,"title":5,"description":6,"date":7,"tags":8,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14,"body":15},"how-to-cold-email-for-an-internship","How to Cold Email for an Internship: 3 Real Templates","An honest playbook for cold emailing your way into an internship: who to contact at startups, what to write, 3 real templates, and when to follow up.","2026-06-11",[9,10,11],"internships","applications","career-advice","Student Internships Team",false,8,"The internship you actually want probably isn't posted anywhere, and the application portals that do exist feel like black holes. Here's the workaround: a five-sentence email to the right person at a small company works surprisingly often, especially when the company has no formal intern program at all. This guide shows you exactly how to cold email for an internship: who to write to, what to send (three templates included), and how to follow up without being annoying.\n\n## Why cold emails work better at startups\n\nStartups under about 50 people rarely have an intern pipeline: no campus recruiting team, no applicant tracking system, often no careers page worth the name. That's an open door. When a founder reads a sharp email from a student who clearly knows their product, they can invent a role on the spot, something nobody at a 5,000-person company can do. And founders read their own inboxes, so your email lands in front of the one person who can say yes.\n\nThe honest part: cold email is a low-reply-rate channel even when you do it well. Backlinko's [analysis of 12 million outreach emails](https:\u002F\u002Fbacklinko.com\u002Femail-outreach-study) found that only about 8.5% get any reply at all. That's professional marketer outreach, not internship emails, so treat it as a rough floor rather than your forecast.\n\nOne scope note: emailing professors about research roles is a different playbook, covered in [how to ask a professor for a research internship](\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-ask-a-professor-for-a-research-internship).\n\n## Step 1: Pick 20 to 30 companies and find the right person\n\nTwenty to thirty companies you genuinely find interesting, emailed over a few weeks, will beat 200 blasts, because the research that makes a cold email work doesn't scale to 200.\n\nAim for companies under roughly 50 people and email a human, never careers@ or info@. At a startup that means the founder or the lead of the team you'd join (the head of engineering, the first marketer, the design lead). Finding names is easy: the about page, blog post bylines, LinkedIn's \"People\" tab, or their product changelog. To build the list itself, [browse internships](\u002Ffeed) on our feed and note which small companies keep appearing in your field.\n\nFor addresses, most startups use predictable patterns: first@company.com, firstlast@company.com, or first.last@company.com. Free email lookup tools exist if guessing fails, and a bounced email costs you nothing but a retry.\n\n## Step 2: Do five minutes of real research per company\n\nFive focused minutes separate an email that gets read from one that gets archived. Do three things before writing:\n\n1. **Use the product, or read one thing they shipped.** Sign up, click around, break something. If the product is enterprise software you can't access, read their latest blog post or changelog instead.\n2. **Find one specific thing you could genuinely help with.** A bug you hit, a missing integration, a content gap, an unanswered question in their community. Small and concrete beats big and vague.\n3. **Note anything adjacent you've built.** A class project, a script, a redesign, a newsletter. This is the proof that backs your email.\n\nIf step 3 comes up empty, fix that first. Building [proof of skills first](\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-get-an-internship-with-no-experience) takes a week or two and transforms every email you send afterward, because you'll have something real to point at instead of adjectives.\n\n## Step 3: Write the email\n\nThe anatomy is simple. A subject line specific enough to survive a phone-screen skim. Five sentences maximum. One clear ask: either a 15-minute call or the direct question, \"would you be open to an intern this summer?\" No attachment in the first email, but offer to send your resume. Assume a founder gives an unknown sender about 15 seconds; every sentence has to earn the next one.\n\nHere are three templates you can send after swapping the bracketed slots. Notice what they don't contain: no \"ambitious,\" no \"passionate,\" no life story. They lead with proof.\n\n### Template 1: The \"I used your product\" email\n\nUse this when you've used the company's product and noticed something specific; almost nobody who emails a founder has actually done that.\n\nSubject: `Noticed something in [product]: note from a student user`\n\n```text\nHi [First name],\n\nI've been using [product] for [specific task] since [month], and I\nnoticed [one specific observation, e.g. \"the CSV export silently drops\nrows with commas in the name field\"]. I'm a [year] [major] student at\n[school], and I recently built [one relevant thing, with a link].\nWould you be open to taking on an intern this summer? I'd be happy to\nstart with something small and scoped, even [the thing you noticed].\nI can send a one-page resume if that's useful.\n\n[Your name]\n```\n\n### Template 2: The \"I built something relevant\" email\n\nUse this when you haven't used their product but you've built something in their problem space. The link does the persuading, so put it in the first sentence.\n\nSubject: `[Major] student at [school]: built a [project type] in your space`\n\n```text\nHi [First name],\n\nI recently built [project], a [one-line description], here's the link:\n[URL]. It deals with the same problem [company] works on, [name the\nspecific overlap, e.g. \"turning messy PDFs into clean tables\"]. I'm a\n[year] student at [school] looking for a summer internship, and yours\nis the team I'd most want to learn this from. Would you be open to a\n15-minute call? Happy to send a one-page resume if that helps.\n\n[Your name]\n```\n\n### Template 3: The follow-up\n\nSend this about a week after the first email, in the same thread, and add one small new piece of value. Following up is expected, not rude: in the same Backlinko study, a single follow-up boosted replies by 65.8%.\n\nSubject: reply in the same thread, so the original subject carries over.\n\n```text\nHi [First name],\n\nFollowing up on my note from last week. Since then I [one small new\nthing: \"fixed the export issue in my own project and wrote up how\", or\n\"sketched how an intern could ship [X] in a month\", with a link].\nStill very interested in interning at [company] this summer; would a\n15-minute call sometime next week work?\n\n[Your name]\n```\n\n## What kills a cold email\n\nThese patterns get an otherwise fine email deleted in seconds:\n\n- **Desperation lines.** \"I'll do anything,\" \"I really need this internship,\" \"please give me a chance.\" They shift the email from offer to plea, and founders hire offers.\n- **Walls of text.** If the email needs scrolling on a phone, it's dead. Five sentences.\n- **\"Dear Sir\u002FMadam\" or \"Dear Hiring Manager.\"** At a 20-person startup, this announces you don't know who you're writing to.\n- **Mass-blast tells.** A generic compliment (\"I love what your company is doing in the space\") fits every company, so it persuades none.\n- **Asking for \"any opportunities.\"** Vague asks create work for the reader. Name the role, the season, and the first thing you'd do.\n- **A resume attached cold.** Mention your proof, link it, and offer the resume instead.\n\nAnd a hard limit: two follow-ups maximum, spaced about a week apart. After that, silence is your answer for this season; move to the next company.\n\n## What to expect (the honest numbers)\n\nMost of your emails will get no reply, even when every one is good. Large outreach studies put average reply rates under 10%, and those are professionals sending for a living. A realistic campaign looks like this: 20 to 30 tailored emails over two to three weeks, a handful of replies, and one or two real conversations. That's the math working: a single conversation with a founder who can create a role is the entire goal.