If you are in college and hoping to use an internship to get your foot in the door of the career of your choice, you are not alone. The competition for such slots will likely be intense, but the good news is, there are certain things you can do to enhance your chances of landing a position that will provide you with the skills and experience necessary to succeed.

Here are some of the important considerations to check off the list as you go after that internship.

1. Triple-check your resume

Make sure you have a clean and clear resume. Proofread it for any spelling errors, and don’t just trust the built-in spell-check program on your computer. If possible, have someone else read it, too.

Correct any spelling, style, or grammatical mistakes. Then check it again.

Keep an eye out for any inaccuracies or situations where you may have stretched the truth – like where it says you worked in “cash management” but the job really entailed working the register at a store; or the “position in the entertainment industry” that was actually a cinema ticket checker.

If a prospective employer uncovers a lie on the resume, application, or during the interview process, your candidacy could be revoked. Or, if you’ve already landed a role, you could be fired.

Make sure to also include the information that employers would want to know about, preferably at the top of your resume. Describe all relevant experience you have in the industry, as well as any special knowledge you may have acquired in the field thus far.

2. Highlight related experience

It should be emphasised and, if possible, inserted in a highly visible place on your resume if you have been part of any related university clubs or associations, taken special classes, scored high marks in related subjects, or have prior work experience in the field.

If your practical experience or participation in clubs is lacking, consider either attempting to garner that experience or else emphasising your other marketable skills, such as your writing or communication ability.

3. Seek year-round opportunities

Often, candidates don’t give much thought to the internship they are trying to land during certain parts of the year. But some companies offer internship opportunities year-round, so be open to this.

An internship at a good organisation at any time could potentially lead to positive letters of reference, a more impressive CV, and perhaps even a future job offer.

4. Apply early

Clearly you should already know the deadline for submitting an application, then make sure you send it in on time. When working on your application, pay attention to detail: read the instructions carefully and follow them exactly.

If you’re not typing into a form, your handwriting should be neat and easy to read. Remember that employers receive a plethora of applications, and making a solid first impression is of utmost importance.

5. Ace the interview

You should be presentable – which generally means smartly, if not formally, dressed – and on time for your interview. It’s a good idea to visit the company’s website to gain basic knowledge about the firm and to come prepared with some questions on topics that interest you.

You could, for example, ask about the company’s strategy, what the employer expects from the intern, or about some of its products or services. Asking intelligent, thoughtful questions could convey the message that you are a thinker and are truly interested in the position and the organisation.

You also should be prepared to provide coherent and intelligent answers, not just about the nuts and bolts of the internship itself. Some of the more popular open-ended interview questions include:

• What do you want to do with your life?
• Where do you see yourself in five years?
• Why did you choose the major you did?
• Why are you interested in this profession?
• What do you bring to the table in terms of skill sets?
• What makes you different or special?

6. Demonstrate flexibility

Interns may have set job duties – their task might be to simply enter data into spreadsheets all day or to make cold calls. Oftentimes interns are used as “gofers” – as in “go for this”, “go for that” – and are given tasks nobody else in the office wants.

As such, your assigned tasks would vary frequently and might not even be precisely known by the employer at the time of your interview. Make it clear you are willing to do grunt work and can be flexible based on the company’s needs.

7. Ask about full-time roles

There is often no guarantee an internship will lead to a permanent placement at a company. In some cases, though, it might not hurt to ask about full-time roles, either during the interview or once you have landed the position.

In fact, it may be good to ask because it conveys your interest in joining the organisation, and gives the company some time to consider the possibility of hiring you full-time or creating a new position for you.

This article first appeared in jobstore.com, an online job site that specialises in providing jobseekers with the latest job opportunities by matching talented individuals with reputable companies in Malaysia. Find your dream job with over 40,000 job vacancies in Malaysia.