🎯 How as an Underclassmen You Can Set Yourself Up for an Internship

The truth is, the earlier you start thinking and preparing to get an internship, the easier it gets. Even sophomore-year internships are very real—and they often lead to return offers or open the door for even better ones later.

So how do you actually set yourself up for one or to get a good internship for your junior year?

1. Get involved early. Join 1–2 campus clubs that are actually aligned with your interests or career goals. Want to work in finance? Join an investing or consulting club. Interested in tech? Look for coding clubs, product design orgs, or anything that builds real projects.

2. Build a basic LinkedIn profile. It doesn’t need to be flashy. But make sure it has a professional photo, your school and major, and a short summary about your goals. Connect with your classmates, professors, and any professionals you meet.

3. Go to career events—especially the ones nobody goes to. Most people avoid niche company sessions or resume workshops. You shouldn’t. The smaller the event, the higher your odds of being remembered.

4. Apply for early programs. Companies like JP Morgan, Google, PwC, and Accenture have diversity or freshman insight programs. They’re competitive, but even applying gets you on their radar. Be on the lookout for my newsletter coming soon that talks about sending them an email after you apply to improve your chances here.

5. Start small. Don’t ignore unpaid opportunities, campus jobs, or helping professors with research. They might not sound glamorous, but they fill your resume and build real-world experience.

6. Think about your resume and the story you want to tell. Start thinking about interviews with potential employers and the story you are telling them about yourself. What do you want to include in that?

The biggest mistake underclassmen make is waiting. Don’t.

The earlier you start, the faster you stand out. Jobs and internships don’t just fall into peoples’ laps anymore; you have to go out and get it.