\n\nEqually important: no reply is almost always timing and inbox volume, not a verdict on you. The same email that gets ignored in a launch week gets a warm reply a month later. Send, follow up once or twice, move on, and keep the pipeline full.\n\n## Frequently asked questions\n\n### Do cold emails actually work for internships?\n\nYes, especially at startups and small companies with no formal intern program, where the reader can simply decide to take you on. Expect most emails to go unanswered even so. Your odds rise sharply when you email a named person with a specific observation or project, and fall to near zero with generic blasts.\n\n### Should I attach my resume to a cold email?\n\nNot in the first email. An unsolicited attachment adds friction and pattern-matches to spam. Instead, link your proof (a project, a write-up, a portfolio) in the body and offer to send your resume. When they say yes, send a tight [one-page resume](\u002Fblog\u002Finternship-resume-with-no-experience) that leads with the same proof you mentioned.\n\n### How long should a cold email for an internship be?\n\nFive sentences or fewer. The test: a founder skimming on their phone should grasp who you are, what you've done, and what you're asking within 15 seconds. If a sentence doesn't help them say yes, cut it.\n\n### How do I follow up without being annoying?\n\nWait about a week, reply in the same thread, and keep it to two or three sentences. Add one small new thing (a fix you shipped, a short idea for them) rather than just asking again. Two follow-ups maximum, then move on.\n\n### What's a good subject line for an internship cold email?\n\nSpecific beats clever. Something like \"CS student at [school]: built a [project], interested in interning at [company]\" tells the reader exactly what's inside. Avoid \"Quick question\" (salespeople wore it out), \"Exploring opportunities\" (vague), and anything that hides that you're a student, since being a student is part of why a founder opens it.\n\n---\n\nDo this today: pick five companies, spend five minutes researching the first one, and send one email using Template 1 or 2. Don't draft all twenty first or polish for an hour; the students who land internships this way hit send before they talk themselves out of it.",[17,23,30,36,43,49,55,62,68,74,80,86,92,98,104,111,117,123,129,135,142,148,154,160,166,172,178,184,190,196,202,209,215,221,227,233,239,245,251,257,263,269,275,281,287,293,299,305,311,317,323,329,335,341,347,353,359,365,372,377,382,387,392,397,402,407,412,417,422,427,432,437,442,447,452,457,462,467,473,479,485,491,497,503,510,512,517],{"slug":18,"title":19,"description":20,"date":21,"tags":22,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"how-to-get-a-cybersecurity-internship","How to Get a Cybersecurity Internship (Student)","The cybersecurity internship playbook: the home lab, CTF profile, and write-up that beat a perfect GPA, plus where to apply, when, and every round.","2026-09-25",[9,10,11],{"slug":24,"title":25,"description":26,"date":27,"tags":28,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":29},"how-to-get-an-accounting-internship","How to Get an Accounting Internship (Big 4 Guide)","The undergrad playbook for a Big 4 accounting internship: the fall timeline, Meet the Firms, the GPA reality, audit vs tax, and every interview round.","2026-09-24",[9,10,11],7,{"slug":31,"title":32,"description":33,"date":34,"tags":35,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"how-to-get-a-marketing-internship","How to Get a Marketing Internship (No Experience)","Land a marketing internship with no experience: pick your lane (social, digital, brand, PR, analytics), build one measurable project, and reach out direct.","2026-09-23",[9,10,11],{"slug":37,"title":38,"description":39,"date":40,"tags":41,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":42},"how-to-get-an-engineering-internship","How to Get an Engineering Internship (Non-Software)","The non-software engineering internship playbook: why the fall career fair and co-op cycle is your main channel, plus the GPA reality and interview mix.","2026-09-21",[9,10,11],10,{"slug":44,"title":45,"description":46,"date":47,"tags":48,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":42},"how-to-get-a-product-management-internship","How to Get a Product Management Internship (APM)","The undergrad PM and APM internship playbook: what programs screen for (product sense, a shipped project, no CS degree needed), when to apply, and every round.","2026-09-17",[9,10,11],{"slug":50,"title":51,"description":52,"date":53,"tags":54,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":42},"how-to-get-a-data-science-internship","How to Get a Data Science Internship (Undergrad)","The full data science internship playbook: what recruiters screen for, the SQL and portfolio that beat a perfect GPA, when to apply, and every round.","2026-09-16",[9,10,11],{"slug":56,"title":57,"description":58,"date":59,"tags":60,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"internship-reference-check","Internship Reference Check: How References Work","What an internship reference check is, when it happens, who to list with no work history, how to format your list, and how to prep references for the call.","2026-09-14",[9,10,11],9,{"slug":63,"title":64,"description":65,"date":66,"tags":67,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"how-to-get-an-investment-banking-internship","How to Get an Investment Banking Internship (Undergrad)","The undergrad investment banking internship playbook: why recruiting starts so early, how networking and referrals win it, the GPA reality, and every round.","2026-09-11",[9,10,11],{"slug":69,"title":70,"description":71,"date":72,"tags":73,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"how-to-get-a-consulting-internship","How to Get a Consulting Internship (Undergrad Guide)","The undergrad playbook for landing a consulting internship: what firms screen for, the fall recruiting timeline, insight programs, and every interview round.","2026-09-09",[9,10,11],{"slug":75,"title":76,"description":77,"date":78,"tags":79,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"how-to-get-a-software-engineering-internship","How to Get a Software Engineering Internship (No Experience)","No experience yet? The full SWE internship playbook: build proof on GitHub, use the tech sourcing stack, apply on rolling review, and pass each round.","2026-09-08",[9,10,11],{"slug":81,"title":82,"description":83,"date":84,"tags":85,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"co-op-vs-internship","Co-op vs Internship: Which Is Better for You?","Co-op vs internship, honestly compared: length, pay, and graduation impact, plus a decision guide keyed to your major, timeline, and budget.","2026-09-07",[9,11,10],{"slug":87,"title":88,"description":89,"date":90,"tags":91,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"how-to-get-an-internship-from-a-non-target-school","How to Get an Internship From a Non-Target School","Non-target school? Here's how much your college name really matters by industry, plus the network-first playbook that replaces on-campus recruiting.","2026-09-04",[9,10,11],{"slug":93,"title":94,"description":95,"date":96,"tags":97,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"off-cycle-spring-winter-internships","Off-Cycle, Spring & Winter Internships: When to Apply","Off-cycle, spring, and winter internships explained: what each one is, the September-October window to apply for spring roles, and the honest trade-offs.","2026-09-03",[9,10,11],{"slug":99,"title":100,"description":101,"date":102,"tags":103,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"clubs-and-extracurriculars-for-internships","What Clubs and Extracurriculars Help You Land Internships","Not sure which clubs help you get an internship? Pick depth over breadth, map activities to the skills recruiters want, and earn one result-first resume line.","2026-09-02",[9,10,11],{"slug":105,"title":106,"description":107,"date":108,"tags":109,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":42},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-overcame-a-challenge-internship-interview","Tell Me About a Time You Overcame a Challenge","Answer \\\"tell me about a time you overcame a challenge\\\" for an internship: a rule for picking an external obstacle, a STAR shape on your approach, plus traps.","2026-09-01",[9,110,11],"interviews",{"slug":112,"title":113,"description":114,"date":115,"tags":116,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"are-you-interviewing-elsewhere-internship-interview","\\\"Are You Interviewing Anywhere Else?