How to Get a HR Internship: Essential Tips and Resources
Table of Contents
The Human Resources (HR) department is essential for recruiting, training, and managing employee benefits. HR internships offer practical experience in these areas, preparing interns for future roles. Key HR positions include Employment Specialist and HR Manager, suitable for majors like humanities, social sciences, business, and psychology. To secure HR internships, use school career services, social media, and company websites. Important steps include crafting an ATS-friendly resume, networking, and preparing for interviews. Following up after interviews and seeking professional advice are crucial for success.
What is Human Resource (HR) ？
The Human Resources (HR) department is responsible for recruiting, screening, and training job applicants, as well as administering employee benefit programs. In a rapidly changing business environment, HR plays a crucial role by ensuring that companies can attract, select, and retain high-quality employees. Additionally, HR is dedicated to planning employee career development, resolving labor relations issues, and enhancing employee satisfaction and productivity through the development and implementation of effective policies and procedures, thereby supporting companies in becoming more competitive in the 21st century.
What Do You Do at a HR Internship?
- Effective People Management: Learn to manage and utilize employees effectively.
- Performance and Compensation: Understand how to tie performance appraisals and compensation to competencies.
- Competency Development: Assist in developing skills that enhance performance.
- Innovation and Flexibility: Support initiatives to increase innovation and adaptability.
- Career Development: Participate in planning work processes and career paths.
- Technology Integration: Help implement and integrate new technologies through staffing, training, and communication.
Types of HR Jobs
- Employment Specialist Matches job seekers with suitable positions in HR departments or agencies.
- Human Resources Assistant Supports HR with administrative tasks and communication with applicants.
- Human Resources Coordinator Facilitates HR programs, schedules orientations, and coordinates training.
- Human Resources Specialist Recruits and places employees by screening and interviewing candidates.
- Recruiter Finds and interviews candidates for specific roles in companies or agencies.
- Human Resources Generalist Manages daily HR operations, including policies and employee welfare.
- Recruitment Manager Manages recruiters, hiring processes, labor law compliance, and hiring needs.
- Human Resources Manager Oversees HR department, plans hiring, conducts exit interviews, and maintains records.
- Employee Relations Manager Handles workplace behavior, conflict resolution, and employment law compliance.
- Labor Relations Specialist Manages grievances, advises on contracts, and prepares for collective bargaining.
- Director of Employee Experience Enhances satisfaction through career planning and team-building.
- Director of Human Resources Leads HR, reports to CEO, implements policies, oversees training, and manages budget.
Majors Suitable for HR
Students from various majors can excel in HR roles. In addition to humanities and social science majors being well-suited for this field, more and more business and psychology majors are pursuing careers in HR. For example, with the increasing importance of organizational development and employee well-being, psychology students have an edge in understanding human behavior, conflict resolution, and workplace dynamics. Business students bring valuable skills in management, strategic planning, and understanding labor laws, making them well-prepared for HR responsibilities.
Resources You Need to Find a Marketing Internship
Using Your School’s Career Services Center
One of the most valuable resources for finding internships is your school’s career services center. Here’s how you can make the most of your career services center:
- Schedule Appointments: Regularly meet with a career advisor to discuss your career goals and internship options.
- Stay Informed: Subscribe to newsletters and updates from the career center to stay informed about upcoming events and new opportunities.
- Engage with Alumni: Many career centers have strong connections with alumni who are eager to help current students.
Leverage Social Media and Websites of Your Target Companies to Stay Updated
In today’s digital age, social media and company websites are indispensable tools for job seekers. Here’s how to effectively use social media and websites in your internship search:
Leveraging Social Media
- LinkedIn: Follow companies and join industry groups on LinkedIn. Engage with content posted by companies and connect with employees.
- Twitter: Companies often tweet about job openings and events. Use hashtags like #Internship, #JobOpening, and #CareerOpportunity to find relevant posts.
Utilizing Company Websites
- Career Pages: Regularly visit the career sections of company websites. Some companies also offer newsletters or job alerts you can subscribe to.
- Employee Blogs: Read blogs written by current employees to gain insights into the company culture and internship experiences.
- Virtual Events: Participate in webinars, virtual tours, and online Q&A sessions hosted by the company.
How to Write an Effective Resume
What is ATS？
An applicant tracking system (ATS) is computer software that human resource departments use to process the overwhelming number of applications they receive for job openings.
Here are some tips to make sure your resume can be read by an ATS:
- Use simple and clear language to avoid confusing the system.
- Stick to standard resume headers like “Education” and “Work Experience”. Avoid creative headers.
- Use common fonts like Times New Roman, Arial, or Helvetica for readability.
- Keep 1-inch margins on all sides to prevent your resume from looking crowded.
- Avoid unnecessary graphics or decorations, as they can confuse the ATS.
