While applications for spring internships may have passed, you might want to get ahead for summer internships by polishing up cover letters and resumes.

If you’re looking for somewhere to start, visit internmatch.com, internqueen.com or internships.com to apply for beginning the search.

Lauren Berger, CEO of Intern Queen, had successfully completed 15 internships before she established internqueen.com in 2009.

“I felt like I didn’t have anybody that really cared about my internship past,” Berger said. “So with Intern Queen, even if it is a large-scale website, I wanted it to be more personable.”

According to Berger, employers are looking for three key items when hiring. “Employers want to make sure and see that you understand responsibility, commitment and that you are loyal.” she said.

In order to talk with potential employers, it is important to know what they are looking for within your specific job description.

Julia Russell Toothacre, marketing/outreach coordinator and career counselor at the Office of Career Services at Azusa Pacific University, discussed the importance of working with her office in order to stand out from the rest. There are two easy ways to get ahead of other applicants: through networking or simply reading the job description.

“If you know somebody and they have a connection to an internship, that is the best foot in the door you can get,” Toothacre said.

It is suggested you talk to professors, alumni and the Office of Career Services in order to help with landing an internship.

Senior journalism major Kimberlee Buck spoke with her adviser and did the search on her own, contacting various Los Angeles newspapers. She emphasized the importance of making sure to call the company as well, which helped land her a job at a local Los Angeles paper.

“I learned how to report on topics that were out of my comfort zone,” Buck said. “I gained experience on working overtime, doing last-minute assignments, working with website management, press conferences and project proposals.”

In order to land the internship, it is important to know a few more keys: Read the job descriptions carefully and include action verbs and keywords in your resume and cover letter.

“We recommend that students tailor everything that they do,” Toothacre said. “Their resume and cover letter should be tailored to the position and the company that they are applying for.”

Companies use an application tracking system that scans applications to look for keywords that are presented in the company and the job description. This is an essential reason to read the description and study a little bit of the company, which will also help in future interviews with its people.

“That’s why networking is so important. You may not get through the ATS system but a manager can still go in and pull your file if you network,” Toothacre said.

During the selection process, it is important to be honest with the hiring managers and make sure to thank them afterward. A great way to say “thank you” is with a simple card, showing that you care and appreciate their time.

You can call the Office of Career Services at (626) 815-2103 or email it at career@apu.edu to set up an appointment to review and help with your cover letter and resume. The office also has walk-in hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.