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You’ve done your homework about college internships and have secured an interview or two. What next? Getting an internship is very much like getting a job; but chances are you are not quite as seasoned as the traditional job seeker. The first thing you should do is nail the basics. Be early, leave your cell phone at home and dress appropriately for the business. You’ll also want to have a clean copy of your resume along so you can leave it behind. Here are a few other tips to help you succeed:

1. Know who you are talking to. In order to show genuine interest in the work opportunity, you should have a good idea what the company’s business is. Polish up on the corporate history and know who the competition is. Even if none of this material makes its way into the conversation, you will feel more prepared as you enter the room and that will serve you well.

2. Listen, listen and listen some more. While the interviewer will ultimately want to know more about you, it shows good form to lead him lead the conversation. Make sure you get eye contact with him as he does so. When he does pose a question your way, take a pause if you need to collect your thoughts and then stay on the subject at hand as you deliver your response.

3. Since you probably don’t have much work experience yet, the interviewer will ask questions that indirectly speak to what your capabilities are. Finding out about some of the choices you’ve made as a college student is a good way to do so. Be ready to answer questions such as “Tell me about one of your term papers and explain why you chose the topic.” Don’t be afraid to discuss a shortcoming about yourself that you’ve discovered along the way, especially if it gives you an opportunity to share what you learned in the process.

4. Have an example ready to share. If there is a completed project or piece of writing that you are proud of, it’s a good idea to refer to it when speaking and bring it out to look at. If not, that’s okay, too. Instead, tell a story of a group dynamic that you are involved with or discuss results of a marketing focus group that you participated in as part of your response to a question.

A firm handshake and you’ve done all you can do, right? Not yet. It’s always good form send a thank-you note. It shows that you appreciate the time they gave you and encourages them to further consider you over anyone else for the internship. If your initial mode of communication was an email, it’s suitable to send your note of appreciation via email as well. Otherwise, rely on snail mail for your follow-up. If it turns out that your hard work and dedication didn’t lead to the internship you wanted, you can at least chalk it up to good practice for next time, right?

Julie Clark Robinson writes for a wide variety of publications. Her many interests include online degree programs and online college graduate programs.

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