[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-how-to-get-an-internship-as-a-freshman-or-sophomore":3,"blog-index":16,"mdc--wd103o-key":428,"live-hubs":862},{"slug":4,"title":5,"description":6,"date":7,"tags":8,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14,"body":15},"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.","2026-06-25",[9,10,11],"internships","applications","career-advice","Student Internships Team",false,9,"You're a freshman or sophomore, your feed is full of classmates posting \"thrilled to announce\" internships, and you've quietly decided you're behind. You're almost certainly not. Most of those posts are juniors, and most of the splashy listings you're looking at aren't even open to you yet. Here's what these two years are actually for, which roles you can realistically get right now, and the exact move to make this year depending on whether you're a freshman or a sophomore.\n\n## First, the honest part: you probably don't need an internship yet\n\nThe thing nobody says out loud: not having a \"real\" internship after freshman year is the normal pattern, and not having one after sophomore year is common too. The students posting brand-name offers are mostly further along than you. Comparing your year one to someone else's year three is how the panic starts.\n\nYour job as an underclassman isn't to win a prestigious seat. It's three quieter things: exposure (figuring out what work you actually like), skills (one or two things you can demonstrate), and relationships (a few people who know your name). Those compound. A name on your resume this early does not, on its own, do much.\n\nThere's one real exception. A small elite tier, mostly top investment banking and the top consulting firms, genuinely recruits sophomores more than a year ahead, so for that narrow path the calendar is earlier than it feels. If that's your target, sort out the timing first with our guide on [when applications actually open by industry](\u002Fblog\u002Fwhen-to-apply-for-internships). For everything else, you have more runway than your group chat suggests.\n\n## Why a longer runway is an advantage, not a gap\n\nRecruiting for the internship that often turns into a full-time offer happens in your junior year. Everything you do before then is setup. So the real question isn't \"do I have an internship this summer,\" it's \"will I walk into junior-year recruiting with something to show and people who'll vouch for me.\"\n\nThat's where the extra time wins. Two years of small proof and a handful of warm contacts beats one frantic spring of cold applications from a blank resume. The student who built one project freshman year, did a research stint or campus job sophomore summer, and stayed in touch with two people arrives at junior recruiting with stories to tell and a referral or two in their pocket. The student who waited until junior fall to start is doing all of it cold, at the busiest possible moment.\n\nYou don't need to do a lot. You need to start early and let it accumulate. Early and small beats late and frantic, every time.\n\n## What's actually open to you (program types, not a stale list)\n\nMost \"internships for freshmen and sophomores\" listicles name specific branded programs with eligibility and deadlines that go stale within a year. Skip that. Learn the categories instead, then look up current specifics yourself. Here's what's genuinely reachable this early.\n\n### Early-talent and \"explore\" style programs\n\nSome large tech and finance firms run short programs built specifically for first and second-year students, framed around exposure and mentorship rather than a full working role. They exist, they rotate names and dates constantly, and the only reliable way to find the current ones is to look them up directly, not to trust a blog post from two years ago.\n\nTo find real, current ones: check the university-recruiting or early-careers page on the websites of companies you're interested in, ask your school's career center which programs students from your school have done, and skim crowdsourced student lists for leads you then verify at the source. Confirm eligibility, pay, and deadlines on the company's own page before you build a plan around any of them, because those details change every cycle.\n\n### On-campus jobs and roles\n\nThe most overlooked option is sitting on your own campus. Lab assistant, IT help desk, library, department office, tour guide, peer tutor. These are real jobs with real responsibility, and they're reachable as a freshman because they hire students by design. \"Managed the front desk and scheduling for the physics department\" is legitimate experience. It shows up on a resume, it builds references, and it puts you next to faculty and staff who hear about other opportunities first.\n\n### Research with a professor\n\nWorking in a professor's lab is one of the most underclassman-friendly paths there is, and these roles often get far fewer applicants than corporate listings. A research assistant position is an internship in everything but the title, and freshmen and sophomores get them regularly, usually by simply asking. The how matters a lot here, so we wrote it up separately: [how to email a professor for a research role](\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-ask-a-professor-for-a-research-internship).