How to bag your dream internship

So, you’ve found your dream internship, now what? 

As creative professionals ourselves, we know all too well that applying for jobs, apprenticeships and internships can sometimes be a little overwhelming. With so much to consider, like how you’ll ace your first impression or how best to showcase your (impressive) tool belt of skills, there’s a lot that goes into the perfect application. 

Luckily, our talented team at Hydrogen have been there, done that and got the (Hydrogen) branded notebook, so today, we’re here to share our top tips on acing that application. Let’s go! 

“Do your homework, show in some way that you understand the business you're applying to and the work that they do, showing you've spent a bit of time and attention demonstrates that you care and that you are likely to bring that pro-activity with you which is such a plus.” - Nicky Logue, Managing Director. 

“Having something on your CV/portfolio that shows what you can actually do is an absolute must in making your application stand out. It can be as simple as sharing an Instagram account you’ve created, about something you love e.g. coffee, movies etc. That will always help your application stand out. Something that shows interest and passion, even if it's not as polished as it could be”. - Gail Malcom, Head of Performance. 

“This may sound obvious, but don’t be scared to shout about your skills and your passions. Chances are, you have so much more to offer than you think, so why not ask a friend to look over your application for any gaps or areas you could expand on - and wave that pesky Imposter Syndrome goodbye!” - Lindsey Davidson, Senior Campaign Manager 

“When looking for internship opportunities, I recommend proactively reaching out to businesses yourself, even if they're not advertising. They might not have the time to put an ad out or it's maybe just something they aren't thinking about. Even if they don't offer you anything this time round, the chances are that they'll store your CV for future jobs that open up. It also shows that you're keen to work there and willing to take initiative!” - Anna Linkskill, Content Lead. 

“Coming from the POV of a designer, it’s crucial that your portfolio of work is the best it can be for any given role, and that means being willing to keep it up to date and relevant! Make sure you have a healthy number of projects, but don’t feel like it needs to be bursting at the seams with work - quality is definitely what will make you stand out, not quantity. If you’re applying for a more specialised role - like a motion designer, for example - it makes sense to have more of a focus on motion-focused work. If you don’t have any examples - make some! Personal projects are a great way to boost your work. Lastly, don’t put anything in there that you aren’t proud of - your portfolio should be the best representation of your work, don’t throw something in there just to tick a box or to pad out the overall folio. Best of luck!!” - Chris Smith, Head of Design. 

“You can and should have a really impressive portfolio that shows off everything you can do creatively but to truly land your abilities be prepared to justify your work.

If you can show an amazing piece of work AND talk about how effective it was, the impact it made or the concept behind it, then you have proven that you understand the true potential of your work, not just how to make it look good.” - Ross Hill, Head of Creative. 

“It sounds crazy, but my best tip is to just apply! It’s so easy to talk yourself out of going for a job or internship, but if you want it, go for it. If there is a job you really want, but might not have 100% of the criteria, let your passion for your work and belief in yourself come through. You’ll never know if you don’t give it a shot…” - Emma Reavey, Content Coordinator.

You made it to the end, phew! Now it's time to put those wheels in motion and get cracking with that internship application. Speaking of internships… this summer, we’re delighted to be partnering with UNLOCKED - an incredible programme that aims to kick start creative opportunities for underrepresented emerging talent in the UK. As an UNLOCKED partner, we’re offering a 4-week-long creative internship, where you’ll learn the ropes from our talented team of experts and gain first-hand, industry experience. Interested in finding out more? Check out the UNLOCKED website and apply today!