Student Blog: 5 Tips for Securing a Theatre Internship

After months of writing detailed cover letters and reaching out to producing companies, I finally secured a theatre internship. You can check back in a few months to hear all about my exciting internship experience, but for now I would like to share five pieces of advice for other students still searching for an internship. The application process can be incredibly stressful with sending out multiple cover letters, participating in virtual interviews, and waiting weeks to hear back from companies. However, polishing your application materials and theatrical skills will have employers begging to have you join their teams.

1. Create a different resume for each internship you apply to.

A resume for a marketing position should not look the same as a resume for a development position. You should tailor your resume to fit the position you are applying to. This means you should highlight past experiences relevant to the position by providing more detailed descriptions. However, you should not get rid of past experience that is irrelevant to the position you are applying to. Instead, explain these past positions in terms of how they helped your communication, collaboration, and writing skills. In other words, the employer should feel that every facet of your past experience will benefit the company.

2. Personalize your cover letter.

Do your research! Explain how you would be a perfect fit for not only the position, but the company itself. The purpose of the cover letter is to demonstrate your interest in the company, explain elements of your resume in even greater detail, and show your personality. Start your resume with a story about seeing a show the company you are applying to has produced, or share a story about what inspired you to pursue a career in the industry. Make sure it is evident that you are well-informed about the company's projects and mission statement. Try to incorporate how your past experiences will benefit the company's mission statement. If the cover letter you wrote could not be submitted to any other position even at the same company, then you are ready to go.

3. Practice and prepare for the interview.

Once you have received an invitation to interview for the internship, think about some potential interview questions and answers to them. You will certainly be asked why you applied for the position and why you are interested in the company, so your resume and research will help here. However, you will also be asked questions about your skills and interests during the interview. If you take away one thing from this blog, it should be to have unique stories prepared for the interview. Do not just say you are hardworking, determined, and collaborative. Demonstrate this with stories as examples! Also, create a list of musicals, plays, TV shows, films, books, and songs that you love. If you are applying for a production company, they will want to judge your taste, so having a list prepared will save you time to truly explain what you love. Also, do not forget to send a thank you note at the end of your interview!

4. Be open to submitting a portfolio or completing a project.

Some employers will want to see some of your past work to ensure you are prepared for what an internship entails. Other employers may give you a project to complete to see if you can follow directions, collaborate, and create quality work. For example, I had to complete sample script coverage for a full length play after an interview for the internship I was hired for. The task felt daunting at first, but I loved reading a new play, then summarizing and critiquing it. Do not be afraid to tackle a novel project, and make sure your portfolio is polished should you be applying to a creative position.

5. Do not put all your eggs in one basket.

You may have just applied to your first internship and decided to relax since you feel confident you will be hired. Unfortunately, the world is full of surprises and you may not even hear back from an employer after submitting an application. It is always in your best interest to keep applying to any internship that interests you until you have accepted an offer. Remember, your goal is to secure an internship, and the probability of obtaining one increases with every application you submit. If you end up accepting an offer while you still are waiting to hear back from other employers, you will just have to withdraw your other applications or deny other offers. Please do not forget to do this since there are other deserving students who could receive offers quicker if you withdraw the rest of your applications after accepting an offer.

Best of luck with securing your dream internship!

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