Summer, the time to soak up some sun and suppress any thoughts pertaining to school, shoving them deep down like the loose papers wrinkled up at the bottom of your school bag.

While summer is a much-anticipated time of year for relaxation and vacations, it also provides students with ample time to get involved with internships.

Internships give students and recent graduates useful hands-on experience, giving them helpful opportunities to gain knowledge and skills in a particular industry or business. Partaking in an internship opportunity allows young adults to discover what career path may be best suited for their own personal skill set and interests.

When trying to land an internship you have been eyeing, questions and fears may begin to rise as you work your way through the internship hiring process. If you are someone who has a natural tendency to internally panic when going in for an interview, then these tips from the 2023 Zions Bank interns will help you land that internship.

Internship Interview Tip #1: Show Your True Self

“Keep your interview lighthearted and show your personality in case of the event where your qualifications are neck and neck with another candidate, and they have to grasp at straws to determine which one of you they want on the team,” says Ruben Conchas, SharePoint Infrastructure Engineer.

The confidence you hold and your ability to be yourself is the first step in the right direction to securing an internship, and even if you don’t land the current internship you had your eyes on, if you have faith in yourself, you are sure to land a different one in the future.

Our greatest downfall in life very well might be our own second guessing. Believing you can’t do something or lack the capability will only bring about one result — failure. This phenomenon is more commonly referred to as imposter syndrome. Don’t let imposter syndrome be the reason you don’t get the internship you’re looking for.

Internship Interview Tip #2: Focus on Your Strengths

“Don’t be too focused on what you may be lacking,” advises Samantha Smith, Corporate Banking intern. “If an internship interests you for whatever reason, go for it and go into it with an open mind. Yes, you will be faced with things you may not be familiar with, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn and develop those skills on top of the skills you already possess.”

Developing a sense of imposter syndrome, while entirely understandable, is often-times the primary reason why someone won’t go after an internship that they are more than qualified for or they hold significant interest in doing.

“If you have secured an internship, your interviewers obviously saw potential in you,” Smith said. “They chose you out of the whole pool of applicants. Lean into that and believe in yourself. Above all, have an open mind and be willing to learn and unafraid to ask questions.”

We are our own worst enemy when it comes to just about everything in our lives, especially when things such as our future comes into play; however, to switch the narrative you must simply change your way of thinking. Smith recommends the following tips to be successful when interviewing for an internship:

• Believe that you can accomplish the goals you have set.
• Take the time to prepare for your internship interview.
• Don’t forget to exhibit your own unique set of skills and what you can bring to the company.

Internship Interview Tip #3: Arrive Prepared with Examples of Your Experience

Zions Bank Digital Content Developer and Support intern Amy Cardon, shares insight on the steps she took to help her land her current internship.

“Show your genuine interest and excitement for the role,” she says. “Come prepared with a minimum of five stories that show rather than tell your experience and expertise. I’ve learned with internships, your skills are a big factor, but what many people don’t realize is that recruiters want to see how much you are willing to learn from this experience equally if not a little bit more than seeing if your skills fit the bill.”

Internships are meant for students to test the waters of what it is like in the “real world” before becoming completely submerged in your full-time job. While it may be best to apply for internships pertaining to the skills you have been developing during your time in college, stepping out of your comfort zone and acquiring various skills will make you an asset to future employers.  

Learn more about Zions Bank internships and careers today.

Cammie Johnson is a summer intern in Zions Bank’s Corporate Marketing and Communications Department. A recent graduate in English from Utah Tech University, she is eager to expand her knowledge and assist with various projects throughout the course of this summer.