The new year comes with the common crisis for students to find a summer internship. Calendars fill with networking calls, LinkedIn connections feel like a daily obligation and casual conversations turn into quiet competitions over who has secured what job.
As a sophomore entering the internship pool, the pressure can feel overwhelming when I do not have the experience of older students applying. Many students are still figuring out their interests, building resumes and learning how to interact in a professional environment. At the same time, they are now expected to compete in a job market that often looks for those with higher qualities than they can provide. Without connections, referrals and prior experience, it can be difficult to land the job.
The internship market has become increasingly competitive across industries, with employers receiving hundreds of applications for roles with limited spots. It is hard not to take the rejections personally and it’s important to know that the pressure students face is largely systemic. Even as the opportunities are getting harder to secure, the expectations still feel high.
The Tulane Career Management Center works with students to navigate these challenges. “Anxiety tends to increase as individuals move closer to key transition points, and the spring semester is very much at that moment for students,” Emma Dupaquier, career consultant at the A.B. Freeman School of Business, said. “The shift from fall to spring often marks a move from exploration to decision-making.”
Comparison becomes harder to avoid as students start to solidify their plans.
Dupaquier said part of her role in the career center is helping students emotionally deal with the competition. “We also see increased comparisons in the spring, particularly as internship announcements circulate more visibly,” Dupaquier said.
While social media and LinkedIn can make it feel like the internship market is competitive, Dupaquier said students should know they are not limited to one narrow definition of success.
“Internships aren’t limited to traditional summer roles,” she said. “Remote, part-time, project-based and semester-long opportunities, particularly in a city like New Orleans, can be just as valuable. Broadening the definition of experience opens many more doors.”
For students who feel behind or panicked, Dupaquier offered a reminder that many need to hear. “Career development isn’t a race; it’s a series of steps, experiences and conversations that build over time.”
Internship season may feel like a measure of worth, but it is just a starting point for exploring what your future could look like.