Tips for African American Students Seeking Internships

African-American students are less likely to obtain an internship, and if they do, it will likely be unpaid. Studies have shown discrimination by large companies when it comes to offering internships to African-American students. Additionally, research shows that many low-income and first-generation college students of color are unsure how to land an internship. At the same time, internships are one of the best ways to secure a full-time, higher-paying job after graduation.

Cameron Williams, a student at historically Black North Carolina A&T State University, secured an internship at Sam’s Club during his sophomore year. Understanding the struggles many African-Americans face in securing an internship, he focuses on explaining the process to others.

Williams grew up in a small town in North Carolina, where he learned “the value of opportunity” and “how to build relationships” with those around him. His family taught him “to aim boldly and that no goal that can be written down on paper is unattainable.” In college, Williams worked hard to develop his skills “as a student, entrepreneur and leader on campus and in the Greensboro community.”

When I asked him how he managed to land an internship at Sam’s Club, he shared the following answer with me:

“I secured an internship through a conference last year, during my sophomore year of college. Walmart Inc. hosted the 2023 Student Leadership Summit this past April in Bentonville, Arkansas, where I had the opportunity to learn from executives, learn more about the retail industry, and build my network in the Northwest Arkansas area. At the end of the conference, each program participant had the opportunity to interview for an internship for summer 2024. Williams said: “The interview went well and I think I made a great impression during the interview. After the conference ended, I flew back to North Carolina and within a week I received my offer via email.”

Williams admits that looking for an internship can be “intimidating” because sometimes students are “afraid of being rejected, feel they’re not prepared to compete in the marketplace, or simply don’t know where to start.”

Wanting to connect other African-American students — especially those at HBCUs — with internships, Williams has advice for those pursuing them.

These tips include:

1. If possible, remove geographic restrictions from your internship search. He suggests prioritizing opportunity over location. Popular locations attract more candidates, and “even strong candidates are passed over due to the volume of applications.”
2. Be aware when searching for an internship. He suggests setting up meetings with recruiters, signing up for opportunities, and searching on many different platforms. Williams’ favorite platforms for finding internships include UnchainedInc, Handshake, and Linked In because these platforms allow you to filter by year of study, field of study, and location, among other things.
3. Look for opportunities to improve your public speaking and interviewing skills. She suggests entering pitching competitions, joining organizations like Toastmasters, and networking as widely as possible. The ability to communicate your ideas and express yourself is essential to securing an internship.

Williams is learning a lot from his internship, which runs until mid-August this year. His biggest takeaways from the experience so far include always being curious, never limiting yourself, asking questions and challenging yourself. He said, “As humans, we are designed to constantly learn and grow, and by not doing that, you are not only limiting your potential outcome, but also the amount of impact you can have.”

For those who are nervous about their future or their decision to pursue an internship, Williams reminds her colleagues, “Remember that your path to success will look very different than most and that there is no need to beat yourself up. The easiest option is to lose confidence and throw in the towel when you consistently get “no.” Don’t take the easy option!”

In the future, Williams plans to invest in start-up companies, hoping to develop creative leaders and “help the generation after me have access to opportunities that will change their path.”