Tips for Summer Internships

In Larisa Redin’s recent article, she discusses pros and cons of a summer internship (presumably unpaid) vs. a traditional summer job. This is an important decision for college students and recent graduates to make because it can impact the future. Though I agree with Larisa that there are positives to each choice, as someone who has changed careers I think it’s important to consider what an intership can offer. Sure, some are little more than fetching coffee for office higher-ups, but many offer a rewarding, and eye-opening, experience.

Before you apply for internships, do some research into your field to see what kind of internships are offered. This article offers good advice as a starting point for what you should look for. It’s important to treat your internship search like any career search and see what the internship is truly offering, i.e. will you be fetching coffee or attending pitch meetings? If you can't gauge this information from a job posting site, contact the company. Though you might think you are bothering them, they will want to hire someone who is enthusiastic and upbeat.

Larisa also mentions the all-important idea of networking, which is essential for most any job now. If you land an internship at a large company, or a small company that works with other large companies, take advantage of talking to other, more experienced people. Try talking to young professionals and ask for advice on other internships and entry-level positions. This will give you a great idea of whether it's a good fit for you, career-wise, and what you have to do to make it happen. It will also show that you're motivated, which will look great with the boss. If you have to get a job to support yourself because your internship doesn't pay, that's OK - but don't miss out on this great experience.

Amy M worked in corporate public relations for three years before returning to graduate school to become an English teacher. She is also a freelance writer for CollegeJobBank.Com. Her strengths include: drafting speeches, writing talking points for media interviews, making corporate presentations, and writing for publications. Read more of her blogs at collegejobbankblog.com. Find jobs and other information at Nexxt.