5 Tips to Land an Internship in Communication

EFAP’s Tips for Landing an Internship in Communication

Finding a communication internship isn’t always easy: lots of candidates, very different profiles, and sometimes high expectations from companies. As a result, it’s easy to feel a bit lost.
But the good news is that with the right reflexes, you can really stand out. This first article is here to guide you, bringing together 5 essential tips that are simple to apply, helping you structure your search, highlight your profile, and show your potential—even if you’re just getting started. And this is only the beginning: a second article is coming very soon, with 5 more powerful tips to take your strategy further and optimize your applications like a true communication pro. Ready? Let’s dive into the first 5 essential tips!

Tip 1: Polish Your Online Profile

When you’re looking for a communication internship, the very first impression is no longer made during the interview… but online. Before even opening your CV, a recruiter will Google your name, check your LinkedIn profile, browse your portfolio, or glance at your professional social media. Your personal branding is therefore the first element that speaks for you — and it must be flawless.

Professional photoshoot at EFAP

LinkedIn remains THE essential platform if you want to land an internship in communication. Make sure you present a professional photo, a clear title identifying your specialization (social media, events, press relations, digital communication…), and a summary that describes your career goals authentically. Also take time to detail your experiences, even school projects: in communication, recruiters value the process as much as the result. Add visual content too: carousels, graphic creations, mock campaigns, videos… Anything that showcases your style and your ability to tell a story.

Another key asset: showcase your projects. In communication, recruiters want to see what you can do. Don’t hesitate to publish your work on an online portfolio (Wix, Behance, Notion…), use LinkedIn’s “Projects” section, or share a well-organized folder. You can include posters created in class, social media posts imagined for brands, videos, podcasts, strategic briefs… Even a school assignment demonstrates your creativity, sense of messaging and ability to create content.

Tip 2: Build a Clear CV Suited to Communication Roles

Your CV is one of the first documents a recruiter reads — sometimes in less than ten seconds. To maximize impact, it must be immediately readable, visually appealing, and aligned with communication industry standards.

Opting for a simple yet professional layout is always a good strategy: a two-column structure, readable typography, a few color accents to add personality without overloading the design. Prioritize balance, spacing, and clear information hierarchy.

As for content, go straight to the point. Companies are looking for versatile, creative, organized profiles who are comfortable with digital tools. Highlight your concrete projects, technical skills (Canva, Meta Business Suite, Notion…), as well as the soft skills that are essential in communication: teamwork, creativity, adaptability. A clear, concise, professional CV already shows you understand the basics of the field.

Tip 3: Write a Truly Personalized Cover Letter

In communication, a generic cover letter never works. Recruiters expect a personalized message that proves you understand the company’s challenges and that you’re genuinely interested in its projects. It shows instantly.

To write a strong letter, build on concrete examples: a campaign you found inspiring, a strategy you admire, a task you have already carried out in a school or association context. This shows your ability to analyze and apply your skills in a professional environment.

The tone of your letter also matters. Communication is a lively, dynamic, human-centered field. Write clearly, positively, and concisely. A well-structured, engaged and authentic letter can truly make the difference in securing a communication internship.

Tip 4: Create a Portfolio Even Without Professional Experience

Many students think they need to wait for their first internship before building a portfolio. That’s a mistake. In communication, a recruiter wants to discover your world, your style, your creative potential — all of which can already appear in class projects.

A strong portfolio can include school projects, strategic exercises, graphic creations, videos, podcasts, fictional redesigns, or even personal projects. What matters most is coherence, quality, and your ability to explain what you intended to convey in each project.

You can build it on Canva, Notion, Wix or Behance: the tool doesn’t matter — the content does. Even a modest portfolio shows your motivation and willingness to grow — two essential qualities to land a communication internship.

EFAP Focus – A Creative Playground to Build Your Portfolio

At EFAP, students dive into real-world, professional projects from their very first year: immersive workshops, challenges proposed by real companies, real case studies, content creation, events, digital productions…

This continuous immersion offers rich, varied material that can be immediately highlighted in a portfolio.

As a result, every student can build a solid, credible and attractive portfolio, even before their first internship.

Tip 5: Use Your Network (Even If You Think You Don’t Have One)

In the communication industry, one out of three internships is found through networking. But be careful: “network” doesn’t mean nepotism. It simply means talking about your search to the right people, at the right time.

Announce your search on LinkedIn, contact Alumni, attend events, talk with your instructors, reconnect with former teachers or mentors. Every conversation can become an opportunity, an introduction, or a valuable piece of advice. The key is to remain natural, polite, and professional.

The Strength of the EFAP Network

With more than 30,000 Alumni in France and abroad, EFAP relies on a particularly active network in digital, luxury, sports, media and cultural sectors — a major asset for quickly finding a communication internship.

Learn more about the EFAP network

Ready to Boost Your Communication Internship Search?

If you want more advanced support in building your CV, portfolio, LinkedIn profile or job-search strategy, EFAP – School of Communication – provides students with a full ecosystem dedicated to professional success:

• A Career Center available year-round to support you

• Personalized workshops to optimize CVs, cover letters and professional image

• A portfolio enriched by concrete projects, workshops and real cases

• A powerful Alumni network, active across all communication sectors

• Thousands of internship opportunities in France and internationally

 

Discover EFAP programs and give your communication career a true boost!

 

I want to learn more