\\\" How to Answer","The screening question \\\"are you interviewing anywhere else?\\\" isn't a trap. Get a script for when you have offers, one for when you don't, and 4 traps to skip.","2026-08-31",[9,110,11],{"slug":118,"title":119,"description":120,"date":121,"tags":122,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"how-to-explain-a-low-gpa-or-gap","How to Explain a Low GPA or Gap on Your Resume","Own a low GPA, failed class, gap year, or extra time to graduate in one honest line, then redirect. The exact script, plus when to raise it vs wait.","2026-08-28",[9,110,11],{"slug":124,"title":125,"description":126,"date":127,"tags":128,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"how-to-use-your-college-career-center","How to Use Your College Career Center for Internships","What career services offers beyond Handshake, how to run an advising appointment that's worth it, and how to tell if your career center is weak.","2026-08-27",[9,10,11],{"slug":130,"title":131,"description":132,"date":133,"tags":134,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-influenced-someone-internship-interview","Tell Me About a Time You Influenced Someone","No workplace story? Answer \\\"tell me about a time you influenced someone\\\" with a club or class example: the pick-the-moment rule, a worked answer, and traps.","2026-08-25",[9,110,11],{"slug":136,"title":137,"description":138,"date":139,"tags":140,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":141},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-managed-competing-priorities-internship-interview","Tell Me About a Time You Managed Competing Priorities","Answer \\\"tell me about a time you managed competing priorities\\\" with a rank-by-deadline-and-impact system, the heads-up interviewers grade, and an example.","2026-08-24",[9,110,11],11,{"slug":143,"title":144,"description":145,"date":146,"tags":147,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"why-this-industry-internship-interview","How to Answer \"Why This Industry?\" in an Interview","A research method and 3-part formula for \"why investment banking \u002F consulting \u002F tech,\" with worked examples and the salary and prestige tells to avoid.","2026-08-21",[9,110,11],{"slug":149,"title":150,"description":151,"date":152,"tags":153,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"company-info-session-tips","Company Info Session Tips: Get Noticed by Recruiters","How to make the most of a company info session: 10-minute prep, the one question that gets you remembered, and a same-day follow-up that lands.","2026-08-20",[9,10,11],{"slug":155,"title":156,"description":157,"date":158,"tags":159,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"walk-me-through-your-resume-interview","How to Answer \\\"Walk Me Through Your Resume\\\" (Finance)","The finance and consulting opener, done as a chronological story: which 2-3 experiences to pick, a full student example, and how to hit 2 minutes.","2026-08-19",[9,110,11],{"slug":161,"title":162,"description":163,"date":164,"tags":165,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":29},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-adapted-to-change-internship-interview","Adapt to Change? Internship Interview Answer","Answer \\\"tell me about a time you had to adapt to change\\\" for an internship: pick a change you didn't choose, then show how you re-planned and stayed calm.","2026-08-14",[9,110,11],{"slug":167,"title":168,"description":169,"date":170,"tags":171,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"what-motivates-you-internship-interview","How to Answer \"What Motivates You?\" (Internship)","A driver-plus-story-plus-role-fit formula for the \"what motivates you \u002F what are you passionate about\" internship question, with a worked student example.","2026-08-13",[9,110,11],{"slug":173,"title":174,"description":175,"date":176,"tags":177,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"greatest-accomplishment-internship-interview","How to Answer \"What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?\"","A rule for picking a greatest accomplishment you can actually own, a STAR shape weighted on what you did, a student example, and the traps to dodge.","2026-08-12",[9,110,11],{"slug":179,"title":180,"description":181,"date":182,"tags":183,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"how-do-you-handle-criticism-internship-interview","How Do You Handle Criticism? Internship Answer","Answer \\\"how do you handle criticism\\\" for an internship: pick real feedback you acted on, name it plainly, skip the defensiveness, and weight the fix.","2026-08-11",[9,110,11],{"slug":185,"title":186,"description":187,"date":188,"tags":189,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":42},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-worked-under-pressure-internship-interview","Tell Me About a Time You Worked Under Pressure","Answer 'tell me about a time you worked under pressure' without the all-nighter story: a rule for picking the right crunch, a STAR shape on triage, plus traps.","2026-08-10",[9,110,11],{"slug":191,"title":192,"description":193,"date":194,"tags":195,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-showed-leadership-internship-interview","Tell Me About a Time You Showed Leadership (Intern)","No title? You can still nail \\\"tell me about a time you showed leadership.\\\" A rule for finding the moment, a STAR-shaped student example, and the traps.","2026-08-06",[9,110,11],{"slug":197,"title":198,"description":199,"date":200,"tags":201,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"how-to-get-a-second-internship","How to Get a Second, Better Internship","You've done one internship. Here's how to reframe it into a sharper resume and story, use your new network, and target more competitive roles this fall.","2026-08-05",[9,10,11],{"slug":203,"title":204,"description":205,"date":206,"tags":207,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"intern-exit-interview","The Intern Exit Interview: What to Say (and Not Say)","What an intern exit interview really is, who runs it, the questions it asks with short answers, and how to give honest feedback without burning the bridge.","2026-08-04",[9,11,208],"internship-tips",{"slug":210,"title":211,"description":212,"date":213,"tags":214,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-had-a-conflict-with-a-teammate-internship-interview","Conflict With a Teammate: Interview Answer for Students","Never had a \\\"workplace\\\" conflict? Use a group-project disagreement. A no-blame framing rule, a worked student example, and the traps to dodge.","2026-08-03",[9,110,11],{"slug":216,"title":217,"description":218,"date":219,"tags":220,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-worked-on-a-team-internship-interview","Tell Me About a Time You Worked on a Team","A rule for picking the right team story, a STAR shape that keeps your role visible without erasing the team, plus a student example and the traps to avoid.","2026-07-31",[9,110,11],{"slug":222,"title":223,"description":224,"date":225,"tags":226,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"portfolio-for-internship-applications","Portfolio for Internship Applications: Do You Need One?","Do you need a portfolio for internship applications? A field-by-field guide to what to include, how many pieces, where to