| Most employers these days expect college graduates | | | | corporate climate. Think about the type of organization |
| to have 'real-world' experience in their chosen field. It | | | | that you would prefer when choosing an internship. |
| isn't enough to merely have a degree-you need to | | | | What type of industry would best suit your needs? |
| have hands-on job training. Internships are one of the | | | | Is there a specific industry in which you would like to |
| best ways for you to gain that type of experience. | | | | intern? For example, you may want to intern in the |
| Before looking for an internship, you need to consider | | | | advertising department of an organic company rather |
| what goals you would like to achieve through your | | | | than for a chemical company. Or perhaps you would |
| internship. By determining these goals, you will be better | | | | like to work in the corporate sales department of a |
| able to select the internship that is right for you. Think | | | | department store rather than in pharmaceutical sales. |
| about the following questions: | | | | Thinking about this question is important because you |
| What are your career interests? Choose an | | | | may know your field-such as marketing or sales-but |
| internship that helps you to refine your career goals. | | | | deciding upon an industry is an entirely different |
| For example, if you have majored in marketing you | | | | decision. |
| may want to opt for an internship in advertising as well | | | | In what location would you like your internship? If |
| as an internship in public relations in order to help you | | | | your internship is during a regular college semester, you |
| decide which type of career path you want to follow. | | | | will certainly need the location to be close to the |
| What do you want to gain from your internship? | | | | college campus. If the internship is at any other time, |
| Perhaps your main goal is to decide upon a career | | | | however, your options are open-you could choose to |
| path, as in the example above. Or maybe you would | | | | have an internship close to home, for example, or |
| like to learn new skills or experience different types of | | | | maybe even in another country. |
| work positions within your chosen field. You might be | | | | Are you considering paid and unpaid internships? |
| interested in networking and meeting people. Some | | | | Unfortunately, not every internship opportunity offers |
| people hope that their internships lead to full-time | | | | payment-in fact, many do not. If you can afford to go |
| positions within the company; is this one of your goals? | | | | without payment, you will have more opportunities |
| Deciding upon your goals can help you to choose the | | | | available, but the choice is yours. |
| best type of internship. | | | | Is college credit for the internship important? While |
| What type of organization interests you? Are you | | | | this can be helpful as far as your graduation goes, it |
| hoping for an internship at a large, multi-national | | | | can also be restrictive as far as the internship program |
| company, or would you rather spend time at a | | | | guidelines go. Think carefully before making a decision |
| not-for-profit organization? Perhaps you would rather | | | | about this. |
| work at a small, casual business rather than in the | | | | |