\n\n### Smaller companies, startups, and local or nonprofit roles\n\nThis is where underclassmen actually get hired. Smaller companies, early-stage startups, and local or nonprofit organizations hire on ability and attitude over pedigree, the applicant pools are far smaller, and you often get more responsibility than you would at a giant firm. A specific, direct message to a small company can create a role that was never even posted. To find these consistently instead of stumbling on them, set up a repeatable routine with our [weekly system for finding these roles](\u002Fblog\u002Fwhere-to-find-internships), and you can [browse internships](\u002Ffeed) on our feed to see what's open to students right now.\n\n### Club, project, and volunteer work that counts\n\nHere's the reframe most students miss: \"experience\" this early does not have to be a paid job. Running an event for a student society, leading a club's social media, organizing a volunteer drive, or shipping a small project of your own all count as real, resume-worthy experience, because they show you can take responsibility and finish things. If you're not sure what to build, our guide on [which project to actually build](\u002Fblog\u002Fprojects-to-get-an-internship) walks through it field by field. And for the full playbook on turning all of this into applications, see [the general plan for proving skills with no work history](\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-get-an-internship-with-no-experience). That post is the backbone; this one is just the year-specific layer on top.\n\n## Your move this year, by year\n\nSame destination, different starting line. Find your year and do these over the next twelve months.\n\n### If you're a freshman right now\n\nLow pressure. The goal is momentum, not a trophy.\n\n1. **Pick a direction loosely.** You don't need a five-year plan. Choose a rough lane (software, marketing, biology, finance, design) you're curious enough to explore for a semester. You can change it.\n2. **Build one small thing.** One project, one club role, one concrete responsibility you carry start to finish. Just one.\n3. **Get one on-campus or research role.** Apply to a campus job or email two or three professors about research. This is the most achievable \"real\" experience you can land this year.\n4. **Start two relationships.** An older student in your field, a professor, a club lead. Two people who'd recognize your name is plenty for now.\n5. **Set up the basics.** A simple LinkedIn profile and a one-page resume, even a thin one. Our guide to a [LinkedIn profile when you have no experience yet](\u002Fblog\u002Flinkedin-profile-for-students-with-no-experience) gets you a clean version in an evening.\n\n### If you're a sophomore right now\n\nThis is the year the realistic target set widens. Sophomore summer is the launchpad for junior-year recruiting, so aim a little higher.\n\n1. **Tighten your direction.** Move from \"rough lane\" to a clearer target, because the program types and roles above reward students who can say what they want.\n2. **Ship one role-matched project.** Build the thing that looks like the work you're applying for, not just any project. That single artifact carries your application.\n3. **Apply to the program types above.** Sophomore year is when first and second-year-specific programs, smaller-company roles, and a first \"real\" internship become genuinely winnable. Verify current details at the source, then apply.\n4. **Start coffee chats for the fall cycle.** A conversation now becomes a referral later. Begin a few with our guide on how to [start a coffee chat now](\u002Fblog\u002Fcoffee-chats-and-informational-interviews-for-students).\n5. **Line up timing.** Know when your targets open so you apply inside the window instead of after it. The [industry timing breakdown](\u002Fblog\u002Fwhen-to-apply-for-internships) maps that out.\n\n## Frequently asked questions\n\n### Can freshmen actually get internships?\n\nYes, but the realistic set is narrower than it is for juniors. Your live options are underclassman-specific programs, on-campus jobs, research with a professor, and smaller or local roles. The name-brand, junior-level seats are rare this early, and not winning one as a freshman is expected, not a failure.\n\n### Is it too early to apply for internships as a freshman?\n\nNo. It's never too early to prepare, and not too early to apply wherever you're actually eligible. For most fields you're early or right on time. The timing only gets tight for that narrow elite finance and consulting tier, which our [timing guide](\u002Fblog\u002Fwhen-to-apply-for-internships) covers in detail.\n\n### What should I do if I don't get an internship my freshman or sophomore summer?\n\nThis is common and genuinely fine. Productive alternatives still build your runway: do research with a professor, take an on-campus job, ship a real project, take a course that fills a gap, or work a part-time or local role. A summer spent building one demonstrable thing beats a summer spent waiting for an offer that the market rarely hands underclassmen.\n\n### Do internships as a freshman or sophomore even matter for getting a job later?\n\nYes, through compounding rather than prestige. The skills and relationships you build now are exactly what strengthen your position in junior-year recruiting, when the internships that convert to full-time offers get decided. The value is exposure and momentum, not the logo. A small role you can talk about is worth more than a famous one you can't get.\n\n### What experience can I put on a resume as a freshman with nothing yet?\n\nMore than you think: clubs and societies, projects you've built, relevant coursework, on-campus jobs, and volunteering all belong on the page. The trick is framing them as responsibilities and outcomes, not hobbies. Our guides on the [resume with no experience](\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-get-an-internship-with-no-experience) and the [student LinkedIn profile](\u002Fblog\u002Flinkedin-profile-for-students-with-no-experience) show you exactly how to word it.