Unsolicited Internships

proXimity

So I'm thinking of looking for an internship, but I haven't really seen any listed anywhere in my field. This isn't terribly surprising to me, though.

I want to send some kind of correspondence saying I am interested in a (probably unpaid) internship, just for experience. What is the best way of doing this- most likely to actually create myself an intern position? Should I go ahead and attach a resume (which has little related stuff on it) to an email that is just an initial inquiry? Do I go all-out on the initial email, writing basically a cover letter, or should I just probe, without much more than "Hey I'm interested in doing an internship with you, is this something that could happen at all?"

RUNN1NGMAN

I would try and find out someone who would be in charge of that sort of thing (rather than generic HR guy) and send a cover letter and resume directly to that person. If an HR person gets something like that it's probably just going to go in the waste basket, but if some senior manager who is directly involved in what you'd like to work on gets it they might be more receptive.

I wouldn't get your hopes up though--even unpaid interns cost money, and a lot of people view interns as just being more work for them in terms of supervision with little to no upside. If you have some sort of actual skill (e.g., web design) that will be more attactive, because most people aren't going to be interested in having someone else to supervise whose only skill is making copies.

stah

RUNN1NGMAN wrote: »

I would try and find out someone who would be in charge of that sort of thing (rather than generic HR guy) and send a cover letter and resume directly to that person. If an HR person gets something like that it's probably just going to go in the waste basket, but if some senior manager who is directly involved in what you'd like to work on gets it they might be more receptive.

I wouldn't get your hopes up though--even unpaid interns cost money, and a lot of people view interns as just being more work for them in terms of supervision with little to no upside. If you have some sort of actual skill (e.g., web design) that will be more attactive, because most people aren't going to be interested in having someone else to supervise whose only skill is making copies.

This.

I'd def. try to have some skill in what you're wanting to learn. Like RUNN1NGMAN said, more skill = less babysitting they'd need to do. But def. go all out with the resume and cover letter. Make it as professional as possible. You're basically selling yourself here. You want to impress without insulting (if that makes sense).

TheFullMetalChicken

stah wrote: »

RUNN1NGMAN wrote: »

I would try and find out someone who would be in charge of that sort of thing (rather than generic HR guy) and send a cover letter and resume directly to that person. If an HR person gets something like that it's probably just going to go in the waste basket, but if some senior manager who is directly involved in what you'd like to work on gets it they might be more receptive.

I wouldn't get your hopes up though--even unpaid interns cost money, and a lot of people view interns as just being more work for them in terms of supervision with little to no upside. If you have some sort of actual skill (e.g., web design) that will be more attactive, because most people aren't going to be interested in having someone else to supervise whose only skill is making copies.

This.

I'd def. try to have some skill in what you're wanting to learn. Like RUNN1NGMAN said, more skill = less babysitting they'd need to do. But def. go all out with the resume and cover letter. Make it as professional as possible. You're basically selling yourself here. You want to impress without insulting (if that makes sense).

Like they said

Your asking for them to create an opening for you so you need to make it worth there time.

I'm not sure what others have done but i know a few people that just did cold calls to higher ups at companies they wanted to intern at and gotten internships that way.