host it, and how to link it.","2026-07-30",[9,10,11],{"slug":228,"title":229,"description":230,"date":231,"tags":232,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"end-of-internship-presentation","How to Nail Your End-of-Internship Presentation","Your final intern presentation, decoded: a slide arc that leads with the problem and your result, how to scope it, the dry-run rule, and handling tough Q&A.","2026-07-29",[9,11,208],{"slug":234,"title":235,"description":236,"date":237,"tags":238,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":42},"stay-in-touch-after-internship","How to Stay in Touch After Your Internship Ends","The last-weeks playbook: a goodbye message that isn't generic, LinkedIn before your access is cut, and a light check-in cadence that keeps the door open.","2026-07-28",[9,11,208],{"slug":240,"title":241,"description":242,"date":243,"tags":244,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"nothing-to-do-at-your-internship","What to Do When You Have Nothing to Do at Your Internship","Underused at a slow or disorganized internship? The exact words to ask for work, how to turn downtime into a visible win, and how to still earn a return offer.","2026-07-27",[9,11,208],{"slug":246,"title":247,"description":248,"date":249,"tags":250,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"made-a-mistake-at-my-internship","I Made a Mistake at My Internship: How to Recover","Just messed up at your internship? How to size the mistake, tell your manager with a simple script, reset after a bad week, and protect your return offer.","2026-07-24",[9,11,208],{"slug":252,"title":253,"description":254,"date":255,"tags":256,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-failed-internship-interview","How to Answer \\\"Tell Me About a Time You Failed\\\"","A 4-part rule for picking a real, fixable failure, an answer shape that spends its words on what you changed, and two student examples from clubs.","2026-07-23",[9,110,11],{"slug":258,"title":259,"description":260,"date":261,"tags":262,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"how-to-practice-for-an-internship-interview","How to Practice for an Internship Interview","How to practice for an internship interview: a record-and-review loop, a 1 to 2 week rep schedule, role-based question bank, and rehearsing beats not scripts.","2026-07-22",[9,110,11],{"slug":264,"title":265,"description":266,"date":267,"tags":268,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"thank-you-email-after-internship-interview","Thank-You Email After an Internship Interview (+ Follow-Up)","A 24–48h thank-you template, the one polite follow-up email, and how long to wait before silence honestly means no after an internship interview.","2026-07-21",[9,110,11],{"slug":270,"title":271,"description":272,"date":273,"tags":274,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"why-should-we-hire-you-internship-interview","How to Answer \"Why Should We Hire You?\" (Internship)","A selection rule for the \\\"why should we hire you\\\" internship answer: pick two role-matched strengths, back each with proof, close on fit, plus student examples.","2026-07-20",[9,110,11],{"slug":276,"title":277,"description":278,"date":279,"tags":280,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"should-i-apply-if-i-dont-meet-all-requirements","Should You Apply If You Don't Meet Every Requirement?","Not sure you're qualified for that internship? How to tell a real requirement from a wish-list one, the honest match rule, and how to close the gap.","2026-07-17",[9,10,11],{"slug":282,"title":283,"description":284,"date":285,"tags":286,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"live-video-interview-tips-internship","Live Video Interview Tips for Internships (Zoom\u002FTeams)","Live Zoom or Teams internship interview coming up? Where to look for eye contact, a tech and backup-device checklist, and how to recover when you freeze.","2026-07-16",[9,110,11],{"slug":288,"title":289,"description":290,"date":291,"tags":292,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"should-you-negotiate-an-internship-offer","Should You Negotiate an Internship Offer?","Should you negotiate an internship offer? When it helps, when to skip it, what's actually negotiable (start date, housing, pay), and a polite script to use.","2026-07-15",[9,11,10],{"slug":294,"title":295,"description":296,"date":297,"tags":298,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"virtual-experience-programs-worth-it","Are Virtual Experience Programs Worth It? (Forage)","Are Forage virtual experience programs worth it? An honest verdict on who they help, what they can't do, and exactly how to put one on your resume.","2026-07-14",[9,10,11],{"slug":300,"title":301,"description":302,"date":303,"tags":304,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"how-to-write-a-cover-letter-for-an-internship","How to Write a Cover Letter for an Internship","When an internship cover letter is actually required, a simple 3-4 paragraph structure that complements your resume, and a worked student example.","2026-07-13",[9,10,11],{"slug":306,"title":307,"description":308,"date":309,"tags":310,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"fall-internship-during-the-school-year","Fall Internships: Find One & Balance It With Classes","How to find a fall or part-time internship during the school year: where term-time roles hide, a 15-20 hour weekly schedule, and when to lighten your load.","2026-07-10",[9,10,11],{"slug":312,"title":313,"description":314,"date":315,"tags":316,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"where-do-you-see-yourself-in-5-years-internship-interview","How to Answer \"Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?\"","A fill-in formula for the 5-year goals question in an internship interview: specific near-term skills, a loose long-term direction, plus two student examples.","2026-07-08",[9,110,11],{"slug":318,"title":319,"description":320,"date":321,"tags":322,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"internship-take-home-assignment","How to Approach an Internship Take-Home Assignment","Facing a technical take-home assignment for an internship? How to scope to the core problem, how long to spend, and the README that sells your trade-offs.","2026-07-07",[9,110,11],{"slug":324,"title":325,"description":326,"date":327,"tags":328,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"assessment-center-superday-final-round-interview","Assessment Center & Superday: How to Prepare","What an assessment center or superday really is, a day-of game plan to stay sharp across 3 to 6 back-to-back rounds, and how to own the group exercise.","2026-07-06",[9,110,11],{"slug":330,"title":331,"description":332,"date":333,"tags":334,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"strengths-and-weaknesses-interview-answer","Strengths and Weaknesses: Internship Interview Answers","A rule for picking a strength you can prove and a real weakness that won't sink you, plus the humble-brag answers to avoid, with student examples.","2026-07-03",[9,110,11],{"slug":336,"title":337,"description":338,"date":333,"tags":339,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"tailor-your-resume-for-an-internship","How to Tailor Your Resume to Each Internship","How to tailor your resume to each internship's job description in about 10 minutes: the signals to pull, the keyword rule, and what an ATS really does.",[9,340,10],"resume",{"slug":342,"title":343,"description":344,"date":345,"tags":346,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":42},"how-to-prepare-for-a-case-interview","How to Prepare for a Case Interview (Internship)","New to case interviews? A structure-first loop (clarify, structure, math aloud, recommend), the reasoning habit assessors grade, and a prep plan by time left.","2026-07-02",[9,110,11],{"slug":348,"title":349,"description":350,"date":351,"tags":352,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"why-this-company-internship-interview","How to Answer \"Why This Company?