| In a tough job market, one way to | | | | - Be sure to ask about what your job as |
| distinguish yourself from the pack is to | | | | an intern will entail. Sometimes, it |
| take advantage of this fast-emerging | | | | might make sense to pass up an |
| practice. The following tips can help | | | | internship at a well-known company for |
| you find the right internship, make the | | | | one at a smaller company that may allow |
| most of your time there, and learn how | | | | you greater and more interesting job |
| to fit an unpaid stint into your budget. | | | | responsibilities. |
| | | | Â |
| What Do You Do in an Internship? | | | | Can You Afford an Internship? |
| In the best internships, you do much | | | | Internships are definitely a great way |
| more than fetch coffee, photocopy, and | | | | to show employers that you can handle |
| file. A recent New York Times article | | | | the rigors of real-world work. But what |
| about internships points out that | | | | if you can't afford to work for free for |
| interns are accepting more | | | | an entire summer? Are you doomed to go |
| responsibilities and tackling more | | | | internship-less? Luckily, you may not. A |
| exciting projects than ever before. For | | | | variety of internship options are |
| example, interns at Texas Instruments | | | | available that shouldn't leave you |
| collaborate with engineers on the | | | | subsisting on ramen noodles and living |
| development of new products. | | | | in a squat from June to September. Most |
| Many companies are increasingly eager to | | | | employers offer internships for either |
| give their interns more challenging job | | | | an hourly wage or college credit hours. |
| responsibilities. Why? Because they've | | | | Vault reports that 64 percent of student |
| started to view interns as potential | | | | interns are paid for their work. If you |
| full-time employees. The internship | | | | cannot find an internship that pays, you |
| serves as a grooming ground for young | | | | can still earn credit hours toward your |
| students, both giving them the skills | | | | degree, either freeing up time in later |
| they need to land jobs and ensuring that | | | | semesters for a part-time job or |
| the most talented stay with the | | | | allowing you to graduate earlier. You |
| companies. Moreover, the Vault survey | | | | might also consider taking out a larger |
| also reports that approximately 64 | | | | student loan than usual to pay for your |
| percent of student interns receive job | | | | summer living expenses. This might sound |
| offers from the companies with which | | | | unappealing, but remember that an |
| they intern. | | | | internship can be an investment in your |
| Even if your chosen company is unable to | | | | future salary. Rather than living and |
| offer you a full-time position when your | | | | working somewhere expensive like New |
| internship ends, you still should have | | | | York City, consider choosing an |
| gained valuable experience. You may have | | | | internship in a city with a lower cost |
| developed relationships with people in | | | | of living or where you could save on |
| your industry, or gained skills that you | | | | rent by living with relatives. |
| can transfer to a job at a new company. | | | | A 2007 article in the Christian Science |
| How to Find a Good Internship? | | | | Monitor points out that the sacrifices |
| Keep these tips in mind to ensure that | | | | internships require often pay off. |
| your internship is helpful and | | | | Jeannie Vanasco found an unpaid |
| enriching: | | | | internship at a well-known literary |
| - Many colleges and universities ask | | | | magazine, which allowed her to work in a |
| students who have completed internships | | | | creative environment and paved the way |
| over the summer to fill out evaluations | | | | to paid work as a book reviewer. Brian |
| of their experiences. Check with the | | | | Feldman had to pay for college credits |
| career center to see if this resource is | | | | he did not need in order to work as an |
| available. | | | | unpaid intern for The Daily Show, but |
| - Talk to former interns at companies | | | | once his internship ended, he received a |
| you are considering to find out how | | | | paid position. |
| beneficial they found the experience | | | | Join the Ranks of Famous Interns |
| - Start your search for summer | | | | If you still worry that your summer |
| internships early. The most competitive | | | | vacation time might be better spent on |
| ones typically fill up fast, often by | | | | the beach or at the golf course, |
| November or December of the previous | | | | remember that some of the most famous |
| year. When school starts in the fall, | | | | and successful people in the country |
| start to figure out your plans for the | | | | began their careers as interns. Oprah |
| summer. | | | | might never have built her media empire |
| - Begin honing a resume and cover letter | | | | if she had not interned at a television |
| as soon as possible. Find two to three | | | | station in Nashville, Tennessee. Her |
| professors or academic advisors who are | | | | internship led to a job as a news |
| willing to write letters of | | | | anchor. Clothing designer Betsey Johnson |
| recommendation for you. | | | | established her signature eclectic style |
| - Let your friends and family know that | | | | while interning at Mademoiselle |
| you are looking for an internship. One | | | | magazine. She used discarded fabric from |
| of them might know someone at a company | | | | the magazine's fabric library to make |
| in your chosen field who can help you. | | | | her clothes. Filmmaker Spike Lee was an |
| - Find out who at your chosen company | | | | intern for Columbia Pictures. Other |
| will be supervising you in your | | | | famous and successful interns include |
| internship. Has the supervisor | | | | Donald Trump, Stephen Spielberg, Frank |
| recommended former interns for job | | | | Lloyd Wright, and Madeline Albright. |
| openings in the company? Does he or she | | | | Will your name be next on the list? |
| have experience working with interns? | | | | |