Learning About Internships
By Michele Blandino
Many college students rely on internships not only to gain practical work experience, but also to test-drive their chosen careers. Internships provide the students the chance to get an up-close look at their chosen field and in some cases, can help confirm the student's given career choice. Other students accept internships in the hope of solidifying their chances of being accepted to graduate school.
The Many Characteristics of Internships
Internships can be obtained in a variety of ways. Corporate recruiters often work with colleges and universities to fill their open internships with a process that can be as exhaustive as a typical job search. Other internships are advertised on the Internet or in local newspapers or trade publications, while others are obtained through good old-fashioned word-of-mouth.
Internships can be either unpaid or paid and the work can range from mundane assignments such as filing and faxing to more complex assignments that may even involve client contact.
Internships come in all shapes and sizes; some involve 10 hours or less per week and are unpaid, while others are full-time paid staff positions that can last an entire summer and in some cases, extend on a part-time basis into the school year. Students pursuing internships need to first decide whether they can afford to work for free before they begin their search.
While the majority of internships are filled by college students, they should not be discounted by experienced professionals considering a career change or looking to re-enter the workforce after an extended period away. Assuming you are able to work for little or no money, internships offer an excellent opportunity to refresh your skills or learn entirely new ones.
Career Placement Centers
One of the first places to begin your search is the career placement office of your college or university. While most internships are posted in the spring semester, a limited number may be available at any given time. Students browse available internships and submit their resume, usually online, directly to the employer. In addition, many colleges will have an "Internship Fair" in which sponsoring employers come to campus to meet with prospective interns.
Using the Internet
There are a few ways to use the Internet to locate and investigate an internship. Sites such as Internship Programs work much like the traditional employment websites in that candidates are given the opportunity to build a profile and search for internships. The site also has a database in which students share their internship experiences. This can be a particularly handy tool for those looking for (or looking to avoid) specific tasks.
Internships are also listed on many of the traditional employment websites such as Monster and CareerBuilder. Candidates using these types of sites should, however, remember that the competition for these positions may be fierce.
Go Right to the Source
Many companies will advertise available internships right on their website. As a result, if there is a particular company you are interested in working with, you should check the employment section of their website on a regular basis, or contact the company directly to inquire about available internships. If there is a company that you really want to intern with that doesn't offer internships, propose one of your own. This may involve a little legwork on your part; it will be important to research the company and if possible, identify areas where you can help. Few companies will turn down the offer of free labor - especially if you are able to help address a specific need.
For More Information:
To learn more about locating and applying for internships, you should first visit the Career Resource center at your college or university. You can also learn more about various types of internships by visiting these sites: