It’s the perfect time of year to seek out and apply for an internship you really want this summer. An internship can provide hands on experience into a field you wish to pursue post-college or can provide an opportunity to explore a new field of interest.
At the undergraduate level, internships are sometimes course credited and are typically unsalaried because the idea is to provide real a life educational experience in their field of interest. Whether you find that you want to spend the rest of your life working in this field or decide it may not be for you – it is likely that the intern experience will provide valuable insight into what you want to do for the rest of your life. This worthwhile exposure will without a doubt allow for skill development and provide a competitive advantage in the workplace.
Here at GradGuard, we want to help you get out there and pursue your dreams by providing you tips and recommendations to find a great internship.
Career Service Center
A notable place to start on your search for the perfect internship is within your college’s career services and internship center. These departments are likely to be of great assistance because they are likely to have a reputable resource database and can sometimes provide services such as resume revisions or mock interviews.
Internship Fairs
Your college’s internship fair can connect you to representatives from a variety of organizations in the area so that you can explore a variety of opportunities. It is a great way to learn about positions you may have found yourself overlooking in your own searches and introduce you to people working directly in the field.
Do you go to a small school that has a miniature sized internship fair? You can try to venture onto other campuses’ internship fairs in the area or seek out locally run fairs in your community through events pages on local news listings. For example, in fall of this year, I came across a listing in the Boston Globe advertising an internship fair, designated solely for startups. You can find internship and career oriented events similar to this typically mid way through your semester in late February and March – you just have to be on the look out for them.
Networking
Getting in touch with family, friends, and teachers. They can often times offer direction and an advantage in attaining a position because they want to see you thrive and help you pursue your dreams. Utilize your resources to the best of your ability and reach out to those you already know who can actually help you. When using this outlet, don’t forget to send a ‘Thank You’ note, acknowledging your appreciation for their support.
Corporate Websites
Have an interest in a specific brand or job opportunity? Go on to the corporate website and do some research in the company before you make your move. Then call or e-mail someone in the human resources department directly. Most companies have contact information available on their websites. This outlet is a great way to get in contact with someone who can help you attain a position working at the company you wish to pursue.
Craigslist
Craigslist.com will provide you with a lot of the smaller businesses looking for summer help in your area. Go through the job advertisements with a skeptical eye to make sure the position will interest you and respond to those that sound the most interesting! Continuously check in with craigslist because opportunities are posted daily.
In addition to seeking out job positions, you can post your resume along with job/internship wanted ads. When making a want ad, make sure to use key words in your title that will attract employers using a search engine. If you decide to take this route, include information you would want strangers to have available to them. It’s a very good idea to leave your phone number and address out.
Another great website that will actually e-mail you with internship opportunities within your field, is internships.com.
Looking for an internship out of the state?
If you are looking for internships in larger cities, such as New York City, Washington DC, Chicago, or Philadelphia – Many colleges outside of your own can actually provide short-term housing options for interns and students. Going through higher education establishments can issue a reliable and safe atmosphere. In addition to looking through other colleges for Summer Housing, you can take a look at Craigslist.com, Sublet.com, Roomorama.com or Internnation.com, for other options.
Don’t get discouraged if you’re getting the feeling you may be too late in the game to receive a summer position. While many large organizations begin the search early in the year, you never know if interns have dropped their positions or there is an extra position available. It’s never too late, so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and apply!
