With constant news around the future of work being uncertain, automation affecting the labour market and the rapid advancements in technology, working in a startup could be a great career choice.
Imagine if you were one of the first interns at a future Atlassian or Google? It could happen and a startup internship will only help broaden your horizons and hone your skills as no other internship can.
Read on for some tips from our Startup Internships Manager, David Lillo-Trynes, to help your applications stand out.
1. Apply early!
The best chance you have at being noticed is to apply as early as you can. Our team spends a lot of time checking and ranking the stronger applications and the more time they have to view your application, the better it will be for you. It's as easy as applying online - see below.
2. Apply with a (brief) cover letter.
We're not asking for a 2000 word essay, just a few snappy paragraphs explaining who you are, your interest in startups and why you think you're the ideal candidate - this is YOUR time to shine. You have so many qualities, skills and abilities to bring to the table - so tell us! Instead of explaining your part-time jobs or hobbies at the beginning (though we do like to hear about those), tell us what your relevant skills are and what you want to learn. If you are into software design and web development, lead with that. Think about what a startup might want and work to address that.
3. Show your interest in entrepreneurship and startups
With any job you're applying for, it's good to do your research. Make sure you find out a little about us and about the startup ecosystem. A great place to start is right here: entrepreneurship.uts.edu.au
4. Use the resources available to you!
Get on CareerHub! Many students already use CareerHub to find jobs but did you know there are tonnes of resources to help you find the perfect career fit? From personality tests to blog articles, to resume checkers to drop-in appointments - use this great resource. You will also need to use CareerHub to complete your CareerHub workflow, regardless of your internship or subject.
5. Know your enrolment details and processes
Does your subject require an internship before enrolling? How do you enrol? What are the key dates you need to be aware of? If you know what these are, you will have a smooth experience in getting the "housekeeping" part of your internship sorted. Any job will require a contract, induction and formal tasks associated with onboarding and internships are no different.
Check out our helpful subjects FAQ page for more details.
6. Block out the interview date even if you don't know the result yet
July 31 is when all Startup Internships "Meet and Greet" interviews will be happening, from 2-4pm. Make sure you are available and then you'll easily be able to confirm when the time comes!
7. Video interviews are key
Preparation is also key! Part of the process for high-quality applications is a video interview. We use these to show startups who you are and showcase your key skills (there's a clue for the interview questions)! Video interviews are becoming more common in recruitment and chances are you'll be required to complete one in a job application later on. We recommend preparing just like an in-person interview. UTS Careers have fantastic resource around preparing well, here. https://careersblog.uts.edu.au/survived-video-interview-can/
8. Work on your "pitch"
Access your Careers resource via CareerHub to perfect your pitch. Just like a politician or sportsman who's been media-trained sticks to their talking points, develop your key (2-3) talking points. Who are you, what are your skills, what are your interests, what can you bring to the table? If you can deliver that in 30 seconds, you'll be well on the way to securing a role.
9. Bring energy
By energy, I mean things like positivity, curiosity, smiles, body language and eye contact. A critical part of our process is a group "Meet and Greet" interview. It will be a relaxed group setting but don't take a back seat! Walk in smiling and make eye contact. Have a few questions prepared if you get a chance to ask them. Each startup community may format this meeting differently but you will definitely get a chance to use your pitch (from before, remember), so get ready! Sit up straight, be open and be interested in the other people you meet. Startups want to know about you and they also want to know how well you connect with others.