\" in an Internship Interview","A 20-minute research method and a 3-part answer formula for \"why this company \u002F why this internship,\" with two worked examples for thin resumes.","2026-07-01",[9,110,11],{"slug":354,"title":355,"description":356,"date":357,"tags":358,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":42},"how-to-ask-for-a-letter-of-recommendation-for-an-internship","How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation (Internship)","How to ask a manager or professor for an internship recommendation: who to pick, the in-person-then-email ask, lead time, and a brag-sheet packet template.","2026-06-30",[9,10,11],{"slug":360,"title":361,"description":362,"date":363,"tags":364,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":42},"how-to-keep-track-of-internship-applications","How to Keep Track of Internship Applications","How to keep track of internship applications without it rotting: the exact columns that matter, a 15-minute weekly review, and how to tier your list.","2026-06-26",[9,10,11],{"slug":366,"title":367,"description":368,"date":369,"tags":370,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":371},"coffee-chats-and-informational-interviews-for-students","Coffee Chats for Students: How to Ask & Get a Referral","How to ask for a coffee chat, the questions that aren't generic, and the referral close most guides skip, with copyable templates for every step.","2026-06-25",[9,10,11],12,{"slug":373,"title":374,"description":375,"date":369,"tags":376,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"does-gpa-matter-for-internships","Does GPA Matter for Internships? An Honest Read","Does GPA matter for internships? Where it's a real filter vs a soft signal by field, when to put it on your resume, and what outweighs a low GPA.",[9,10,11],{"slug":378,"title":379,"description":380,"date":369,"tags":381,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":42},"how-to-ask-for-a-referral-for-an-internship","How to Ask for an Internship Referral (Template)","How to ask for a referral for an internship: when to ask once the role is live, who can actually refer you, and a copy-paste message that makes it easy.",[9,10,11],{"slug":383,"title":384,"description":385,"date":369,"tags":386,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":141},"how-to-convert-an-internship-into-a-full-time-offer","How to Convert an Internship into a Full-Time Offer","What managers really weigh when deciding return offers, the exact end-of-summer conversation script, and an honest plan for if you don't get one.",[9,11,208],{"slug":388,"title":389,"description":390,"date":369,"tags":391,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"how-to-get-an-internship-as-a-freshman-or-sophomore","How to Get an Internship as a Freshman or Sophomore","You're not behind. What freshman and sophomore year are really for, the program types actually open to underclassmen, and your move this year by year.",[9,10,11],{"slug":393,"title":394,"description":395,"date":369,"tags":396,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":371},"how-to-handle-multiple-internship-offers","Multiple Internship Offers? How to Choose & Buy Time","Multiple internship offers or an exploding deadline? A weighted scorecard to compare offers, a script to ask for more time, and the truth on backing out.",[9,11,10],{"slug":398,"title":399,"description":400,"date":369,"tags":401,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":371},"how-to-prepare-for-a-career-fair","How to Prepare for a Career Fair (+ Elevator Pitch)","How to prepare for a career fair: build a prioritized target list, a fill-in 30-second elevator pitch, and a same-day follow-up that gets callbacks.",[9,10,11],{"slug":403,"title":404,"description":405,"date":369,"tags":406,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":141},"how-to-prepare-for-a-coding-interview-internship","How to Prepare for a Coding Interview (Internship)","Prep for an internship coding interview by time left: a 6-week, 2-week, and night-before plan, the 8 patterns that cover most questions, and how to think out loud.",[9,110,11],{"slug":408,"title":409,"description":410,"date":369,"tags":411,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"how-to-use-ai-for-internship-applications","How to Use ChatGPT for Internship Applications","Use AI for internship applications without it backfiring: what ChatGPT is genuinely good for, where it sinks you, and a make-it-yours edit checklist.",[9,10,11],{"slug":413,"title":414,"description":415,"date":369,"tags":416,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":42},"internship-scams-to-avoid","Internship Scams to Avoid: Spot Them in 15 Minutes","The internship scams students actually report, how each one plays out, a 15-minute check to verify any offer, and exactly where to report a scam.",[9,11,10],{"slug":418,"title":419,"description":420,"date":369,"tags":421,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":371},"no-summer-internship","No Summer Internship? A Plan-B Playbook That Counts","No summer internship? Here's an honest reset, a ranked menu of substitutes by goal, and the exact resume line for each so the summer still counts.",[9,10,11],{"slug":423,"title":424,"description":425,"date":369,"tags":426,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":42},"one-way-video-interview-and-online-assessment-tips","One-Way Video Interview & Online Assessment Tips","Got an online assessment or one-way video interview for an internship? How each automated screen works, the 30-second prep trick, and when to retake.",[9,110,11],{"slug":428,"title":429,"description":430,"date":369,"tags":431,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":42},"projects-to-get-an-internship","Projects to Get an Internship: What to Build (No Experience)","What projects to build to get an internship with no experience: a field-by-field picker for weekend projects, plus a copy-paste resume and portfolio write-up.",[9,10,11],{"slug":433,"title":434,"description":435,"date":369,"tags":436,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"questions-to-ask-at-the-end-of-an-internship-interview","Questions to Ask at the End of an Internship Interview","The 5 questions to ask at the end of an internship interview, grouped by what you want to learn, plus the ones that quietly hurt you and what to ask instead.",[9,110,11],{"slug":438,"title":439,"description":440,"date":369,"tags":441,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"recruiter-phone-screen-internship","Recruiter Phone Screen for an Internship: What to Expect","The recruiter phone screen is the first human gate after the OA. What it really tests, the 5 questions it always asks, and the logistics traps to dodge.",[9,110,11],{"slug":443,"title":444,"description":445,"date":369,"tags":446,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":141},"star-method-behavioral-interview-questions","STAR Method for Behavioral Interview Questions","The STAR method for internship behavioral questions: build a reusable 6-story bank from classes and clubs, with two worked examples and no work history.",[9,110,11],{"slug":448,"title":449,"description":450,"date":369,"tags":451,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"tell-me-about-yourself-internship-interview","How to Answer \"Tell Me About Yourself\" (Internship)","The 3-part formula, present, past, why this role, for answering the tell me about yourself opener in an internship interview, with two student examples.",[9,110,11],{"slug":453,"title":454,"description":455,"date":369,"tags":456,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":141},"what-to-do-after-an-internship-rejection","What to Do After an Internship Rejection: A 7-Day Plan","Rejected from an internship? A 48-hour reset, then 5 redirect moves, plus the honest truth about asking for feedback and what one no really means.",[9,10,11],{"slug":458,"title":459,"description":460,"date":369,"tags":461,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"what-to-wear-to-an-internship-interview","What to Wear to an Internship Interview","What to wear to an internship interview, in person and on video: business