\n\n## What to do today\n\nIf you're a freshman, the move today is small: email one professor about research or apply to one campus job, and spend twenty minutes setting up a basic resume. If you're a sophomore, pick the one project that matches the work you want and start it this week, then send one coffee-chat message. You're not behind. You're early, which is the best place to be, so use the runway instead of worrying about it.",[17,24,31,37,44,50,56,62,69,75,81,87,94,100,106,113,119,125,131,137,143,149,155,161,167,173,179,185,191,197,203,209,215,221,227,233,239,245,251,257,263,269,275,280,285,290,292,297,302,307,312,317,322,327,332,337,342,347,352,357,362,367,373,379,385,391,397,403,410,416,421],{"slug":18,"title":19,"description":20,"date":21,"tags":22,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"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",[9,23,11],"interviews",{"slug":25,"title":26,"description":27,"date":28,"tags":29,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":30},"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],8,{"slug":32,"title":33,"description":34,"date":35,"tags":36,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":30},"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",[9,23,11],{"slug":38,"title":39,"description":40,"date":41,"tags":42,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":43},"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",[9,23,11],11,{"slug":45,"title":46,"description":47,"date":48,"tags":49,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":30},"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",[9,23,11],{"slug":51,"title":52,"description":53,"date":54,"tags":55,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"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":57,"title":58,"description":59,"date":60,"tags":61,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":30},"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",[9,23,11],{"slug":63,"title":64,"description":65,"date":66,"tags":67,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":68},"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",[9,23,11],7,{"slug":70,"title":71,"description":72,"date":73,"tags":74,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":30},"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",[9,23,11],{"slug":76,"title":77,"description":78,"date":79,"tags":80,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":30},"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",[9,23,11],{"slug":82,"title":83,"description":84,"date":85,"tags":86,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"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",[9,23,11],{"slug":88,"title":89,"description":90,"date":91,"tags":92,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":93},"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",[9,23,11],10,{"slug":95,"title":96,"description":97,"date":98,"tags":99,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":30},"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",[9,23,11],{"slug":101,"title":102,"description":103,"date":104,"tags":105,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"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":107,"title":108,"description":109,"date":110,"tags":111,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":30},"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",[9,11,112],"internship-tips",{"slug":114,"title":115,"description":116,"date":117,"tags":118,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":30},"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",[9,23,11],{"slug":120,"title":121,"description":122,"date":123,"tags":124,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"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",[9,23,11],{"slug":126,"title":127,"description":128,"date":129,"tags":130,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"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":132,"title":133,"description":134,"date":135,"tags":136,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"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",[9,11,112],{"slug":138,"title":139,"description":140,"date":141,"tags":142,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":93},"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",[9,11,112],{"slug":144,"title":145,"description":146,"date":147,"tags":148,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"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",[9,11,112],{"slug":150,"title":151,"description":152,"date":153,"tags":154,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"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",[9,11,112],{"slug":156,"title":157,"description":158,"date":159,"tags":160,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":30},"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",[9,23,11],{"slug":162,"title":163,"description":164,"date":165,"tags":166,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":30},"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",[9,23,11],{"slug":168,"title":169,"description":170,"date":171,"tags":172,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":30},"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",[9,23,11],{"slug":174,"title":175,"description":176,"date":177,"tags":178,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"