| If you're looking to make the transition from final | | | | a company in your chosen field who can help you. |
| exams to full-time employee, an internship with a solid | | | | - Find out who at your chosen company will be |
| company could be the perfect stepping-stone. In fact, | | | | supervising you in your internship. Has the supervisor |
| internships are fast becoming an integral part of the | | | | recommended former interns for job openings in the |
| college experience. According to a 2006 survey from | | | | company? Does he or she have experience working |
| Vault.com, 84 percent of students planned to complete | | | | with interns? |
| an internship by the time they graduated. Fifty-three | | | | - Be sure to ask about what your job as an intern will |
| percent of students surveyed expected to complete | | | | entail. Sometimes, it might make sense to pass up an |
| two or more internships by the time they earned their | | | | internship at a well-known company for one at a |
| diploma. | | | | smaller company that may allow you greater and |
| In a tough job market, one way to distinguish yourself | | | | more interesting job responsibilities. |
| from the pack is to take advantage of this | | | | |
| fast-emerging practice. The following tips can help you | | | | |
| find the right internship, make the most of your time | | | | Can You Afford an Internship? |
| there, and learn how to fit an unpaid stint into your | | | | Internships are definitely a great way to show |
| budget. | | | | employers that you can handle the rigors of real-world |
| | | | work. But what if you can't afford to work for free for |
| What Do You Do in an Internship? | | | | an entire summer? Are you doomed to go |
| In the best internships, you do much more than fetch | | | | internship-less? Luckily, you may not. A variety of |
| coffee, photocopy, and file. A recent New York Times | | | | internship options are available that shouldn't leave you |
| article about internships points out that interns are | | | | subsisting on ramen noodles and living in a squat from |
| accepting more responsibilities and tackling more | | | | June to September. Most employers offer internships |
| exciting projects than ever before. For example, | | | | for either an hourly wage or college credit hours. Vault |
| interns at Texas Instruments collaborate with | | | | reports that 64 percent of student interns are paid for |
| engineers on the development of new products. | | | | their work. If you cannot find an internship that pays, |
| Many companies are increasingly eager to give their | | | | you can still earn credit hours toward your degree, |
| interns more challenging job responsibilities. Why? | | | | either freeing up time in later semesters for a part-time |
| Because they've started to view interns as potential | | | | job or allowing you to graduate earlier. You might also |
| full-time employees. The internship serves as a | | | | consider taking out a larger student loan than usual to |
| grooming ground for young students, both giving them | | | | pay for your summer living expenses. This might sound |
| the skills they need to land jobs and ensuring that the | | | | unappealing, but remember that an internship can be an |
| most talented stay with the companies. Moreover, the | | | | investment in your future salary. Rather than living and |
| Vault survey also reports that approximately 64 | | | | working somewhere expensive like New York City, |
| percent of student interns receive job offers from the | | | | consider choosing an internship in a city with a lower |
| companies with which they intern. | | | | cost of living or where you could save on rent by living |
| Even if your chosen company is unable to offer you a | | | | with relatives. |
| full-time position when your internship ends, you still | | | | A 2007 article in the Christian Science Monitor points |
| should have gained valuable experience. You may | | | | out that the sacrifices internships require often pay off. |
| have developed relationships with people in your | | | | Jeannie Vanasco found an unpaid internship at a |
| industry, or gained skills that you can transfer to a job | | | | well-known literary magazine, which allowed her to |
| at a new company. | | | | work in a creative environment and paved the way to |
| How to Find a Good Internship? | | | | paid work as a book reviewer. Brian Feldman had to |
| Keep these tips in mind to ensure that your internship is | | | | pay for college credits he did not need in order to |
| helpful and enriching: | | | | work as an unpaid intern for The Daily Show, but once |
| - Many colleges and universities ask students who | | | | his internship ended, he received a paid position. |
| have completed internships over the summer to fill out | | | | Join the Ranks of Famous Interns |
| evaluations of their experiences. Check with the | | | | If you still worry that your summer vacation time might |
| career center to see if this resource is available. | | | | be better spent on the beach or at the golf course, |
| - Talk to former interns at companies you are | | | | remember that some of the most famous and |
| considering to find out how beneficial they found the | | | | successful people in the country began their careers |
| experience | | | | as interns. Oprah might never have built her media |
| - Start your search for summer internships early. The | | | | empire if she had not interned at a television station in |
| most competitive ones typically fill up fast, often by | | | | Nashville, Tennessee. Her internship led to a job as a |
| November or December of the previous year. When | | | | news anchor. Clothing designer Betsey Johnson |
| school starts in the fall, start to figure out your plans for | | | | established her signature eclectic style while interning at |
| the summer. | | | | Mademoiselle magazine. She used discarded fabric |
| - Begin honing a resume and cover letter as soon as | | | | from the magazine's fabric library to make her clothes. |
| possible. Find two to three professors or academic | | | | Filmmaker Spike Lee was an intern for Columbia |
| advisors who are willing to write letters of | | | | Pictures. Other famous and successful interns include |
| recommendation for you. | | | | Donald Trump, Stephen Spielberg, Frank Lloyd Wright, |
| - Let your friends and family know that you are looking | | | | and Madeline Albright. Will your name be next on the |
| for an internship. One of them might know someone at | | | | list? |