How LinkedIn helps students find undergraduate internships

Internships are a way for undergraduate students to gain experience and enter the workforce. However, it’s become increasingly harder for students to find an undergraduate internship. According to Strada’s National Survey of College Internships 2023 report, 63% of students who wanted internships couldn’t secure them due to obstacles like course loads, lack of selection or being unsure of where to look. 

LikedIn is a useful platform where people can establish a strategic edge in their hunt to find an undergraduate internship. Through networking on LinkedIn, utilizing search filters, gaining insights into companies and job postings and tapping into its large user base, students can succeed in finding opportunities that contribute to their student career growth.

The struggles students face when finding internships

Many students struggle to enter the workforce while juggling coursework and part-time jobs. It’s common for students to feel overwhelmed, especially when they’re unsure of how to approach their search. Ripplematch found that Gen Z students are losing confidence in their ability to find an undergraduate internship, with their biggest challenges being knowing which companies are hiring and finding a good fit that matches their skills and interests.

Financial challenges add to the struggle. Unpaid internships still make up a large portion of available positions, and students who rely on work have a harder time taking them. This forces some to choose between gaining valuable experience and earning enough to support themselves. The stress of managing these demands can make the process feel overwhelming.

LinkedIn’s networking capabilities

LinkedIn is an incredibly powerful tool for professional development. By utilizing it properly, a student can make themselves stand out and find the best opportunities possible. It may seem scary and unfamiliar to those just creating an account, but it’s a worthy investment that makes finding an undergraduate internship all the more likely.

LinkedIn’s structure as a social media platform allows for engagement with professionals past a surface level. To demonstrate this, I want to share a personal story. 

At the beginning of my communication law class, a recent OHIO graduate spoke about an internship opportunity where she works. As she spoke, I looked her up on LinkedIn and realized we were already a mutual connection. With that, I sent her a message and started a conversation:

While it’s a small success, it can make a difference for when it comes time to apply. I’ve made myself stand out by showing my interest early, demonstrating my skills and enthusiasm before the application opened. This is the power of networking on LinkedIn.

Here is a great YouTube video by Jeff Su, a full-time product marketer specializing in content about professional development. He breaks down how using the more social media aspects of LinkedIn, such as commenting and reaching out to people, can help someone find an undergraduate internship or a job.

LinkedIn’s job search filters and Easy Apply 

LinkedIn’s job search filters and Easy Apply feature make finding an undergraduate internship more streamlined. These tools allow students to narrow their search and find opportunities that align with their experiences and interests.

The job search filters are highly specific and sort listings for internships based on factors such as:

• Location
• If the listing has less than 10 applicants.
• If the listing is in your network.
• If it’s remote or on-site.
• The specific industry it’s in.
• If the internship has an Easy Apply option.
• And more!

LinkedIn’s Easy Apply feature allows you to apply for select internships directly through LinkedIn, which is a huge time saver. Otherwise, if an internship says “apply,” you’ll be rerouted to their website. 

By sorting internships based on the factors that make sense for them, students can more easily break into the workforce and find an undergraduate internship to add to their portfolio, enhancing their student career growth.

A competitive time

Unfortunately, we live in a competitive time where dozens of applicants may apply for a single listing. However, making the application process more intuitive means that students can apply to listings more often, increasing their chances of finding an undergraduate internship.

I have a game I play with my roommates where I ask them to pick a random U.S. state, and whatever they say is where I’ll have to find a listing for an internship. It’s important that while LinkedIn makes it significantly easier to find an undergraduate internship, students should get out of their comfort zone.

Just because you think an internship may not be 100% what you had in mind doesn’t mean it won’t be a valuable experience that can add to your student career growth. The more students are willing to go outside of their comfort zone and network on LinkedIn, the more likely they’ll find an undergraduate internship.