casual vs professional decoded, an industry-by-industry call, and a no-suit budget take.",[9,110,11],{"slug":463,"title":464,"description":465,"date":369,"tags":466,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":42},"where-to-find-internships","Where to Find Internships: A Weekly Sourcing System","Where to find internships in 2026: build a 4-channel mix, run a 30-minute weekly routine, and vet listings so you skip dead and ghost posts.",[9,10,11],{"slug":468,"title":469,"description":470,"date":471,"tags":472,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":141},"linkedin-profile-for-students-with-no-experience","LinkedIn Profile for Students With No Experience","Build a student LinkedIn profile with no experience: a headline formula, a fill-in About template, and exactly where your projects and clubs go.","2026-06-24",[9,10,11],{"slug":474,"title":475,"description":476,"date":477,"tags":478,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":42},"make-the-most-of-your-summer-internship","How to Make the Most of Your Summer Internship","A week-by-week playbook for your summer internship: set three goals, keep a wins doc, run a mid-summer check-in, and lock in your reference early.","2026-06-22",[9,11,208],{"slug":480,"title":481,"description":482,"date":483,"tags":484,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"why-am-i-not-getting-internship-responses","Not Getting Internship Responses? Find Your Leak","Applying everywhere and hearing nothing? Diagnose your internship funnel, find the exact stage that's leaking, and fix that instead of just applying more.","2026-06-19",[9,10,11],{"slug":486,"title":487,"description":488,"date":489,"tags":490,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"when-to-apply-for-internships","When to Apply for Internships: Summer 2027 Timeline","When internship applications open by industry for summer 2027, a three-wave timeline, and exactly what to do this month so you don't miss your window.","2026-06-18",[9,10,11],{"slug":492,"title":493,"description":494,"date":495,"tags":496,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":42},"paid-vs-unpaid-internships","Paid vs Unpaid Internships: How to Decide (and Avoid Scams)","A clear framework to decide if an internship is worth it, paid or unpaid, plus the fee-scam red flags every student should check before saying yes.","2026-06-16",[9,11,10],{"slug":498,"title":499,"description":500,"date":501,"tags":502,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":61},"how-to-ask-a-professor-for-a-research-internship","How to Ask a Professor for a Research Internship","What to write, when to send it, and what professors ignore: a line-by-line email guide for undergrads asking a professor for a research internship.","2026-06-15",[9,10,11],{"slug":504,"title":505,"description":506,"date":507,"updated":369,"tags":508,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":509},"internship-interview-questions","Internship Interview Questions Students Actually Get","The questions internship interviews actually ask, grouped into five types, with a prep move and example answer for each, even with no work history.","2026-06-12",[9,110,11],6,{"slug":4,"title":5,"description":6,"date":7,"tags":511,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},[9,10,11],{"slug":513,"title":514,"description":515,"date":7,"tags":516,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"internship-resume-with-no-experience","Internship Resume With No Experience: A One-Page Guide","What to put on an internship resume when you have no work history: an exact one-page structure plus before and after bullet examples you can copy.",[9,340,10],{"slug":518,"title":519,"description":520,"date":521,"tags":522,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":523},"how-to-get-an-internship-with-no-experience","How to Get an Internship With No Experience (Step-by-Step Guide)","No experience yet? A practical step-by-step plan to land your first internship: build proof of skills, find the right openings, and apply well.","2026-06-10",[9,10,11],5,{"data":525,"body":526},{},{"type":527,"children":528},"root",[529,537,544,549,565,578,584,589,602,631,637,642,678,691,697,702,707,714,719,731,743,749,754,764,773,779,784,789,798,804,809,873,878,884,889,894,900,906,911,917,930,936,941,947,952,958,985,989],{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":532,"children":533},"element","p",{},[534],{"type":535,"value":536},"text","The internship you actually want probably isn't posted anywhere, and the application portals that do exist feel like black holes. Here's the workaround: a five-sentence email to the right person at a small company works surprisingly often, especially when the company has no formal intern program at all. This guide shows you exactly how to cold email for an internship: who to write to, what to send (three templates included), and how to follow up without being annoying.",{"type":530,"tag":538,"props":539,"children":541},"h2",{"id":540},"why-cold-emails-work-better-at-startups",[542],{"type":535,"value":543},"Why cold emails work better at startups",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":545,"children":546},{},[547],{"type":535,"value":548},"Startups under about 50 people rarely have an intern pipeline: no campus recruiting team, no applicant tracking system, often no careers page worth the name. That's an open door. When a founder reads a sharp email from a student who clearly knows their product, they can invent a role on the spot, something nobody at a 5,000-person company can do. And founders read their own inboxes, so your email lands in front of the one person who can say yes.",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":550,"children":551},{},[552,554,563],{"type":535,"value":553},"The honest part: cold email is a low-reply-rate channel even when you do it well. Backlinko's ",{"type":530,"tag":555,"props":556,"children":560},"a",{"href":557,"rel":558},"https:\u002F\u002Fbacklinko.com\u002Femail-outreach-study",[559],"nofollow",[561],{"type":535,"value":562},"analysis of 12 million outreach emails",{"type":535,"value":564}," found that only about 8.5% get any reply at all. That's professional marketer outreach, not internship emails, so treat it as a rough floor rather than your forecast.",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":566,"children":567},{},[568,570,576],{"type":535,"value":569},"One scope note: emailing professors about research roles is a different playbook, covered in ",{"type":530,"tag":555,"props":571,"children":573},{"href":572},"\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-ask-a-professor-for-a-research-internship",[574],{"type":535,"value":575},"how to ask a professor for a research internship",{"type":535,"value":577},".",{"type":530,"tag":538,"props":579,"children":581},{"id":580},"step-1-pick-20-to-30-companies-and-find-the-right-person",[582],{"type":535,"value":583},"Step 1: Pick 20 to 30 companies and find the right person",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":585,"children":586},{},[587],{"type":535,"value":588},"Twenty to thirty companies you genuinely find interesting, emailed over a few weeks, will beat 200 blasts, because the research that makes a cold email work doesn't scale to 200.",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":590,"children":591},{},[592,594,600],{"type":535,"value":593},"Aim for companies under roughly 50 people and email a human, never careers@ or info@. At a startup that means the founder or the lead of the team you'd join (the head of engineering, the first marketer, the design lead). Finding names is easy: the about page, blog post bylines, LinkedIn's \"People\" tab, or their product changelog. To build the list itself, ",{"type":530,"tag":555,"props":595,"children":597},{"href":596},"\u002Ffeed",[598],{"type":535,"value":599},"browse internships",{"type":535,"value":601}," on our feed and note which small companies keep appearing in your field.",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":603,"children":604},{},[605,607,613,615,621,623,629],{"type":535,"value":606},"For