What to send when asked for samples of your work

It makes sense that companies hiring interns would ask applicants for examples of your previous work, but how do you know which one to pick? What makes a “good” writing sample or a compelling sample?

First, consider what you’re applying for. If it’s an editorial internship, you’re going to want to send a writing sample. Students in any of our journalism programs or the public relations program will want to show of their knowledge of AP style. A video editing internship would probably like to see a course project or material from another experience that you edited together. Graphic design and creative internships are going to want to see how you put the Adobe Creative Cloud to use. If the company doesn’t specify what type of work sample it wants, look at the job/internship description and identify the skills and technical abilities that would make an intern successful.

Next, look at your options. You may have a mix of coursework, on campus organization projects, and work from your previous internships. The best case scenario is something that is relevant (i.e. right in line with the skills you identified) and from outside the classroom (from internships or student orgs). However, it’s ok if your only work comes from your courses, though. Companies understand that you’re interested in interning because you want to build on what you’ve already learned.

Finally, after considering relevance, creativity, the range of skills used, and how pristine the work is (you always want to show your best work!), you’re ready to pick your samples. Keep in mind that the Newhouse CDC is happy to talk to you more about this and you can always consult with a current or former instructor for their opinion if you’re unsure, as well.