- Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Apply for an internship early, about three months in advance and preferably at several suitable companies at the same time. This will increase your chances of finding an internship at one of the companies you are interested in. When writing your cover letter, make sure to include the keywords of the subject matter you are looking for and/or attach the appropriate excerpts from the internship guidelines.

Use your personal contacts!

Initial contact with companies works best when a personal connection is already there. Therefore, think about your personal contacts:

• Do you know someone who works at a company suitable for an internship?
• Would this person help you further, e.g. to refer you to the contact person of the specialist department in which you want to complete your internship?

A worthwhile strategy is to pass on internship addresses from student to student and, if necessary, also via the student associations. In any case, seek personal contact with the company of your choice!

In conclusion: Prefer a personal contact to a proactive application. The best application is the one that doesn’t have to be written!