- Don’t use special characters or symbols that the system might not understand.
- Create your resume in a Word document to ensure it looks good and is easy for the ATS to read.
Follow Basic Formatting Requirements
Use a professional resume template to ensure your resume is neat and easy to read, effectively highlighting key information with clear headings, consistent formatting, and an organized structure.
Resume Formatting Rules
- Left-align the content.
- Use 1″ margins.
- Select a professional, easy-to-read font.
- Divide your information into clear sections.
- Set clear headers for each section.
- Use bullet points to explain your work experience.
- Keep your resume an appropriate length (one page for most candidates)
A resume should be concise, using bullet points and formatting to highlight key information, ensuring that recruiters can quickly understand your qualifications and achievements. Use formatting techniques such as bold, italics, or color to emphasize keywords and critical information, making them immediately noticeable during rapid scanning.
Demonstrate Your Fit for the Job
Provide a clear personal summary that outlines your resume, highlighting key points and skills directly related to the position, and emphasizing both technical and soft skills to show your alignment with the job requirements and your career aspirations.
HR Intern Example
A highly motivated HR Intern with experience in recruiting, onboarding, and training new employees. Proven track record of streamlining onboarding processes, increasing employee satisfaction, and developing efficient training programs. Adept at utilizing strong communication and interpersonal skills to build relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
To ensure your resume meets the job requirements, tailor the content to the specific needs of the position, emphasize relevant achievements, use keywords from the job description for ATS optimization, and highlight experience in similar roles.
Employers value quantified achievements because they provide concrete evidence of your impact and abilities, which helps them better assess your potential performance in the new position.
Workload Achievements Example :
Human Resources Intern• 01/2024 – Present
DataSphere Solutions
Assisted in the development and implementation of a new employee onboarding program, resulting in a 30% increase in new hire retention and a 20% improvement in their productivity within the first three months.
Streamlined the recruitment process by introducing an applicant tracking system, reducing the average hiring cycle by 15% and improving the quality of candidates shortlisted for interviews.
Conducted a comprehensive analysis of employee engagement survey results, identifying key areas of improvement that led to the development of initiatives increasing overall employee satisfaction by 25%.
How to Build Your Network and Connections
LinkedIn Connection
Even if you don’t have inside connections, LinkedIn is your secret weapon for tapping into the power of networking with the company’s own team.
1. In the LinkedIn “People” section of the target company/industry, filter for positions of interest, preferably selecting alumni. Alumni are more inclined to offer assistance. Send a note to connect (briefly introducing yourself with your name, school, major, interests, and reason for contacting them).
2. Up on receiving an invitation to connect: Express gratitude, provide another brief self-introduction, inquire about scheduling a brief coffee chat, and briefly outline areas of interest.
3. Pre-chat preparation: Prepare a self-introduction; review the other person’s profile beforehand; prepare ten questions of interest (related to their profession or education).
4. On the day of the chat: Enter the chat five minutes early, tidy up appearance, confirm questions to ask, then chat as if with a senior colleague! Exchange greetings, introduce yourself, and ask questions. Respond to their answers with your own thoughts and experiences for deeper engagement!
5. At the end of the chat: Ask directly if they are willing to refer you; offer to provide your resume for them to learn more about you. Usually, they will agree at this point. It’s okay if they don’t. Regardless of the outcome, always express gratitude politely.
Offline Networking
- Participate in Offline Activities
Actively participate in school and industry offline events like job fairs and forums to understand industry trends and connect with experts.
- Volunteer at Industry Events
Volunteering at industry events demonstrates your enthusiasm and responsibility while providing valuable organizational skills and opportunities to network with industry veterans and potential employers.
- Attend Lectures and Seminars
Regularly attend lectures and seminars to gain industry insights, learn from experts, and network with speakers.
- Network During Other Internships
Utilize your internship to network with colleagues and supervisors, building professional relationships that can enhance your career development.
How to Stand Out in an Interview
Professional Behavior
First, present yourself as if you are already in the job. Treat the interview like a cosplay event where you play the role of a professional. Mimic the appearance and behavior of a workplace professional. Choosing appropriate formal attire is fundamental. When communicating with the interviewer, accurately expressing your thoughts, demonstrate the composure of someone with years of work experience.
Tips for Behavioral Interviews
With these kinds of questions, interviewers are usually trying to learn three things:
- They want to know how you behaved in a real-world situation.
- They want to understand the measurable value you added to that situation.
- They are trying to learn how you define something like “pressure at work”—a concept different people might interpret differently.
Success in a behavioral interview is all about preparation. There aren’t necessarily wrong answers. These questions are aimed at getting to know the real you. The important thing is to be honest and to practice structuring your responses in a way that communicates what you have to offer.
Here are some important tips to consider when preparing for your next behavioral interview:
- Review major projects you’ve worked on.
