Finding an internship can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re unsure where to begin. For junior Lana Elsehemi, the Career Center became a key partner in turning uncertainty into confidence and ultimately, into multiple internship offers.
Lana is double majoring in English Writing (Fiction) and Public and Professional Writing with a minor in Poetry.
Despite being active in student publications like Cherry Bomb and Blending Magazine, the internship search initially felt daunting. “When I began my internship search, I was completely lost on how to even start my resume and which experiences were necessary to include,” she shared.
After connecting with Pitt’s Career Center, Lana worked closely with Experiential Learning Consultant Gabby Brumond to strengthen her application materials and develop a clear strategy. “The Career Center helped me prioritize and highlight my strongest experiences while keeping everything within a single page,” she said. The support included resume and cover letter guidance, worksheets, and interview preparation. “They were patient and provided helpful worksheets as grounding tools, then met with me on multiple occasions to polish everything together.”
That preparation paid off! This January, Lana will begin a hybrid internship with Autumn House Press. “Preparing my materials and practicing for interviews made me feel much more confident, which ultimately helped me secure my internship,” she said. The twist? This wasn’t her only offer. “The Career Center really helped me refine myself as a strong candidate for my internship. In fact, I received a second offer as well, so the Career Center clearly worked very well.”
Beyond landing the internship, Lana says the experience reshaped how she approaches professional development. “I have become more confident and learned that a longer resume does not necessarily mean a better one,” she reflected.
Students looking to take the next step in their internship search can attend Internship Week, January 26–29, hosted by the Career Center. The week offers workshops and resources to help students prepare application materials and explore internship opportunities.
Her advice for other students is simple: “Go as soon as possible! Update your resume and draft your cover letter early… The first time is the hardest, but once it’s done, it’s done, so I highly recommend taking the time while you still can.”
