You stand the best chance of finding the perfect internship if you employ several different strategies. Networking, attending career fairs, looking for internship listings and online, all ways to begin conducting your internship search. Finding an internship requires time and planning, but the results are definitely worth the effort.

If you are looking for an internship here are some points to keep in mind on how to look for an internship.

Start Your Search Early

Be aware that certain industries and internships have early deadlines and if you miss them you might have to wait another year. Begin your internship search as early as possible, because then it allows you to afford additional lead time. It can also give you the opportunity to make valuable connections with alumni or professionals within organizations of interest prior to returning to college.

Identify Your Broad Career Interests

Decide what you want to do, but don’t worry about being too specific. Gaining experience in a number of career fields is a good idea if you are unsure about the career you want to pursue after college. Think about what you enjoy and how that might parlay into a career. Do you enjoy watching shows on finance and investing? Home improvement? History? Are you interested in machine learning or artificial intelligence? Internships can give you exposure to opportunities and a chance to sample new and exciting career fields.

Network

Speak with family, friends, faculty, college advisors, and career counselors in the Career Services Office at your college about what type of internship you want and when and where you want to do it. Contacting alumni from your college and doing informational interviews can provide you with valuable information on career options and internships that you can pursue. Be sure to send a thank you note to them for sharing their time and expertise.

Attend Career Fairs

Check with your Career Services Office at your college to identify career and/or internship fairs occurring during the break. Top employers attend career fairs to recruit, screen, and hire talented interns and employees.

Contact Employers

Telephone or visit employers in your geographic and/or career areas of interest and inquire about summer jobs/internships. Be prepared to give a brief introduction that sells skills and explains how you can be of value.

Focus on summer jobs available and, if interested, consider camp or resort opportunities to gain additional interpersonal and communication skills. Temp agencies also provide information on the employment needs of local employers. Be sure to follow up with employers whenever possible to arrange an in-person or telephone interview.

Gain Experience as a New Graduate or Career Changer

New graduates and those experiencing career change can also try internships to gain perspective on new career fields and develop new knowledge and skills. Internships can be the bridge between an unsatisfying career and a potentially new and exciting venture. You can use internship and job search databases to identify organizations that meet your criteria.

- Ravi Rajan