addresses, most startups use predictable patterns: ",{"type":530,"tag":555,"props":608,"children":610},{"href":609},"mailto:first@company.com",[611],{"type":535,"value":612},"first@company.com",{"type":535,"value":614},", ",{"type":530,"tag":555,"props":616,"children":618},{"href":617},"mailto:firstlast@company.com",[619],{"type":535,"value":620},"firstlast@company.com",{"type":535,"value":622},", or ",{"type":530,"tag":555,"props":624,"children":626},{"href":625},"mailto:first.last@company.com",[627],{"type":535,"value":628},"first.last@company.com",{"type":535,"value":630},". Free email lookup tools exist if guessing fails, and a bounced email costs you nothing but a retry.",{"type":530,"tag":538,"props":632,"children":634},{"id":633},"step-2-do-five-minutes-of-real-research-per-company",[635],{"type":535,"value":636},"Step 2: Do five minutes of real research per company",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":638,"children":639},{},[640],{"type":535,"value":641},"Five focused minutes separate an email that gets read from one that gets archived. Do three things before writing:",{"type":530,"tag":643,"props":644,"children":645},"ol",{},[646,658,668],{"type":530,"tag":647,"props":648,"children":649},"li",{},[650,656],{"type":530,"tag":651,"props":652,"children":653},"strong",{},[654],{"type":535,"value":655},"Use the product, or read one thing they shipped.",{"type":535,"value":657}," Sign up, click around, break something. If the product is enterprise software you can't access, read their latest blog post or changelog instead.",{"type":530,"tag":647,"props":659,"children":660},{},[661,666],{"type":530,"tag":651,"props":662,"children":663},{},[664],{"type":535,"value":665},"Find one specific thing you could genuinely help with.",{"type":535,"value":667}," A bug you hit, a missing integration, a content gap, an unanswered question in their community. Small and concrete beats big and vague.",{"type":530,"tag":647,"props":669,"children":670},{},[671,676],{"type":530,"tag":651,"props":672,"children":673},{},[674],{"type":535,"value":675},"Note anything adjacent you've built.",{"type":535,"value":677}," A class project, a script, a redesign, a newsletter. This is the proof that backs your email.",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":679,"children":680},{},[681,683,689],{"type":535,"value":682},"If step 3 comes up empty, fix that first. Building ",{"type":530,"tag":555,"props":684,"children":686},{"href":685},"\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-get-an-internship-with-no-experience",[687],{"type":535,"value":688},"proof of skills first",{"type":535,"value":690}," takes a week or two and transforms every email you send afterward, because you'll have something real to point at instead of adjectives.",{"type":530,"tag":538,"props":692,"children":694},{"id":693},"step-3-write-the-email",[695],{"type":535,"value":696},"Step 3: Write the email",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":698,"children":699},{},[700],{"type":535,"value":701},"The anatomy is simple. A subject line specific enough to survive a phone-screen skim. Five sentences maximum. One clear ask: either a 15-minute call or the direct question, \"would you be open to an intern this summer?\" No attachment in the first email, but offer to send your resume. Assume a founder gives an unknown sender about 15 seconds; every sentence has to earn the next one.",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":703,"children":704},{},[705],{"type":535,"value":706},"Here are three templates you can send after swapping the bracketed slots. Notice what they don't contain: no \"ambitious,\" no \"passionate,\" no life story. They lead with proof.",{"type":530,"tag":708,"props":709,"children":711},"h3",{"id":710},"template-1-the-i-used-your-product-email",[712],{"type":535,"value":713},"Template 1: The \"I used your product\" email",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":715,"children":716},{},[717],{"type":535,"value":718},"Use this when you've used the company's product and noticed something specific; almost nobody who emails a founder has actually done that.",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":720,"children":721},{},[722,724],{"type":535,"value":723},"Subject: ",{"type":530,"tag":725,"props":726,"children":728},"code",{"className":727},[],[729],{"type":535,"value":730},"Noticed something in [product]: note from a student user",{"type":530,"tag":732,"props":733,"children":738},"pre",{"className":734,"code":736,"language":535,"meta":737},[735],"language-text","Hi [First name],\n\nI've been using [product] for [specific task] since [month], and I\nnoticed [one specific observation, e.g. \"the CSV export silently drops\nrows with commas in the name field\"]. I'm a [year] [major] student at\n[school], and I recently built [one relevant thing, with a link].\nWould you be open to taking on an intern this summer? I'd be happy to\nstart with something small and scoped, even [the thing you noticed].\nI can send a one-page resume if that's useful.\n\n[Your name]\n","",[739],{"type":530,"tag":725,"props":740,"children":741},{"__ignoreMap":737},[742],{"type":535,"value":736},{"type":530,"tag":708,"props":744,"children":746},{"id":745},"template-2-the-i-built-something-relevant-email",[747],{"type":535,"value":748},"Template 2: The \"I built something relevant\" email",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":750,"children":751},{},[752],{"type":535,"value":753},"Use this when you haven't used their product but you've built something in their problem space. The link does the persuading, so put it in the first sentence.",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":755,"children":756},{},[757,758],{"type":535,"value":723},{"type":530,"tag":725,"props":759,"children":761},{"className":760},[],[762],{"type":535,"value":763},"[Major] student at [school]: built a [project type] in your space",{"type":530,"tag":732,"props":765,"children":768},{"className":766,"code":767,"language":535,"meta":737},[735],"Hi [First name],\n\nI recently built [project], a [one-line description], here's the link:\n[URL]. It deals with the same problem [company] works on, [name the\nspecific overlap, e.g. \"turning messy PDFs into clean tables\"]. I'm a\n[year] student at [school] looking for a summer internship, and yours\nis the team I'd most want to learn this from. Would you be open to a\n15-minute call? Happy to send a one-page resume if that helps.\n\n[Your name]\n",[769],{"type":530,"tag":725,"props":770,"children":771},{"__ignoreMap":737},[772],{"type":535,"value":767},{"type":530,"tag":708,"props":774,"children":776},{"id":775},"template-3-the-follow-up",[777],{"type":535,"value":778},"Template 3: The follow-up",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":780,"children":781},{},[782],{"type":535,"value":783},"Send this about a week after the first email, in the same thread, and add one small new piece of value. Following up is expected, not rude: in the same Backlinko study, a single follow-up boosted replies by 65.8%.",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":785,"children":786},{},[787],{"type":535,"value":788},"Subject: reply in the same thread, so the original subject carries over.",{"type":530,"tag":732,"props":790,"children":793},{"className":791,"code":792,"language":535,"meta":737},[735],"Hi [First name],\n\nFollowing up on my note from last week. Since then I [one small new\nthing: \"fixed the export issue in my own project and wrote up how\", or\n\"sketched how an intern could ship [X] in a month\", with a link].\nStill very interested in interning at [company] this summer; would a\n15-minute call sometime next week work?\n\n[Your name]\n",[794],{"type":530,"tag":725,"props":795,"children":796},{"__ignoreMap":737},[797],{"type":535,"value":792},{"type":530,"tag":538,"props":799,"children":801},{"id":800},"what-kills-a-cold-email",[802],{"type":535,"value":803},"What kills a cold email",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":805,"children":806},{},[807],{"type":535,"value":808},"These patterns get an otherwise fine email deleted in seconds:",{"type":530,"tag":810,"props":811,"children":812},"ul",{},[813,823,833,843,853,863],{"type":530,"tag":647,"props":814,"children":815},{},[816,821],{"type":530,"tag":651,"props":817,"children":818},{},[819],{"type":535,"value":820},"Desperation lines.",{"type":535,"value":822}," \"I'll do anything,\" \"I really need this internship,\" \"please give me a chance.