Today, InternMatch.com is launching a campaign to disrupt the traditional application process.  We are opening applications for internships at 30 of the most interesting, fast moving, and highly regarded Silicon Valley startup companies, but with one caveat: NO COVER LETTERS ALLOWED.  We have partnered with Dave McClure's 500 Startups portfolio and the companies are hiring students who apply via innovative uses of Blog, Twitter, Quora, Youtube, a personal website, or other social platforms.

Dave Schappell CEO of TeachStreet.com, one of the participating companies says, “If you own your own blog or at the very least know how to setup a blog and write a post about why you are interested in TeachStreet, it helps tell us you get what working at a startup is like.  This is a way for us to filter not just for quality but also cultural fit.”

Submitting your application this way serves two purposes:

1.)  It is a critical way to give yourself a voice and tell a company why you have the right skills and persoanlity to fit in.

2.)  It serves as a filter -- showing your ambition as well as some of the skills that the company actually wants you to use when you are hired.

Apply to be in the Competition:

Check out the over 30 positions at companies like Twilio, Slideshare, AppBistro, here and learn how to apply!

We will post all of the applications at the top of this blog post as they arrive for additional employers to see.

Need ideas/inspiration?

InternMatch is highlighting four key social media platforms that we encourage you to use to apply:

Blogs (Including Wordpress and Tumblr): Writing a blog post is one of the best ways to apply for marketing and social media positions.  Blogs are informal, they are public, and they can demonstrate your communication skills and company knowledge.

Youtube: Create a video application.  This is a great way to show off your personality, do something creative, or professionally explain why you have the right skills for a particular position.  All of these strategies can work, just be sure to look into the company culture first. Posting videos on Youtube is easy!

Also, read this guide on 5 Ways to Get a Job Through Youtube.

Quora: Quora is Q and A site that is extremely popular amongst startups for the quality of its answers.  You can turn it into am internship application by asking a question like Why Am I the Right Fit for Your Startup and getting friends and job references to help answer.

Also, read about 12 Ways to Use Quora to Find A Job to find additional ways to engage employers on the site.

Twitter: There are a lot of ways you can use Twitter to make a strong job application.  One idea is to create a twitter account and start tweeting about topics relevant to the company where you want to work.  Feel free to tweet to industry professionals and really engage the community.

Also, Learn 6 Ways to Use Twitter to Find a Job!

Or simply get creative.  These applications all went viral and led to much more than just a successful internship search.

Chris Spurlock's well designed resume went viral and landed him a position at the Huffington Post.

I Wanna Work at Instagram got national media attention!

This Twilio audio resume showed off the applicant's skills while appealing to the company's culture.  It ended in an easy decision for the hiring manager.

We are excited to post and promote your applications however you get them to us (twitter, email, blog comment, or submitted app, we will post them and forward them on the right employers).