If At First You Don't Succeed ...

by Susanne Aronowitz
Associate Dean for Law Career Services

Has this happened to you? You applied last year for a summer internship you really wanted, and were not selected. That same employer is now posting a spring internship. Should you apply? Or are you worried that employer will somehow remember that they didn't hire you last time and automatically reject you for the position?

Our advice: If you have an interest in an organization, you should apply each semester that you have the opportunity. Not being selected for a position does not place a mark against you in the future. Many legal employers receive more applications than they can accommodate in any given semester. Applying in subsequent semesters enables you to demonstrate your strongly held interest in the employer, and your enthusiasm may distinguish you from all of the other applicants. In addition, with each passing semester, your credentials improve--you have more classes under your belt, your skills set is more developed, you have other internship and leadership positions to promote.

It is likely that many of the students who ultimately intern with some of the more popular employers had to apply more than once. In this case, the old adage may be true: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."