Getting an internship can be extremely beneficial for any current college student or recent graduate. An internship can bolster your resume and set you apart from the competition.

With the current economy it is important to note that any
form of extracurricular activity has the potential to get you hired or placed into
many positions. Although painstaking, internships have the potential to lead to
future employment as they also increase your networking possibilities. Many
employers are more likely to offer unpaid internships as this improves their
bottom line. It can be considerably more difficult to work at an organization that
will pay you to develop your job skills. To further your chances for getting an
internship it is advisable that you use some of the following tips and resources:

Career Center:

Your campus career center can be an invaluable resource for finding internships.
The career center will be able to provide networking possibilities and internship
postings at local or regional employers. The career center can also help you with
your resume and job interview skills so that you will be prepared to meet with any
potential employer. The services provided at the career center can be free of
charge to a small nominal fee depending on the college or university you attend.

Networking:

Networking with your friends through social media, campus-wide events, and
activities put on by various clubs at your campus can be a great way to learn
about internships. Many schools will have business clubs, psychology clubs,
fraternities, and sororities that are often told about various internships before they
are publicly available.

Internet:

The Internet is a great place to find internships. Some of the following websites have great resources for college students:

  • www.craigslist.org – Look under “jobs” and do a search for internships.This will give a wide array of possibilities varying from accounting, finance, marketing, government, computers, and the hospitality industry.
  • www.indeed.com – If you go to this website, and do a search for “internships”, you can find a multitude of possibilities that are located within your local region.
  • www.internships.com – This is the largest database of internships. It allows employers to post positions and students to view opportunities for free. This website also offers a premium service that allows applicants to create a video profile, update various job skills, and take a career assessment quiz.

If these three websites do not provide satisfactory information or resources,
it can always be advisable to do a “Google” search with various keywords
including “internships”, “summer internships”, “internships for college
students”, “international internships”, “paid internships”, or a combination of the
aforementioned.

With the current job climate, it is recommended that you make your own
action plan and start working at various internships starting in your freshman
year. This will give you an opportunity to network, and hone your job and
communication skills to ensure the likelihood of gainful employment immediately
upon graduation.

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