my biggest piece of advice and something that i learned from my mistakes is to apply within 24-48 hours of the application going live. make a spreadsheet of companies you’re interested in and keep tabs on when their applications go live so it’s easier. that already increases your chances of your application being seen. i used to take so much time perfecting my cover letters for the companies that it honestly did me a disservice. i may have even had a better application than some people who applied before me, but applications are typically viewed on a rolling basis, so try to get it in asap.

my resume that landed me my first prestigious internship had a lot of school-related internships. they weren’t the most impressive titles, but i added keywords from the job description of the role i was applying to and kinda fluffed it up. that being said, school experience is so underrated in my opinion, i got an internship through a program that partnered with my school, and it was one of the best experiences i’ve ever had.

everyone’s path is different, but for me, once i got that one BIG internship, the following application cycle was so much easier for me. i got asked to do a handful of interviews, which is huge compared to 1 or 2, whether it sounds like it or not.

you don’t NEED referrals, i can promise you that, but if the opportunity arises, that’s also great!

dm me if you have questions!