\" They shift the email from offer to plea, and founders hire offers.",{"type":530,"tag":647,"props":824,"children":825},{},[826,831],{"type":530,"tag":651,"props":827,"children":828},{},[829],{"type":535,"value":830},"Walls of text.",{"type":535,"value":832}," If the email needs scrolling on a phone, it's dead. Five sentences.",{"type":530,"tag":647,"props":834,"children":835},{},[836,841],{"type":530,"tag":651,"props":837,"children":838},{},[839],{"type":535,"value":840},"\"Dear Sir\u002FMadam\" or \"Dear Hiring Manager.\"",{"type":535,"value":842}," At a 20-person startup, this announces you don't know who you're writing to.",{"type":530,"tag":647,"props":844,"children":845},{},[846,851],{"type":530,"tag":651,"props":847,"children":848},{},[849],{"type":535,"value":850},"Mass-blast tells.",{"type":535,"value":852}," A generic compliment (\"I love what your company is doing in the space\") fits every company, so it persuades none.",{"type":530,"tag":647,"props":854,"children":855},{},[856,861],{"type":530,"tag":651,"props":857,"children":858},{},[859],{"type":535,"value":860},"Asking for \"any opportunities.\"",{"type":535,"value":862}," Vague asks create work for the reader. Name the role, the season, and the first thing you'd do.",{"type":530,"tag":647,"props":864,"children":865},{},[866,871],{"type":530,"tag":651,"props":867,"children":868},{},[869],{"type":535,"value":870},"A resume attached cold.",{"type":535,"value":872}," Mention your proof, link it, and offer the resume instead.",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":874,"children":875},{},[876],{"type":535,"value":877},"And a hard limit: two follow-ups maximum, spaced about a week apart. After that, silence is your answer for this season; move to the next company.",{"type":530,"tag":538,"props":879,"children":881},{"id":880},"what-to-expect-the-honest-numbers",[882],{"type":535,"value":883},"What to expect (the honest numbers)",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":885,"children":886},{},[887],{"type":535,"value":888},"Most of your emails will get no reply, even when every one is good. Large outreach studies put average reply rates under 10%, and those are professionals sending for a living. A realistic campaign looks like this: 20 to 30 tailored emails over two to three weeks, a handful of replies, and one or two real conversations. That's the math working: a single conversation with a founder who can create a role is the entire goal.",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":890,"children":891},{},[892],{"type":535,"value":893},"Equally important: no reply is almost always timing and inbox volume, not a verdict on you. The same email that gets ignored in a launch week gets a warm reply a month later. Send, follow up once or twice, move on, and keep the pipeline full.",{"type":530,"tag":538,"props":895,"children":897},{"id":896},"frequently-asked-questions",[898],{"type":535,"value":899},"Frequently asked questions",{"type":530,"tag":708,"props":901,"children":903},{"id":902},"do-cold-emails-actually-work-for-internships",[904],{"type":535,"value":905},"Do cold emails actually work for internships?",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":907,"children":908},{},[909],{"type":535,"value":910},"Yes, especially at startups and small companies with no formal intern program, where the reader can simply decide to take you on. Expect most emails to go unanswered even so. Your odds rise sharply when you email a named person with a specific observation or project, and fall to near zero with generic blasts.",{"type":530,"tag":708,"props":912,"children":914},{"id":913},"should-i-attach-my-resume-to-a-cold-email",[915],{"type":535,"value":916},"Should I attach my resume to a cold email?",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":918,"children":919},{},[920,922,928],{"type":535,"value":921},"Not in the first email. An unsolicited attachment adds friction and pattern-matches to spam. Instead, link your proof (a project, a write-up, a portfolio) in the body and offer to send your resume. When they say yes, send a tight ",{"type":530,"tag":555,"props":923,"children":925},{"href":924},"\u002Fblog\u002Finternship-resume-with-no-experience",[926],{"type":535,"value":927},"one-page resume",{"type":535,"value":929}," that leads with the same proof you mentioned.",{"type":530,"tag":708,"props":931,"children":933},{"id":932},"how-long-should-a-cold-email-for-an-internship-be",[934],{"type":535,"value":935},"How long should a cold email for an internship be?",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":937,"children":938},{},[939],{"type":535,"value":940},"Five sentences or fewer. The test: a founder skimming on their phone should grasp who you are, what you've done, and what you're asking within 15 seconds. If a sentence doesn't help them say yes, cut it.",{"type":530,"tag":708,"props":942,"children":944},{"id":943},"how-do-i-follow-up-without-being-annoying",[945],{"type":535,"value":946},"How do I follow up without being annoying?",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":948,"children":949},{},[950],{"type":535,"value":951},"Wait about a week, reply in the same thread, and keep it to two or three sentences. Add one small new thing (a fix you shipped, a short idea for them) rather than just asking again. Two follow-ups maximum, then move on.",{"type":530,"tag":708,"props":953,"children":955},{"id":954},"whats-a-good-subject-line-for-an-internship-cold-email",[956],{"type":535,"value":957},"What's a good subject line for an internship cold email?",{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":959,"children":960},{},[961,963,969,971,976,978,983],{"type":535,"value":962},"Specific beats clever. Something like \"CS student at ",{"type":530,"tag":964,"props":965,"children":966},"span",{},[967],{"type":535,"value":968},"school",{"type":535,"value":970},": built a ",{"type":530,"tag":964,"props":972,"children":973},{},[974],{"type":535,"value":975},"project",{"type":535,"value":977},", interested in interning at ",{"type":530,"tag":964,"props":979,"children":980},{},[981],{"type":535,"value":982},"company",{"type":535,"value":984},"\" tells the reader exactly what's inside. Avoid \"Quick question\" (salespeople wore it out), \"Exploring opportunities\" (vague), and anything that hides that you're a student, since being a student is part of why a founder opens it.",{"type":530,"tag":986,"props":987,"children":988},"hr",{},[],{"type":530,"tag":531,"props":990,"children":991},{},[992],{"type":535,"value":993},"Do this today: pick five companies, spend five minutes researching the first one, and send one email using Template 1 or 2. Don't draft all twenty first or polish for an hour; the students who land internships this way hit send before they talk themselves out of it.",{"keys":995},[996,997,998,999,1000,1001,1002,1003,1004,1005,1006,1007,1008,1009,1010,1011,1012,1013,1014,1015,1016,1017,1018,1019,1020,1021,1022,1023,1024,1025,1026,1027,1028,1029,1030,1031,1032,1033,1034,1035,1036,1037,1038,1039,1040],"in:bangalore","in:mumbai","in:delhi","in:gurugram","in:hyderabad","in:pune","in:chennai","in:noida","in:kolkata","in:jaipur","in:ahmedabad","in:software-engineering","in:data-science","in:marketing","in:design","in:finance","in:sales","in:human-resources","in:operations","in:remote","us:new-york","us:san-francisco","us:chicago","us:seattle","us:washington-dc","us:austin","us:los-angeles","us:software-engineering","us:data-science","us:marketing","us:design","us:finance","us:sales","us:human-resources","us:operations","us:remote","sg:software-engineering","sg:data-science","sg:marketing","sg:design","sg:finance","sg:sales","sg:human-resources","sg:operations","sg:remote"]