Internship Guide: How to Find an Internship

Internships are supervised professional learning experiences typically—though not exclusively—reserved for college students. They are short-term work experiences offered by an employer and can vary from full-time to part-time, generally lasting around ten to twelve weeks or roughly the duration of a college quarter, trimester, or semester.

Internships give you a chance to gain entry-level experience within a particular field or industry and learn about the organizational culture within a particular company. For employers, internships present the chance to bring in new energy as well as develop talent, potentially opening a pipeline for interns to become future full-time employees.

Apprenticeships differ from internships in that they typically last at least a year and are usually dedicated vocational programs.

The right internship can provide you with a wealth of benefits in the form of experience, professional connections, and personal growth. Here are more benefits to consider:

1. 1. Gain skills. As an intern, you will have the chance to pick up the technical and real-world skills needed to work in your chosen industry. Outside of the skills needed to accomplish your intern duties, you will also have a chance to see the responsibilities of those around you in the company doing jobs you might be interested in eventually pursuing.
2. 2. Apply skills. Internships enable you to see what an entry-level job might have in store for you, and you can apply skills and knowledge that you gained in school to real-life work situations.
3. 3. Build your professional network. In addition to potentially finding a mentor in your industry through bosses or coworkers, internships are a great opportunity to build your future peer support group. Fellow interns may be your peers in your industry moving forward.
4. 4. Try new things. Especially for students and recent grads, a job search can be tricky if you’re unsure what roles or job titles you might enjoy within your industry. Internships give you the ability to try out a role or sector without the long-term commitment of a full-time job.
5. 5. Set your résumé apart. Previous work experience, including internship experience, could give you a leg up on other job seekers during your search for full-time employment. To employers, internships can demonstrate that you have the skills needed for the job you’re applying to, as well as knowledge of the field overall.
6. 6. Enter the pipeline to full-time work. Though full-time employment is not guaranteed following an internship, many companies look to their pool of interns to fill open full-time positions. In that sense, internships can be seen as extended job interviews or even training programs from companies in advance of future job offers.

The type of internship varies depending on the industry you are interested in. Here are seven types of internships you may come across during your internship search.

1. 1. Paid internships: Since internships are a chance for organizations to train and evaluate future full-time employees, if companies can afford to pay their interns, they will usually make the decision to do so. Many paid internships exist within the private sector or in large companies that have the money to pay students as they learn.
2. 2. Nonprofit internships: Differing from those with for-profit companies, many nonprofit internships are unpaid since the primary purpose of these organizations is to provide a service, not to make money. Still, nonprofit internships provide opportunities to gain experience and useful skills potential employers may be looking for entry-level positions.
3. 3. Summer internships: These internships can last anywhere from eight to twelve weeks and be either part-time or full-time. Most student internships happen during this time of year, which gives students the chance to create a regular work routine. Depending on the institution, college credit may be available for these types of internships.
4. 4. Service-learning internships: These structured internship programs involve some type of community service work where an intern will dedicate a semester or year to a host site, connecting things learned in class to work experiences. These are great internships for those looking for careers in human services, social work, or education.
5. 5. Field experience internships: These internships are primarily for credit and will usually require a mentor (or academic sponsor) both at the school as well as within the company. These internships are generally not primarily clerical or mechanical and the criteria for the internship will be set by the academic sponsor.
6. 6. Externships: Shorter than traditional internships, externships are usually over spring, winter, or summer break. These are usually more observational, allowing you to use your limited time to shadow workers, observe roles and responsibilities, and ask questions.
7. 7. Cooperative education opportunities: Also called a co-op, a cooperative education opportunity is usually full-time, paid, and longer than a typical internship, with some colleges offering students the chance to take up to three semesters off to try different careers. Students may pursue a co-op either alongside their coursework or during their winter or summer break.

Within the US, the Department of Labor has established regulations that determine whether an internship can be qualified as paid or unpaid. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) dictates that interns in the for-profit sector must be paid minimum wage and overtime; unpaid internships must meet seven standards, including requiring that interns do not displace regular employees and that the internship must accommodate academic commitments.

Though many paid internships only pay the national minimum wage, they are still highly competitive positions. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), the highest internship salaries were in computer science and engineering.

Many companies hire unpaid interns, especially when the internship is in exchange for academic credit—an arrangement that must be agreed upon before the start date and usually requires a clear connection between the internship and your educational program. Depending on the opportunity, some unpaid internships may also provide a housing or transportation stipend.

Finding the right internship for you will take time and plenty of thought. Here are some tips to help you in your internship search.

1. 1. Start early. Start your search early so you can be on top of the application process for any early deadlines. Getting an early start will also allow you extra time to contact any alumni or other employees within organizations you’re interested in. College career services offices are helpful for finding out which internships have early deadlines.
2. 2. Plan. Think about what your ultimate goal is for your career path and what industry you’d like to work in. Knowing what your options are for your long-term career goals can help you search for entry-level jobs that might help you reach those eventual roles. This is also the time to research the skills and experiences you would need to reach those long-term goals. If there are areas you’re unsure about, this is also a chance to see which career fields you’d like to sample.
3. 3. Network. Informational interviews can provide those in the field you’re interested in an opportunity to talk to you about specific companies, career opportunities, and potential internships. These can be done by contacting alumni or simply by speaking with family members, friends, faculty, or college or career counselors.
4. 4. Search online. In addition to internship listings on major online job boards, be sure to search more niche job boards that focus on specific industries, as well as individual company websites. Use your networking and informational interviews as an opportunity to ask for recommended internships. Your university career center may also have listings available.
5. 5. Attend career fairs. Many top employers will attend career fairs to recruit and screen potential interns and employees. Prepare a short introduction that showcases what value you could bring to an employer and be sure to follow up with any recruiters you meet.
6. 6. Narrow it down. As you find internship opportunities you’re interested in or are interviewing for, be sure to keep in mind your career interests, which will help you narrow down the internships that will help you achieve your goals. Research the individual companies to check out their overall company reputation. During the interview phase, be sure to ask questions about the job you will be performing to make sure it will truly be a good fit for you.

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