To improve their chances of having a successful career, it’s important for students to get real world work experience while they are still attending college. Finding an internship is the perfect way to do this. Interning allows you to test-drive your abilities and career interests, as well as make professional connections. When you graduate, you will have valuable experience to put on your resume. So, how do you go about looking for one? Here are some suggestions on how to look for internships, and what to look for in an internship:
- Ask family and friends if they have any openings at their workplace or if they have heard of internship openings elsewhere.
- Make a list of companies you are interested in working for and see if they are hiring interns. If not, contact them to see if they would be willing to create an internship position for you.
- Think of one or a couple of industries you would like to intern in, and search on job boards such as EmploymentAlert.com or Jobdiagnosis.com for openings.
- Visit your school’s career services office or visit their website to see if they can help you find an internship. Also see if you can get a letter of recommendation from one of your professors.
- Keep an open mind by searching for intern positions at both small and large companies.
Should I accept an unpaid internship?
When you are determining what to look for in an internship, it’s best to find a position that pays you. It’s often illegal for companies to have unpaid internships, and if it is unpaid it must be strictly educational (meaning no menial tasks such as filing or data entry that take the place of a regular employee). To make sure a company is following legal guidelines, check out this article on Fastweb.com.
What qualities are the best to look for in an internship?
It’s important to do plenty of research when considering an internship. Ask lots of questions about the company at the interview and do online research. Find out what exactly the internship will involve. For example, will you be working on one project for the entire time, or will you be bouncing around to different departments to expand your skillset? It’s best to find an internship that teaches skills that are highly in demand in the job market. And if you are exposed to a variety of departments and projects, the more likely you are to decide what you want for your career.
Also, finding a company with low staff turnover rates is at the top of the list of what to look for in an internship. If the turnover rates are high the company is likely to have a poor reputation. If other employees aren’t sticking around there you aren’t likely to get what you need from an internship there.
Can an internship extend past this summer?
If you give your all and show a lot of passion and interest for the work you are doing and the company, it’s possible the company you intern at will bring you back at your next break from school. If it goes very well, you could possibly be offered a full-time job at the company upon graduation. But if you aren’t getting what you want and need out of the internship, then don’t be afraid to look for another one. And don’t forget to ask if the company is willing to give you a good professional reference for your next job.
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Author: Jessica Cody
Jessica Cody, a native of Fairfield County, Connecticut, has a background in online marketing and public relations. Currently, she works at VHMNetwork LLC in the role of Marketing Analyst. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut, where she studied Journalism and Political Science. She is also an avid runner with a passion for the outdoors.