- Revisit previous job performance reviews.
- Make a list of your professional accomplishments.
- Use the STAR method to structure your response.
- Practice your interview responses aloud.
- Keep your answers under two minutes.
Showcase Your Extensive Experience
Even if you encounter work content during the interview that you haven’t experienced, don’t panic. Observe the work of others, learn from their experiences, and adapt these experiences as your own. For example, if a classmate mentioned a relevant technique or method in a school project, you can discuss your understanding of this topic during the interview and express your interest in learning and practicing it further.
What Questions Should You Ask at the End of the Interview?
At the end of the interview, if the candidate doesn’t have any questions to ask, he or she may appear to lack interest and initiative in the position or the company, and miss the opportunity to further demonstrate their curiosity and deepen the conversation.
HR（ Generally for initial interviews）：The main understanding of the company’s basic situation, assessment standards, departmental situation and other issues, reflecting stability and intentionality.
- Could you describe the day-to-day responsibilities of this role?
- What is the company culture and core values like here?
- What are the key success metrics for this position?
Final Interview
Immediate supervisors: mainly to understand the tasks of the position, the division of labor, and the problems of their own travel, reflecting professionalism and initiative
- How does the team typically collaborate on projects?
- Could you share some details about the current main projects the team is working on?
- How can I contribute most effectively in this role within the team?
Senior leaders: mainly understand the company’s development direction, departmental goals, personal improvement and other aspects of the problem, reflecting independent thinking and upward mobility
- What are some key goals or plans for the company in the coming years?
- How do you see this position contributing to the company’s long-term strategy?
- What support does the company offer for career development and growth?
Can’t Ask Anything
Questions that are too pointed or negative: For example, asking direct questions about why the company has a high turnover rate, internal conflicts, etc., may make the interview atmosphere awkward and affect the interviewer’s evaluation of the applicant’s attitude.
If you have any more interview questions, here’s a ChatGPT plugin I recommend: Interview Pro, It helps you excel in interviews across various job functions and levels.
How to Follow Up with HR on Interview Results
At different stages after the interview, you can follow specific scripts to inquire about the results from HR. Here are some recommended communication scripts to keep in mind:
On-site Inquiry Right After the Interview
“Thank you very much for the opportunity to interview with your company. It allowed me to showcase my abilities and learn more about your organization. I had a very pleasant conversation with the interviewer and look forward to the possibility of working together. Could you please let me know approximately how long it will take to finalize the interview results?”
Same Day as the Interview
Online Inquiry:
“Hello, I am (name) who interviewed for the (job tittle) position this morning. Thank you very much for arranging this interview. During the interview, I felt the professionalism and rigor of your company and learned about the career prospects of the position, which align well with my career plans. I hope to have the opportunity to work with your company. Could you please let me know when the interview results are expected to be finalized? Thank you.”
Three Days After the Interview
Routine Inquiry:
“Hello, I am （name） who interviewed for the ** position on Tuesday. I had a very pleasant conversation with the interviewer, and I now have a clearer understanding of the company and the position. I am looking forward to the opportunity to join the company. Could you please let me know if the interview results have been finalized? Thank you.”
Advanced Inquiry:
“Hello, I was very pleased to attend the interview with your company last week. I would like to inquire if the interview results are available now. And then I have received several offers from other companies, but considering the prospects of the company and the position, your company is still my preferred choice. I look forward to your feedback. Thank you!”
Things to confirm after receiving an offer but before starting the job:Indeed Career GuideGuide: Next Steps After You Got a Job Offer
How to Seek Professional Advice and Guidance
Here are some websites and tools to help you stay informed about industry trends and company operations:
Websites for Industry Trends
- Gartner: Offers insights and research on various industries, providing reports and market analysis.
- Statista: Provides statistics and reports on a wide range of industries and topics.
- McKinsey & Company: Publishes research and insights on global industries and market trends.
- Harvard Business Review: Covers a wide array of business topics, including industry trends and best practices.
- PwC: Offers industry-specific insights and analysis.
Tools for Learning About Company Operations
- Bloomberg: Provides comprehensive business and financial news, stock market data, and company analysis.
- Yahoo Finance: Offers financial news, data, and analysis on companies.
- Glassdoor: Gives insights into company cultures, employee satisfaction, and salaries.
- LinkedIn: Useful for tracking company updates, industry news, and professional networking.
- Crunchbase: Provides information on company funding, investments, and industry connections.
School Career Services Center Websites
Each school’s career center website offers a full range of career guidance that you can’t afford to miss!
Jobright will also become your partner on the path to finding an internship.
Embracing Growth and Seizing Opportunities
Getting a good HR internship needs preparation and perseverance. Though the procedure can be difficult, the experience gained from some internships will offer you an excelle