Planning for Summer Internships
Spring is a great time of the year to consider finding a summer internship in the field you may be considering as a career. The formal definition of an internship according to the National Association of College and Employment organization (NACE) is:
An internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths; and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent.
For example, if you are interested in becoming a lawyer, find a law office where you could volunteer some time. If you are interested in the medical field, help out at a local hospital. Finding internships is a combination of job applications and networking with the people you know and with the people who work in the field in which you may be interested. For example, let’s say you are interested in majoring in business, and your mom works in the human relations department of a company. Start by asking her how you might get an internship in her office or with someone she may know. Remember, people know other people, and when you connect with one person in a field of interest, they will know others in that same field. In other words, starting with people you know, like your parents, is your first step in finding a satisfying internship. Also, ask your teachers and school counselors for ideas; they know lots of people, too.
Here are some articles that will give you some ways to find internships:
- Finding an Internship in High School
- How to Find an Internship You’ll Value
- Ten Best Website for Finding an Internship
- Tips for Finding Internships from U.S. News and World Reports
- How to Find an Internship in Pictures
What if you already have a job? Read how to turn your job into an internship.
