Summer internships are already under way, but fall is fast approaching and it's not too early to start thinking about what you want out of your internship experience. I went back to my experts to ask what they thought students should look for when trying to find just the right internship.

Donna Dessart, director of Career Services at the Art Institute of California - San Francisco, says, "It's really important for students to think about what they want from their internships. What skills or experience would they like to gain during the internships that will make them qualified for the jobs or careers that they would like to get into? If they have well defined objectives for their internships it will be easier to target companies and sell themselves to employers to get the best internships possible and employers will be impressed that they have a focus and know what they want.

"The easy way to look for an internship is to apply for companies that have posted internships on your college campus or on Craigslist. Companies with established internships have a well defined experience and get a good name on your resume. These types of internships are generally well structured and have a specific process for applying and interviewing.

"You may also call smaller companies or places that you would like to work for even if they don't have an advertised internship. This way you won't be competing with anyone since they may be creating an internship just for you. Or you can ask your teachers to recommend you to their professional colleagues to find those hidden internships not posted anywhere.

"However you find your internship, treat it like a job and take it seriously. You will find out so much about yourself, your skills and what you like and don't like and will gain valuable professional experience, the beginnings of a network and important references for the future."

"I feel a common mistake that many college students make is taking an internship for the sake of an internship," says Alpaytac Junior Account Executive, Brian Saunders, who was an intern with Alpaytac before being hired earlier this year. "Spending the time to research and consider several opportunities may be the difference between simply adding a line to your resume, and gaining some valuable and marketable experience. There are red flags to watch out for when looking for an internship.

For instance,

• How long do they spend interviewing you?
• Were you interviewed in a group, or on your own?
• Did they seem to care about your talents, drive and abilities?
• Or simply that you were enrolled in college?

The amount of care an employer puts into hiring their interns is usually indicative of how much value they place in them."

Keyla Cabret, university relations supervisor for Aflac says, "My advice to college and even high school students who are looking to get a head start on their career planning, is to identify companies that offer internship or career building programs specific to their area of interest. Many major corporations, like Aflac, partner with universities and high schools to train and recruit future employees--often providing students with great experience during the summer months while they are out of school. For example, I started with Aflac when I was a junior in high school as a seasonal employee within the Human Resources department. I was able to utilize the skills and knowledge I gained to advance within the company after I graduated from college."

"I'd also advise students to take advantage of career fairs that may visit their schools by asking onsite recruiters key questions about any company programs in place that provide training for students," she adds.

"I would advise students to look for internships that provide a 'real-world' experience. Interns should look for a job description that allows him or her to interact with clients or co-workers, contribute ideas, and work on projects. This will allow the student to fully understand what to expect within the company and help them determine whether they want to pursue a career within that particular company or industry. I would also advise looking for internships that offer career growth upon graduation. Scottrade embraces our interns and ultimately, would like to see our interns become full-time employees upon graduation (as long it's a good fit for both us and the graduating student). An internship can familiarize you with a particular company and possibly develop into a lifelong career path," Chrissy Glover, intern recruiter at Scottrade says.

And finally, Mary Lin, director of marketing and public relations at Prescott College says, "I ask potential interns to list the skills they'd like to learn and tasks they'd like to complete in an internship. I then try to tailor their work load to fit in as many of those tasks as possible. Without fail, I've observed that interns who know they will be building their resume and portfolio, and that the employer is in their corner, will work harder and do better work."

Once again, treating your internship search like a job search will serve you well when you do start looking for an entry-level job that's a good fit for both you and the company.

Happy summer.