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",[9,23,11],{"slug":180,"title":181,"description":182,"date":183,"tags":184,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":30},"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":186,"title":187,"description":188,"date":189,"tags":190,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":30},"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",[9,23,11],{"slug":192,"title":193,"description":194,"date":195,"tags":196,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"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":198,"title":199,"description":200,"date":201,"tags":202,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":30},"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":204,"title":205,"description":206,"date":207,"tags":208,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":30},"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":210,"title":211,"description":212,"date":213,"tags":214,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"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":216,"title":217,"description":218,"date":219,"tags":220,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"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",[9,23,11],{"slug":222,"title":223,"description":224,"date":225,"tags":226,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"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",[9,23,11],{"slug":228,"title":229,"description":230,"date":231,"tags":232,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":30},"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",[9,23,11],{"slug":234,"title":235,"description":236,"date":237,"tags":238,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":30},"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",[9,23,11],{"slug":240,"title":241,"description":242,"date":237,"tags":243,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"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.",[9,244,10],"resume",{"slug":246,"title":247,"description":248,"date":249,"tags":250,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":93},"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",[9,23,11],{"slug":252,"title":253,"description":254,"date":255,"tags":256,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"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",[9,23,11],{"slug":258,"title":259,"description":260,"date":261,"tags":262,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":93},"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":264,"title":265,"description":266,"date":267,"tags":268,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":93},"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":270,"title":271,"description":272,"date":7,"tags":273,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":274},"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.",[9,10,11],12,{"slug":276,"title":277,"description":278,"date":7,"tags":279,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":30},"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":281,"title":282,"description":283,"date":7,"tags":284,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":93},"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":286,"title":287,"description":288,"date":7,"tags":289,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":43},"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.",[9,11,112],{"slug":4,"title":5,"description":6,"date":7,"tags":291,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},[9,10,11],{"slug":293,"title":294,"description":295,"date":7,"tags":296,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":274},"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":298,"title":299,"description":300,"date":7,"tags":301,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":274},"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":303,"title":304,"description":305,"date":7,"tags":306,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":43},"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.",[9,23,11],{"slug":308,"title":309,"description":310,"date":7,"tags":311,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"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":313,"title":314,"description":315,"date":7,"tags":316,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":93},"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":318,"title":319,"description":320,"date":7,"tags":321,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":274},"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":323,"title":324,"description":325,"date":7,"tags":326,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":93},"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.",[9,23,11],{"slug":328,"title":329,"description":330,"date":7,"tags":331,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":93},"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":333,"title":334,"description":335,"date":7,"tags":336,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"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.",[9,23,11],{"slug":338,"title":339,"description":340,"date":7,"tags":341,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"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.",[9,23,11],{"slug":343,"title":344,"description":345,"date":7,"tags":346,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":43},"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.",[9,23,11],{"slug":348,"title":349,"description":350,"date":7,"tags":351,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"