Overcoming Rejection and Building Confidence

For students like Alexa, the emotional toll hits almost as hard as the financial one. “The search was not fun by any means whatsoever. It was very taxing,” she states. She began her hunt early in September, applying across platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and TeamWork Online. At first, Alexa kept an organized plan—submitting a few applications each day and tracking every listing she found—but it quickly turned into a draining cycle of sending résumés into the void. The silence became its own kind of stressor, leaving her to constantly wonder if there was something more she could be doing.

Her story isn’t unusual. Many students face the same combination of burnout and uncertainty, doing everything right but still struggling to land that first opportunity. As one high school student explained to The New York Times discussion on self-doubt, “Any time I am praised for anything academically or called ‘smart,’ I feel as though I don’t deserve it... All they know is the high highs that I want them to see.” That kind of quiet self-doubt doesn’t disappear in college; it often follows students into their internship search. Yet Alexa’s persistence, continued application, enthusiasm, and motivation eventually paid off. Looking back, she says she would broaden her search beyond her ideal career in the sports world. She feels this would have allowed her to discover additional opportunities within her general field. For those who continue to struggle, Alexa offers a piece of advice: “Be persistent. That’s about it. And then applying to stuff that, even though it doesn’t interest you, still apply for it. You never know what type of experiences are going to help you in the future.” This realization highlights a key lesson for many other college students: your first internship does not have to limit your future career path. Sometimes the best experiences can come from small companies or even unexpected opportunities.

While listening to Alexa’s story, I also noticed parts of my own experience in it. My internship search felt like its own job on top of work and other classes. I was constantly refreshing Handshake and trying new keywords to find the best internship postings. After tweaking my resume and creating an entire collection of cover letters, all I received were rejections. It felt like my time was wasted. I was especially worried as an internship was required for my program in order to graduate. That is when I reached out to the Center for Career and Professional Development at North Central College.

How College Career Centers Help Students Find Internships Faster

In addition to this initial meeting to help support my search, I also met with Bushman, who provided both reassurance and a realistic perspective on the process. She explained that part of her office’s goal at North Central College is beyond helping students land an internship. Her office focuses on helping students recognize the value of all their experiences. This can be current work experience, a class project, or volunteering in the community. She shared that the department works with students at every stage of their journey. They offer services for resume/cover letter reviews, interview preparation, and overall guidance through the job and interview process. She notes that due to employers recruiting earlier each year, preparation is more important than ever. It's important to learn how to tell your story with confidence.

Bushman’s comments connect with a larger shift happening on campuses throughout the country. Colleges are starting to realize that preparing students for internships and careers is more than polishing a resume or hosting a job fair. According to The Hechinger Report, many schools are redesigning their services to focus on building confidence and practical life skills, such as composing a professional email or regular work etiquette. The same report explains that many students missed out on these lessons during high school and early college. This shift matters in our generation as we have grown up through a pandemic, online classes, and an age of social media. This has created a need for structure and clarity just as much as for hard skills. Schools that start to mix real-world preparation with lessons on mental health and communication are helping bridge the gap. Of course, students and campuses only see one side of this. To get the full picture, it helps to hear from those doing the hiring.

What Employers Really Want from College Interns in 2025

Ron Buchholz, an IT manager who has worked with interns since 1985, comes with advice. Buchholz repeats some of the common themes we’ve heard so far. When asked what makes an intern candidate stand out, he gives a straightforward response: “If they can’t communicate and can’t listen, I don’t care how good they are technically, they won’t fit. We have to work together.” In other words, it’s not just about knowing how to do the work, but also knowing how to work with the people. A New York Times article explains, “Your network is your net’s worth, that's something that everyone talks about,” showing how connection-building remains central to career growth despite the grind. Buchholz explains that some of the best interns are the ones who ask questions, take feedback well, and aren’t afraid to admit when they don’t know something. Beyond the technical ability, “Don’t be hungover. Don't be tired. Make sure you’re engaged. And stay off your damn phone,” he says with a laugh. Although the advice sounds old-school, Buchholz’s point is clear. Effort and attitude are what separates a good intern from a great one. He admits that not every intern starts fully confident, but what matters most is the progress made.

This matches the overall shift seen in the hiring industry. A Washington Post article on Google’s interview process explained how the company has moved away from brainteaser-type questions to focus on situational questions to measure critical thinking. Although Google led this change, many companies still use twist questions to measure creativity and composure under pressure. These questions can test your entire personality, such as “If you were an animal, what would it be?” They remind students that interviews aren’t about having perfect answers. They test to see how well you can think on your feet with meaningful answers. As Buchholz stated, “It’s okay not to know an answer, but it’s important to see how you go about gaining knowledge to form an answer.