Finding an Internship

As the weather cools down, the search for summer internships is heating up!  Many companies and organizations start recruiting summer interns as early as September.  And while finding an internship may seem impossible, there are many internships available.   The current economy has actually led to an increase in intern positions as it provides employers with an obligation-free way to give potential employees a trial run.  So start researching and applying for internship opportunities today!

Identify Career Interests

Take time to consider what type of internship you want and what experiences you hope to get out of an internship.  Internships are a great way to test out new career fields you might not have considered previously.  Even if you land an internship that does not match exactly with your interests, it can still provide you with great experience and even more of an idea of what you want out of a career.

Network

Let family, friends, professors, academic advisors and alumni know what type of internship you are looking for.  You never know who will have a contact with a company you are interested in.  Also consider scheduling informational interviews to gain valuable information on career options and companies that you can pursue for an internship.

Go online

 There is a huge array of internship listings available online.  You can find intern positions by logging into your CES Account or visiting the internship listing section of the CES website for links to several internship websites.  Also try Internships.com, which specializes in only internship listings. 

Contact Employers

If you are not finding the type of internship you are looking for online, contact a company or organization directly to ask if they have any internship openings.  Thoroughly research the company before calling to show your dedication and drive to be a part of the company.  Be prepared to explain why you want to work for a particular company and what skills you can offer the company.  Remember, the worst the company can do is say no.

So do not wait for the weather to warm up before starting your internship search!  Starting your search now will help you find an internship you are really passionate about and help you avoid the stress of trying to find an internship a month before summer.