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.",[9,23,11],{"slug":353,"title":354,"description":355,"date":7,"tags":356,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":43},"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":358,"title":359,"description":360,"date":7,"tags":361,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":30},"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.",[9,23,11],{"slug":363,"title":364,"description":365,"date":7,"tags":366,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":93},"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":368,"title":369,"description":370,"date":371,"tags":372,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":43},"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":374,"title":375,"description":376,"date":377,"tags":378,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":93},"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",[9,11,112],{"slug":380,"title":381,"description":382,"date":383,"tags":384,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"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":386,"title":387,"description":388,"date":389,"tags":390,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":30},"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":392,"title":393,"description":394,"date":395,"tags":396,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":93},"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":398,"title":399,"description":400,"date":401,"tags":402,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"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":404,"title":405,"description":406,"date":407,"updated":7,"tags":408,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":409},"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",[9,23,11],6,{"slug":411,"title":412,"description":413,"date":414,"tags":415,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":30},"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],{"slug":417,"title":418,"description":419,"date":414,"tags":420,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":30},"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.",[9,244,10],{"slug":422,"title":423,"description":424,"date":425,"tags":426,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":427},"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":429,"body":430},{},{"type":431,"children":432},"root",[433,441,448,453,458,472,478,483,488,493,499,504,511,516,521,527,532,538,551,557,578,584,605,611,616,622,627,691,697,702,769,775,781,786,792,804,810,815,821,826,832,851,857],{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":436,"children":437},"element","p",{},[438],{"type":439,"value":440},"text","You're a freshman or sophomore, your feed is full of classmates posting \"thrilled to announce\" internships, and you've quietly decided you're behind. You're almost certainly not. Most of those posts are juniors, and most of the splashy listings you're looking at aren't even open to you yet. Here's what these two years are actually for, which roles you can realistically get right now, and the exact move to make this year depending on whether you're a freshman or a sophomore.",{"type":434,"tag":442,"props":443,"children":445},"h2",{"id":444},"first-the-honest-part-you-probably-dont-need-an-internship-yet",[446],{"type":439,"value":447},"First, the honest part: you probably don't need an internship yet",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":449,"children":450},{},[451],{"type":439,"value":452},"The thing nobody says out loud: not having a \"real\" internship after freshman year is the normal pattern, and not having one after sophomore year is common too. The students posting brand-name offers are mostly further along than you. Comparing your year one to someone else's year three is how the panic starts.",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":454,"children":455},{},[456],{"type":439,"value":457},"Your job as an underclassman isn't to win a prestigious seat. It's three quieter things: exposure (figuring out what work you actually like), skills (one or two things you can demonstrate), and relationships (a few people who know your name). Those compound. A name on your resume this early does not, on its own, do much.",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":459,"children":460},{},[461,463,470],{"type":439,"value":462},"There's one real exception. A small elite tier, mostly top investment banking and the top consulting firms, genuinely recruits sophomores more than a year ahead, so for that narrow path the calendar is earlier than it feels. If that's your target, sort out the timing first with our guide on ",{"type":434,"tag":464,"props":465,"children":467},"a",{"href":466},"\u002Fblog\u002Fwhen-to-apply-for-internships",[468],{"type":439,"value":469},"when applications actually open by industry",{"type":439,"value":471},". For everything else, you have more runway than your group chat suggests.",{"type":434,"tag":442,"props":473,"children":475},{"id":474},"why-a-longer-runway-is-an-advantage-not-a-gap",[476],{"type":439,"value":477},"Why a longer runway is an advantage, not a gap",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":479,"children":480},{},[481],{"type":439,"value":482},"Recruiting for the internship that often turns into a full-time offer happens in your junior year. Everything you do before then is setup. So the real question isn't \"do I have an internship this summer,\" it's \"will I walk into junior-year recruiting with something to show and people who'll vouch for me.