| Many students have the educational background | | | | If there are companies in your hometown (for |
| that employers and graduate schools are looking | | | | summer work) or that are in the local college |
| for in potential candidates, but they don't really | | | | community that fit your industry, contact their |
| have the work experience and skills that are | | | | Human Resource Department and ask if they |
| required. It's kind of like a catch 22 situation, right? | | | | have any internship opportunities available. |
| Well if you find yourself in this situation, don't | | | | If you are not taking classes during the summer, |
| despair. There is a solution. Some of the ways | | | | consider picking up a full-time or part time position |
| that students can gain real-world experience that | | | | that pertains to your field of study. These are |
| is related to their field of study is by participating | | | | usually entry-level positions but they allow you to |
| in volunteer opportunities, summer or part-time | | | | work within in your industry and gain knowledge |
| jobs, or internships. | | | | and experience that will benefit you in the |
| Internships are a great way for undergraduate | | | | long-run. These types of positions can also lead to |
| and graduate students to gain hands-on work | | | | full-time opportunities after graduation. Check with |
| experience within their industry. This hands-on | | | | local companies to see if they are hiring and |
| work experience will provide you with marketable | | | | search online job boards for available positions. |
| skills that are attractive to future employers | | | | There are volunteer opportunities related to many |
| when combined with your education. Many | | | | industries that you can utilize to gain experience in |
| colleges and universities partner with local | | | | your industry. For example, let's say that you are |
| companies who will offer their students internship | | | | studying public relations. There is a local chapter of |
| opportunities. Some internship opportunities are | | | | United Cerebral Palsy near your university. United |
| paid positions, while others allow you to earn | | | | Cerebral Palsy is a non-profit organization, so they |
| college credits toward your degree. Other | | | | raise money for research and to care for CP |
| internships are simply for the experiences | | | | patients who live in their group homes. You can |
| themselves. | | | | volunteer to work with the fundraising |
| Internships are a great way to break into a | | | | department, which creates, plans and implements |
| particular company as well. Many students start | | | | fundraisers. This volunteer opportunity is filled with |
| with a company as an intern and then are offered | | | | public relations work like creating media packages |
| a full-time employment opportunity after | | | | to get press on the fundraising events, writing |
| graduation. That is why it is important that if you | | | | press releases, creating marketing campaigns, |
| do partake in an internship that you work very | | | | creating promotional items, contacting radio and |
| hard, not just for something to put on your | | | | television stations, and the list just goes on and |
| resume, but because it may just be your foot in | | | | on. Not only are you picking up experience and |
| the door to a career. | | | | marketable skills for future employment, but you |
| You can find out about internships several | | | | are also providing a service to a good cause that |
| different ways. Your college or university career | | | | is helping someone else. The rewards of volunteer |
| center can help you find available internships in the | | | | service in this situation are two-fold because you |
| area. They can also search by whether or not | | | | are giving and receiving. |
| they are paid internships or for credit or | | | | So don't get yourself all worked up because you |
| experience only. If you are trying to complete an | | | | don't have marketable skills that look good on a |
| internship for class credit, be sure to check with | | | | graduate school or employment application. There |
| your counselor to make sure that you are eligible | | | | are several options available to you that will |
| to do this. Online job boards also list internships. | | | | provide you with industry knowledge and |
| These job boards are setup so that you can | | | | experience, which will help you to market yourself |
| search by industry, type of position (internship), | | | | to graduate schools and future employers. |
| location, and whether it is a paid or unpaid position. | | | | |