I Had My First Internship This Semester: What I Learned + Tips For Landing Your Dream Position

By: Nancy Aguilar Sanchez ‘22

If you’ve read my article, “Advice I Wish I Had My Freshman Year,” you’re well aware that I understand being terrified about trying new things and applying for new opportunities. It took me a really long time to work up the courage to apply for internships, but I cannot stress enough how much I wish I would’ve done it sooner!

This semester was my first time ever applying to an internship. I’m an SCA student, so I started by going to the Internship newsletter which offered a list of contacts, requirements, and application links to make it easy to find opportunities.

Over the summer, I went through the list and applied to every internship that was remotely interesting. Out of the 15-20 internships that I applied to, I only got five responses, but I was still ecstatic.  With no prior experience, I wasn’t expecting much. 

I went through the interview process with each company, and I ended up taking on two internships because my course load was flexible enough. This is a really rare occurrence, and I don’t normally recommend taking on two internships at once. This semester, both of my internships were focused on development at production companies.

In the interview process, it’s vital that you research your interviewer ahead of time so that you can ask questions, not just about the company but about their role specifically as well. For example, even if you only found their major or the school they went to, ask them about how what they studied in school related to their work now. Showing your interest in them as a person will set you apart from other applicants and make them feel that you’re truly interested.

Another basic interviewing tip is to be early. Don’t be on time. Be 5 minutes early to the meeting or Zoom call so that they see how reliable and responsible you are. Additionally, it shows how you respect their time. Being very polite and kind goes a long way. Take the extra step of asking how their day was, saying please and thank you, and giving them your full and engaged attention. Smile! I’m not a person that typically has a resting happy face, but remember that this is their first impression of you, so you really need to give them all of your energy. Make them as excited about the meeting as you are!

Beyond mannerisms, make sure you’re prepared to talk about yourself. Have anecdotes prepared that demonstrate your character in a positive light, and be ready to talk about things you have accomplished that aren’t on your resume. Also, feel free to discuss your hobbies and parts of yourself that fall outside the realm of academic or professional accomplishments if they put you in a good light. Not letting imposter syndrome get the best of you is key for interviews.

My first internship with Gamechanger Films was a hybrid, so I go to the office in-person every Wednesday from 10am-4pm and do remote work for the rest of the week. If you’re able to work in-person, I highly recommend it. You get to be immersed in the company’s atmosphere, which is impossible to fully experience virtually. Gamechanger is a small company, so as an intern, I’ve been a part of many different departments and taken on more responsibility on the job. If you’re looking to be more involved in the office and have more of a voice, I highly recommend smaller companies.

Me at my desk at the Gamechanger HQ! 

The Inspection (2022), a Gamechanger film.

Juggling school and an internship is very hard, especially if you also have a campus job like I do, so communicating with your supervisors about your progress and how you’re managing the workload is imperative. Most supervisors are aware that you have a lot on your plate, so if you struggle to adapt, they’ll most likely want to help you out.

Considering how feasible commuting will be for you is an important aspect of balancing school and an internship. It can largely help determine if you pursue in-person, hybrid, or remote internships. Since I don’t have a car, I was worried about getting to my internship, but I discovered it was workable with public transportation. Sometimes, it’s important to get creative and think outside the box when figuring out ways to take an opportunity.

Run Sweetheart Run (2020), a Gamechanger film.

My supervisors and I at the Run Sweetheart Run premiere! :)

My second internship was at De Line Pictures and was completely remote. For this internship, I have a much more narrow role than at Gamechanger. Working for De Line has allowed me to build discipline and budget my time better. I had a learning curve when navigating the temptations and casual environment of solely working from home. 

Me at the Warner Bros. Lot checking out the De Line Pictures office!

Ready Player One (2018) & Don’t Make Me Go (2022), De Line Pictures films.

I spent three full days a week on both internships. Having a relatively light workload at both internships along with having a more relaxed school schedule has enabled me to work so many jobs at the same time. While I devoted three days to internships completely, I also had to find time throughout the week to fit in additional tasks. This can be a lot of work, but there’s nothing better than diving into real work head first.

Since you’ll be spending so much time at your internship, make sure you genuinely like the company that you’re working for and, more importantly, that you like your supervisor. Especially at smaller companies, you’ll generally interview with your supervisor, so remember that the interview is also your chance to get a feel for whether you’ll be happy at the company. Don’t say yes to whatever internship sends you an offer first. Know your worth! Companies need interns just as much as we need them, so always make sure that you are being valued and that you’re getting what you’re looking for out of the experience. Best of luck on the internship hunt Trojans!

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