I applied online with a diligent cover letter. I was contacted the next day by a recruiter to set up a half-hour phone interview. In the week leading up to the interview, I spent 1-2 hours every day researching the company and taking notes. The first interview was with the hiring manager – it was direct and we talked mostly about the role. About a week later, I was contacted to schedule a second phone interview with the team’s senior manager. The interview followed a similar format and was very conversational. I received an excellent offer about a week later.
Two things helped me get this internship: 1. Lots of research of the company’s past, present and future, and 2. Maintaining a growth-focused discussion (I.e. how I will grow and how the team will grow).