\"",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":484,"children":485},{},[486],{"type":439,"value":487},"That's where the extra time wins. Two years of small proof and a handful of warm contacts beats one frantic spring of cold applications from a blank resume. The student who built one project freshman year, did a research stint or campus job sophomore summer, and stayed in touch with two people arrives at junior recruiting with stories to tell and a referral or two in their pocket. The student who waited until junior fall to start is doing all of it cold, at the busiest possible moment.",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":489,"children":490},{},[491],{"type":439,"value":492},"You don't need to do a lot. You need to start early and let it accumulate. Early and small beats late and frantic, every time.",{"type":434,"tag":442,"props":494,"children":496},{"id":495},"whats-actually-open-to-you-program-types-not-a-stale-list",[497],{"type":439,"value":498},"What's actually open to you (program types, not a stale list)",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":500,"children":501},{},[502],{"type":439,"value":503},"Most \"internships for freshmen and sophomores\" listicles name specific branded programs with eligibility and deadlines that go stale within a year. Skip that. Learn the categories instead, then look up current specifics yourself. Here's what's genuinely reachable this early.",{"type":434,"tag":505,"props":506,"children":508},"h3",{"id":507},"early-talent-and-explore-style-programs",[509],{"type":439,"value":510},"Early-talent and \"explore\" style programs",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":512,"children":513},{},[514],{"type":439,"value":515},"Some large tech and finance firms run short programs built specifically for first and second-year students, framed around exposure and mentorship rather than a full working role. They exist, they rotate names and dates constantly, and the only reliable way to find the current ones is to look them up directly, not to trust a blog post from two years ago.",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":517,"children":518},{},[519],{"type":439,"value":520},"To find real, current ones: check the university-recruiting or early-careers page on the websites of companies you're interested in, ask your school's career center which programs students from your school have done, and skim crowdsourced student lists for leads you then verify at the source. Confirm eligibility, pay, and deadlines on the company's own page before you build a plan around any of them, because those details change every cycle.",{"type":434,"tag":505,"props":522,"children":524},{"id":523},"on-campus-jobs-and-roles",[525],{"type":439,"value":526},"On-campus jobs and roles",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":528,"children":529},{},[530],{"type":439,"value":531},"The most overlooked option is sitting on your own campus. Lab assistant, IT help desk, library, department office, tour guide, peer tutor. These are real jobs with real responsibility, and they're reachable as a freshman because they hire students by design. \"Managed the front desk and scheduling for the physics department\" is legitimate experience. It shows up on a resume, it builds references, and it puts you next to faculty and staff who hear about other opportunities first.",{"type":434,"tag":505,"props":533,"children":535},{"id":534},"research-with-a-professor",[536],{"type":439,"value":537},"Research with a professor",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":539,"children":540},{},[541,543,549],{"type":439,"value":542},"Working in a professor's lab is one of the most underclassman-friendly paths there is, and these roles often get far fewer applicants than corporate listings. A research assistant position is an internship in everything but the title, and freshmen and sophomores get them regularly, usually by simply asking. The how matters a lot here, so we wrote it up separately: ",{"type":434,"tag":464,"props":544,"children":546},{"href":545},"\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-ask-a-professor-for-a-research-internship",[547],{"type":439,"value":548},"how to email a professor for a research role",{"type":439,"value":550},".",{"type":434,"tag":505,"props":552,"children":554},{"id":553},"smaller-companies-startups-and-local-or-nonprofit-roles",[555],{"type":439,"value":556},"Smaller companies, startups, and local or nonprofit roles",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":558,"children":559},{},[560,562,568,570,576],{"type":439,"value":561},"This is where underclassmen actually get hired. Smaller companies, early-stage startups, and local or nonprofit organizations hire on ability and attitude over pedigree, the applicant pools are far smaller, and you often get more responsibility than you would at a giant firm. A specific, direct message to a small company can create a role that was never even posted. To find these consistently instead of stumbling on them, set up a repeatable routine with our ",{"type":434,"tag":464,"props":563,"children":565},{"href":564},"\u002Fblog\u002Fwhere-to-find-internships",[566],{"type":439,"value":567},"weekly system for finding these roles",{"type":439,"value":569},", and you can ",{"type":434,"tag":464,"props":571,"children":573},{"href":572},"\u002Ffeed",[574],{"type":439,"value":575},"browse internships",{"type":439,"value":577}," on our feed to see what's open to students right now.",{"type":434,"tag":505,"props":579,"children":581},{"id":580},"club-project-and-volunteer-work-that-counts",[582],{"type":439,"value":583},"Club, project, and volunteer