How to Find the Right Internship

How to Find the Right Internship How to Find the Right Internship Getting a paid internship over the summer is the dream of many college students, but it doesn’t have to be just wishful thinking if you take the right approach, engage in some networking, and start your search early. In addition to paid internships, you may want to look into ways to fund your internship (check your college’s career services office, various organizations, and foundations). Some students are able to do an unpaid internship in their field of interest by supplementing their internship with a part-time job. Defining a Good Internship Good, successful internships typically offer benefits such as the following: Teaches the basic knowledge and skills required to get hired for a full-time job (either in the company where you interned or by one of its competitors)Provides experiences that will positively enhance your resumeHelps you develop professional networking contacts that can assist you in your future job search Speak with academic advisors, school career counselors, and professors to discover which companies in your target industry offer worthwhile internships where youll receive real, value-added experience. Prospecting for Internships Some of the best internships are landed as a result of prospecting. This means identifying companies or organizations that you want to work for and contacting them directly which can result in some of the best internships around for a number of reasons: By identifying companies that dont actually advertise their internships, you will avoid competing with thousands of other applicants who also found the internship listing online.When contacting a company directly, you will often get an opportunity to help create the type of experience you are seeking and may be allowed to have some input into what the internship involves. For students from smaller cities and towns, prospecting is often the only way to find potential internships. It’s important to follow some simple strategies in order to increase your chances of landing the internships of your dreams. Of course, the career field or industry you are pursuing will largely determine if paid internships are available. Even with prospecting, theres no guarantee that students will be able to land a paid internship. Employers have seen a significant rise in the number of students seeking internships. Part of this increase is due to the fact that more students are realizing that employers are looking for students with relevant experience required to hire on for future full-time jobs. Another reason a number of seniors (and post-graduates) are also interested in finding an internship is that they currently cannot find a job in their area of interest. In a 2018 study that analyzed the resumes of four million college graduates, the results showed that over 40 percent of new graduates had taken entry-level jobs that didnt require a college degree, and one out of five students were still working non-degree-requiring jobs 10 years later.Employers have become increasingly demanding, and they expect college graduates to come on board with specific skill sets and experience that the candidates have acquired during internships or through other means. Paid Internships and Programs According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)s 2019 Internship Co-op Report, the average hourly wage for an intern is $19.05 in 2019. Many companies hire interns as a way of previewing them to see if they would fit as full-time employees, and about 56 percent of interns were converted to full-time hires. The good news for employers is that over 70 percent of interns who were hired on as full-time workers were still at the company one year later. Whether you take a paid or unpaid internship matters to potential employers. According to the NACE 2019 study, 66.4 percent of 2019 graduates who had worked paid internships received at least one job offer. This contrasts with only 43.7 percent of unpaid interns receiving at least one job offer. If youre looking for an internship that pays well, youll have the best luck with companies in the technology industry. Glassdoor.coms annual survey of highest-paying internships shows that in 2019, Facebook is paying interns the highest salary at $8,000 per month, and Amazon is second at $7,725. Other companies high on the list include Google, Microsoft, Bloomberg, Capital One, and Apple. You can also pay a fee to participate in an internship program that includes an interview and resume coaching, guaranteed placement, and a choice of domestic or international locations. Some of these internship programs also offer excellent salaries, although the upfront fees are often expensive and required in order to participate in the program. In general, it pays to be wary of programs with fees, but for the right student who can afford to pay a fee for their internship, some excellent opportunities exist in specific industries and career fields, and you can find them through companies that match you with internship opportunities based on certain characteristics. The fee you pay is considered a sort of tuition, and the program resembles a semester-abroad type of program. Choose the city and industry in which you want to have your internship, and the company guarantees placement in a top-quality internship. Examples of Paid Internship Program Companies The Institute for the International Education of Students (IES Abroad) has been around for over 60 years, bringing its first group of students to study abroad in Vienna, Austria in 1950. Today, the company offers internships abroad for full-time summer placement, full-time semester internships, or part-time programs. While these internships come with guaranteed placement in your industry of interest, they are non-paid. Some programs may be eligible for financial aid or scholarships to cover the costs of program fees, room and board.Dream Careers was founded in February 2000 to help students enhance their academic experience by offering competitive internships at both college and high school levels. The company operates in 11 cities across the globe, working with about 5,000 different employers, and has served more than 17,000 students looking to develop their career ambitions.Another similar company is The Washington Center for Internships, which is an independent, non-profit organiz ation that provides immersive internships and seminars to college-level students and young professionals. The company operates in the U.S. and has offices in 25 other countries. It helps students find internships in public, private and non-profit sectors, in a wide variety of fields including law, medicine, journalism, business, and politics, among others. Helpful Tips for Students Some statistics say that up to 80 percent of job opportunities, including internships, are never advertised, and instead, get filled through personal networks and referrals. It pays to talk to anyone and everyone who might have some sort of connection to your target industry or internship. You can also take other steps to uncover leads to potential internships: Network with family, friends, acquaintances, previous employers, faculty, and your college’s alumni to seek out people who are currently doing the type of work you want to do. You never know who your parents know until you ask, or if you have well-connected neighbors in your target industry.Volunteer experiences and part-time jobs can often turn into full-time jobs after graduation.Research organizations so you can include that information in your cover letter or introduction email as you reach out to employers through websites or when prospecting for internships online. Create well-crafted, targeted resumes and cover letters that focus on the organization and position to which you are applying. Keep in mind that just one typo can put you out of the running.Have a methodical process to log your interviews, and set dates to follow-up with employers via email or phone. Don’t forget the importance of thank notes in the interviewing process. Oftentimes students feel that they are being a pest but many companies see this behavior as gauging a motivated student as well as someone who really wants to come and work for their particular company.