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What are some good tips or advice for getting internships for people with little to no previous experience?

I am an Interactive Digital Studies major with minors in Art and Marketing, I want to pursue a career in marketing or graphic design, working for an advertising agency in the fashion or beauty industry.

spring25 marketing advertising
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Sammi’s Answer

Don't worry, it's easier than it looks! Everyone begins somewhere, and we all started with no experience at some point. Take a moment to think about your past activities. Consider clubs, projects, or volunteer work you've done and how they connect to the internship you're aiming for. Remember your transferable skills, too. With your minor in art, think about how it ties into graphic design and marketing. You already have an eye for design, aesthetics, and color. There's a lot of potential there! Another helpful tip is to break the job description into smaller parts and match them with your skills and experiences. Use some of the job's language in your resume or cover letter, too. You've got this!
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Charlotte’s Answer

Build a Personal Portfolio
Even if you haven’t worked professionally yet, you can:

Create mock ad campaigns for fashion or beauty brands you love.
Design social media posts, logos, or packaging concepts.
Include class projects, freelance work, or passion projects.

Use platforms like:

Behance or Dribbble for design
Notion, Google Sites, or Wix for a simple portfolio site


2. Reach Out Directly
Don’t wait for job boards — many internships aren’t advertised!

Email local agencies or small fashion/beauty brands.
Share your portfolio and express your interest in learning.
Offer to help with social media, design, or marketing tasks.

Even unpaid or short-term gigs can lead to paid opportunities later.

3. Learn In-Demand Tools
Familiarity with industry tools makes you stand out:

Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
Canva (great for quick, stylish designs)
Meta Ads Manager, Google Analytics, or Mailchimp (for marketing)

Free certifications from Google, HubSpot, or Coursera can boost your resume.

Network and Join Communities

Connect with professionals on LinkedIn — comment on posts, ask for advice.
Join student marketing or design clubs.
Attend virtual events, webinars, or portfolio reviews.

Sometimes a conversation leads to an opportunity faster than an application.
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Sammi’s Answer

Everyone starts without experience, but that's where the journey begins. Remember, 50% of interns secure jobs by making themselves stand out.

- Leverage your experiences from clubs, volunteer work, and other unique activities. These teach you essential skills like organization, leadership, and problem-solving. Think about how these experiences have shaped you.
- Hiring managers understand that interns might be new to the field.
- Be patient and persistent. You might need to apply to many positions before finding the right fit. Rejection is part of the process, so keep going.
- Share your unique story. Create a compelling narrative that highlights your strengths and makes you memorable.
- Always present your best self. Practice and prepare thoroughly before any real-life opportunity. Use tools like ChatGPT, record mock interviews, and seek feedback from classmates, friends, family, or professors.

When seeking an internship:
- Attend career days at your school.
- Explore job boards for opportunities.
- Discuss your goals with professors—they often have valuable connections.
- Consider reaching out to art or graphic design companies, as they might offer more flexible opportunities. Send them your CV and propose how you can contribute. Be proactive.
- Be creative and build a standout portfolio. Think about how you can be bold and leave a lasting impression.
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Chris’s Answer

Most companies and organizations opening internships are going to have the understanding that most candidates won't have any prior experience. A good way to prepare yourself for an internship and maybe make you stand out more is to work on a project in your free time that you can share with a potential company for an internship position. It doesn't have to be specific to a company, but needs to be related. You mentioned advertising, maybe using graphic design tools to create an ad for an event or product. Even if it doesn't relate to a company, it shows initiative and the ability to create something real with your skills.

Chris recommends the following next steps:

Look for relevant internships and see what their qualifications are.
Work on a project, such as a digital ad, that can be shared during an internship interview
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Tyler’s Answer

Building up your technical and soft skills is a great step forward. Creating a personal project portfolio can really show off your talents and catch the eye of potential employers. It’s like your personal showcase of what you can do! Also, look into any certifications or training courses that relate to your field. These can be a big plus while you’re on the hunt for an internship. Keep going, you’re on the right track!
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