work that counts",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":585,"children":586},{},[587,589,595,597,603],{"type":439,"value":588},"Here's the reframe most students miss: \"experience\" this early does not have to be a paid job. Running an event for a student society, leading a club's social media, organizing a volunteer drive, or shipping a small project of your own all count as real, resume-worthy experience, because they show you can take responsibility and finish things. If you're not sure what to build, our guide on ",{"type":434,"tag":464,"props":590,"children":592},{"href":591},"\u002Fblog\u002Fprojects-to-get-an-internship",[593],{"type":439,"value":594},"which project to actually build",{"type":439,"value":596}," walks through it field by field. And for the full playbook on turning all of this into applications, see ",{"type":434,"tag":464,"props":598,"children":600},{"href":599},"\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-get-an-internship-with-no-experience",[601],{"type":439,"value":602},"the general plan for proving skills with no work history",{"type":439,"value":604},". That post is the backbone; this one is just the year-specific layer on top.",{"type":434,"tag":442,"props":606,"children":608},{"id":607},"your-move-this-year-by-year",[609],{"type":439,"value":610},"Your move this year, by year",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":612,"children":613},{},[614],{"type":439,"value":615},"Same destination, different starting line. Find your year and do these over the next twelve months.",{"type":434,"tag":505,"props":617,"children":619},{"id":618},"if-youre-a-freshman-right-now",[620],{"type":439,"value":621},"If you're a freshman right now",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":623,"children":624},{},[625],{"type":439,"value":626},"Low pressure. The goal is momentum, not a trophy.",{"type":434,"tag":628,"props":629,"children":630},"ol",{},[631,643,653,663,673],{"type":434,"tag":632,"props":633,"children":634},"li",{},[635,641],{"type":434,"tag":636,"props":637,"children":638},"strong",{},[639],{"type":439,"value":640},"Pick a direction loosely.",{"type":439,"value":642}," You don't need a five-year plan. Choose a rough lane (software, marketing, biology, finance, design) you're curious enough to explore for a semester. You can change it.",{"type":434,"tag":632,"props":644,"children":645},{},[646,651],{"type":434,"tag":636,"props":647,"children":648},{},[649],{"type":439,"value":650},"Build one small thing.",{"type":439,"value":652}," One project, one club role, one concrete responsibility you carry start to finish. Just one.",{"type":434,"tag":632,"props":654,"children":655},{},[656,661],{"type":434,"tag":636,"props":657,"children":658},{},[659],{"type":439,"value":660},"Get one on-campus or research role.",{"type":439,"value":662}," Apply to a campus job or email two or three professors about research. This is the most achievable \"real\" experience you can land this year.",{"type":434,"tag":632,"props":664,"children":665},{},[666,671],{"type":434,"tag":636,"props":667,"children":668},{},[669],{"type":439,"value":670},"Start two relationships.",{"type":439,"value":672}," An older student in your field, a professor, a club lead. Two people who'd recognize your name is plenty for now.",{"type":434,"tag":632,"props":674,"children":675},{},[676,681,683,689],{"type":434,"tag":636,"props":677,"children":678},{},[679],{"type":439,"value":680},"Set up the basics.",{"type":439,"value":682}," A simple LinkedIn profile and a one-page resume, even a thin one. Our guide to a ",{"type":434,"tag":464,"props":684,"children":686},{"href":685},"\u002Fblog\u002Flinkedin-profile-for-students-with-no-experience",[687],{"type":439,"value":688},"LinkedIn profile when you have no experience yet",{"type":439,"value":690}," gets you a clean version in an evening.",{"type":434,"tag":505,"props":692,"children":694},{"id":693},"if-youre-a-sophomore-right-now",[695],{"type":439,"value":696},"If you're a sophomore right now",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":698,"children":699},{},[700],{"type":439,"value":701},"This is the year the realistic target set widens. Sophomore summer is the launchpad for junior-year recruiting, so aim a little higher.",{"type":434,"tag":628,"props":703,"children":704},{},[705,715,725,735,752],{"type":434,"tag":632,"props":706,"children":707},{},[708,713],{"type":434,"tag":636,"props":709,"children":710},{},[711],{"type":439,"value":712},"Tighten your direction.",{"type":439,"value":714}," Move from \"rough lane\" to a clearer target, because the program types and roles above reward students who can say what they want.",{"type":434,"tag":632,"props":716,"children":717},{},[718,723],{"type":434,"tag":636,"props":719,"children":720},{},[721],{"type":439,"value":722},"Ship one role-matched project.",{"type":439,"value":724}," Build the thing that looks like the work you're applying for, not just any project. That single artifact carries your application.",{"type":434,"tag":632,"props":726,"children":727},{},[728,733],{"type":434,"tag":636,"props":729,"children":730},{},[731],{"type":439,"value":732},"Apply to the program types above.",{"type":439,"value":734}," Sophomore year is when first and second-year-specific programs, smaller-company roles, and a first \"real\" internship become genuinely winnable. Verify current details at the source, then apply.",{"type":434,"tag":632,"props":736,"children":737},{},[738,743,745,751],{"type":434,"tag":636,"props":739,"children":740},{},[741],{"type":439,"value":742},"Start coffee chats for the fall