Obtaining That “Dream” Internship

By Kyle Smith

Senior HR Analyst

Roadway Express

 

If you would like to do more with your next summer break than flip hamburgers or stock shelves, you want an internship. This is a wise choice. Nothing can add more to your skill development and your future employment marketability while you are still in college than an internship. The valuable knowledge and experience you gain in your internship can serve you very well in launching your career after college. Because an internship can be so important, you need to have a game plan to guide you in obtaining one.

 

First Things First

 

Before you begin your search for that ultimate internship, you need to ask yourself a few very important questions that will determine your next steps:

 

· Do you have a resume? If not, you will need one. Most employers, even with internship opportunities, will request to see a resume. This allows you to provide a summary of your education, work history, and significant accomplishments in a concise, visually scannable form (this is especially important when applying online or by email). Be sure to check your resume to ensure there are no spelling errors and that all the information you provide is accurate. Visit your local library or college career center for resources to help you.

 

· What field are you interested in? Many times the answer to this question is dictated by your college major, such as with Marketing or Accounting. In other cases, such as with Business or Information Technology, there may be many different work groups for which your skills would be applicable. Thinking through this process now may provide insight for you upon graduation as to where you would best fit in the organizational structure. For further guidance in this area, I would encourage you to speak with your college professors and with your college's career counselor.

 

· Do you want a paid or unpaid internship? The most immediate answer is often paid , but I would encourage you to give this some serious consideration before making a determination. There are certainly many quality paid internships that will be available to you, with pay rates that will differ depending on various employment market conditions. However, you should always remember the purpose behind obtaining an internship: increasing your future employment marketability. There are numerous high quality internships around the country that are unpaid, but will go a long way toward helping you obtain your goal by providing an unmatched internship experience. So, consider your goals (and your financial situation) before answering this question.

 

· Where would you like to work? The answer to this question is often determined by where you are attending college or where your parents live, as well as your transportation situation. However, this does not have to limit your geographical search area. Internships do exist where housing is provided for the summer. Internship housing, besides broadening your search, also offers you a better opportunity to foster more lasting professional relationships with your fellow interns, something that can pay dividends as you proceed through your career. If travel away from home or college for the summer is an option, broadening your search to include internships with a housing option could offer more exciting and rewarding internship opportunities.

 

The Search

 

Now that you have answered a few critical questions about your internship situation, you are ready for the search to begin. The best way to obtain your “dream” internship is to develop a plan that determines where and how you will search. To keep from duplicating your efforts, develop your plan before proceeding with

The above is an excerpt from The Last Job Search Guide You'll Ever Need: How to Find and Get the Job or Internship of Your Dreams, which is available for sale for $19.85 in our bookstore or $27.00 at Amazon.com but for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. This hot new book contains job search secrets of the most experienced, most knowledgeable and most respected career experts. Learn career planning, job hunting tools and tactics, interviewing, cover letter and resume writing (lots of samples!), networking, and how to find an internship. Written by 149 career experts. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

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