How to Find a Summer Internship
Colleges and universities typically require students to complete an internship in their chosen field before graduation. By pursuing a summer internship, your work off campus will not interfere with your studies, plus you will get an insight into your future career with at least one full year left of school should you find you need additional courses. Make your first step in finding a summer internship a visit to your school's career office.
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Instructions
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Soak up all the advice offered at your campus career office. The University of Southern California's office, for example, hosts a series of programs and workshops to guide students through the internship process. Northwestern University holds a half-day seminar on the internship process, inviting in local employers. When the time comes to apply for internships, all college career centers will have a database of available internships. Visit the office frequently; the database is updated as new listings come in.
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Browse the website of a company that interests you. Many companies list their job and internship openings on their site. General Electric, for example, has multiple pages on its website devoted to both domestic and foreign internships. Do not procrastinate in applying for these internships as companies often select their interns well in advance of the start date.
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Search the Internet for internship websites. Start with a website of a group that you know is credible, such as the College Board (collegeboard.com), which will have links to other reliable websites. Online internship databases offer leads about a variety of opportunities nationwide in many fields.
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Go to career fairs held on campus or in the community. While company representatives might only have full-time jobs advertised there, inquire about internships. Leave your resume. You might impress the recruiter so much that her company devises an internship for you or considers you first when it comes time to select interns.
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Network with people you meet at job fairs or on-campus internship seminars. Also ask your parents or neighbors if they have friends in your future field. Call them to ask for guidance. Develop a working relationship with one of those people, and that contact might recommend you to a colleague seeking an intern.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't delay seeking an internship until the spring semester. Start when you return to school in the fall. That is when campus career centers begin offering seminars and bringing prospective employers on campus.
References
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