cycle.",{"type":439,"value":744}," A conversation now becomes a referral later. Begin a few with our guide on how to ",{"type":434,"tag":464,"props":746,"children":748},{"href":747},"\u002Fblog\u002Fcoffee-chats-and-informational-interviews-for-students",[749],{"type":439,"value":750},"start a coffee chat now",{"type":439,"value":550},{"type":434,"tag":632,"props":753,"children":754},{},[755,760,762,767],{"type":434,"tag":636,"props":756,"children":757},{},[758],{"type":439,"value":759},"Line up timing.",{"type":439,"value":761}," Know when your targets open so you apply inside the window instead of after it. The ",{"type":434,"tag":464,"props":763,"children":764},{"href":466},[765],{"type":439,"value":766},"industry timing breakdown",{"type":439,"value":768}," maps that out.",{"type":434,"tag":442,"props":770,"children":772},{"id":771},"frequently-asked-questions",[773],{"type":439,"value":774},"Frequently asked questions",{"type":434,"tag":505,"props":776,"children":778},{"id":777},"can-freshmen-actually-get-internships",[779],{"type":439,"value":780},"Can freshmen actually get internships?",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":782,"children":783},{},[784],{"type":439,"value":785},"Yes, but the realistic set is narrower than it is for juniors. Your live options are underclassman-specific programs, on-campus jobs, research with a professor, and smaller or local roles. The name-brand, junior-level seats are rare this early, and not winning one as a freshman is expected, not a failure.",{"type":434,"tag":505,"props":787,"children":789},{"id":788},"is-it-too-early-to-apply-for-internships-as-a-freshman",[790],{"type":439,"value":791},"Is it too early to apply for internships as a freshman?",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":793,"children":794},{},[795,797,802],{"type":439,"value":796},"No. It's never too early to prepare, and not too early to apply wherever you're actually eligible. For most fields you're early or right on time. The timing only gets tight for that narrow elite finance and consulting tier, which our ",{"type":434,"tag":464,"props":798,"children":799},{"href":466},[800],{"type":439,"value":801},"timing guide",{"type":439,"value":803}," covers in detail.",{"type":434,"tag":505,"props":805,"children":807},{"id":806},"what-should-i-do-if-i-dont-get-an-internship-my-freshman-or-sophomore-summer",[808],{"type":439,"value":809},"What should I do if I don't get an internship my freshman or sophomore summer?",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":811,"children":812},{},[813],{"type":439,"value":814},"This is common and genuinely fine. Productive alternatives still build your runway: do research with a professor, take an on-campus job, ship a real project, take a course that fills a gap, or work a part-time or local role. A summer spent building one demonstrable thing beats a summer spent waiting for an offer that the market rarely hands underclassmen.",{"type":434,"tag":505,"props":816,"children":818},{"id":817},"do-internships-as-a-freshman-or-sophomore-even-matter-for-getting-a-job-later",[819],{"type":439,"value":820},"Do internships as a freshman or sophomore even matter for getting a job later?",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":822,"children":823},{},[824],{"type":439,"value":825},"Yes, through compounding rather than prestige. The skills and relationships you build now are exactly what strengthen your position in junior-year recruiting, when the internships that convert to full-time offers get decided. The value is exposure and momentum, not the logo. A small role you can talk about is worth more than a famous one you can't get.",{"type":434,"tag":505,"props":827,"children":829},{"id":828},"what-experience-can-i-put-on-a-resume-as-a-freshman-with-nothing-yet",[830],{"type":439,"value":831},"What experience can I put on a resume as a freshman with nothing yet?",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":833,"children":834},{},[835,837,842,844,849],{"type":439,"value":836},"More than you think: clubs and societies, projects you've built, relevant coursework, on-campus jobs, and volunteering all belong on the page. The trick is framing them as responsibilities and outcomes, not hobbies. Our guides on the ",{"type":434,"tag":464,"props":838,"children":839},{"href":599},[840],{"type":439,"value":841},"resume with no experience",{"type":439,"value":843}," and the ",{"type":434,"tag":464,"props":845,"children":846},{"href":685},[847],{"type":439,"value":848},"student LinkedIn profile",{"type":439,"value":850}," show you exactly how to word it.",{"type":434,"tag":442,"props":852,"children":854},{"id":853},"what-to-do-today",[855],{"type":439,"value":856},"What to do today",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":858,"children":859},{},[860],{"type":439,"value":861},"If you're a freshman, the move today is small: email one professor about research or apply to one campus job, and spend twenty minutes setting up a basic resume. If you're a sophomore, pick the one project that matches the work you want and start it this week, then send one coffee-chat message. You're not behind. You're early, which is the best place to be, so use the runway instead of worrying about it.",{"keys":863},[864,865,866,867,868,869,870,871,872,873,874,875,876,877,878,879,880,881,882,883,884,885,886,887,888,889,890,891,892,893,894,895,896,897],"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:washington-dc","us:los-angeles","us:software-engineering","us:data-science","us:marketing","us:design","us:finance","us:sales","us:human-resources","us:operations","us:remote","ph:manila"]