The Parent's Playbook: Thoughtful Ways to Guide Your Student's Internship Search
A Freshman's Finance Internship Dream - And the Parent Who Helped Make It Happen. Last summer, I worked with a freshman student, Matthew, who was struggling to see the value in his prior experiences for landing a 2025 finance internship. Despite an impressive resume, he lacked confidence. When his parent stepped in at the right moment, everything changed. We reframed how Matthew viewed his accomplishments, and he ended up securing a dream internship.
Why Now Matters
The upcoming 2025 internship recruiting season is already in full swing, especially for competitive roles in finance and consulting. These industries have aggressive timelines, with many applications opening as early as January 2024 for summer 2025. To stay ahead, your student needs to act now.
Holiday Season Action Plan (Nov-Dec 2024)
Create a Networking Plan for Seasonal Gatherings: Encourage your student to treat holiday gatherings as low-pressure networking opportunities. They can prepare a few open-ended questions like, "What advice would you give someone just starting out?" or "What's one thing you wish you'd known earlier in your career?" This approach can lead to useful insights without feeling like a formal interview.
Set Up a "Winter Workshop" Day: Dedicate one day during winter break for career-focused tasks, such as updating their resume, LinkedIn profile, and cover letter templates. They can also research target companies and set internship alerts. Keeping it limited to one day prevents burnout and lets them enjoy their break while still making progress.
Host a Practice Interview Session with Family or Friends: Arrange a short, relaxed mock interview with a family friend or relative who works in their field of interest. This can provide interview practice in a familiar setting with constructive feedback. To keep it comfortable, plan for a set time—maybe an hour—and focus on skills they'd like to refine.
Plan "Coffee Chats" with Alumni or Professionals: Help them identify alumni or professionals nearby, and suggest they reach out for a casual coffee or virtual chat over winter break. They can use LinkedIn to find alumni from their college who work in fields of interest and introduce themselves briefly to ask for a quick meeting.
Encourage Reflection and Goal Setting for the New Year: Guide your student to reflect on the past year's achievements and areas of improvement. Together, they can set specific goals, like sending five informational interview requests in January or joining a professional association. These goals can make the internship search feel more manageable and give them a clear roadmap for the new year.
When to Step In (and Step Back)
It's natural to want to help, but too much involvement can hinder your student's independence. Watch for signs they're struggling, like lack of progress or low morale. Then, have an open discussion about your concerns and ways you can provide constructive support.
Industry-Specific Guidance
Finance and Consulting: Deadlines as early as January 2024 for summer 2025. Encourage early application prep, targeted networking, and early insights.
Tech, Engineering, Creative Industries: More flexible timelines, but still seeing early activity. Advise building relationships, asking for referrals and setting up job alerts.
Government and Nonprofits: Hire on an as-needed basis. Encourage agency and program-specific research, application tracking and prepare for a lengthy process.
Next Steps
Schedule a consultation with GradLanding to develop a personalized plan in November 2024.
Ensure your student reviews my upcoming article, "Don't Waste Your Winter Break," for holiday-ready career tips. December is actually the hidden sweet spot for career prep. Why? Less competition, more accessible professionals, and a perfect opportunity to tap into their network.
Check in regularly with your student to see how their progress is going and if any adjustments to their strategy are needed. Offer encouragement and be ready to step in if they seem to be struggling, but let them continue leading the process.
Don't let the winter break go to waste! Maximize time off and get a head start on career goals with the GradLanding Career Planner. This comprehensive 4-week plan will guide your student through valuable networking, skill-building, application prep, and more. Turn just 20 hours over break into real momentum for the future. Start making progress - sign up now to get the planner delivered straight to your inbox!
The gift you can give your student is the space to own their journey. With the right guidance and support, they'll be well on their way to an internship that shapes their future.