How to Become a Paid Intern
If you are a college student or newly trained adult reentering the workforce, internships are a good way to enter the job market. Internships are usually an unpaid work experience meant to gain school credit. It is more difficult to find paid internships, but it is possible if you know where to search for one. There is no set amount that an internship pays, and some employers may choose to pay low hourly wages or provide a stipend (lump-sum payment) instead of a weekly paycheck.
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Instructions
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Decide which industry you want to intern in. If you are studying in a particular field or have an interest in an industry, this helps you narrow the opportunities and direct your search. For instance, a business major who loves sports might find a good internship by choosing to inquire about opportunities with a sporting goods retailer, distributor or manufacturer, or the administrating company for a local sports team.
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Contact your guidance counselor, career adviser or the administrative staff in your school's office if currently enrolled. High schools and colleges often have ongoing internship programs that connect students with potential employers. Stress the desire for a paid internship.
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Make your desire for a paid internship known to instructors, friends and family and welcome any assistance they can give you. Networking is a good way to find out about internships. You have an automatic connection with your potential employer if you know someone on staff or connected to the industry you are interested in.
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Attend a local job fair or on-campus recruiting event. Check the list of businesses attending the fair and locate the ones related to your field of interest. Introduce yourself to their representatives and ask about paid internships. Get the name, title and phone number of the person you need to contact. Set up an interview time while at the job fair or shortly after. Waiting could mean losing out on an open internship.
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Contact the companies you are interested in and ask about paid internships. You can find contact information on company websites or through an Internet search. Some companies dedicate a particular person to handle internship inquiries. If one is not listed, contact the human resources department. Be prepared to send a resume if asked.
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Use a career resources guide to discover internship opportunities. Career resource guides are books filled with lists of paid and unpaid internships. Many supply information about the company, the opportunity and contact info such as phone numbers, contact names and company addresses. Ask the reference librarian at your school or public library if they have a reference guide on internships available for you to look at.
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Tips & Warnings
Resumes are a key way to introduce yourself to the employer and provide pertinent contact and educational information. Listing computer and office-equipment skills on your resume may help the company gauge what level of training they will need to give you before putting you to work.
Look for internships with medium to large businesses. Larger companies often have departmental budgets that include paying an intern.
