With spring semester coming to an end, many of us are looking for things to do this summer. Whether you are going to be a sophomore, junior, or senior, summer is the perfect time to get an internship. Internships are wonderful ways to be exposed to the field you are interested in, or could even uncover you aren’t as interested in a job as you may have thought! Here are 4 of the best sources to use to obtain an internship.
- Your network
-
As the saying goes, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”. When looking for an internship the best thing you can do is reach out to your network. People you know want to see you thrive and they will do anything in their power to help you. Even if people you know cannot get you a job at their company, they may know others that can help you. This summer, I am interning at a company called Pure Foods. The only reason I knew about the internship was because of my sister who sent me a link to the application. If you are starting the internship process just now, your network is a great place to begin.
- Your school
-
I cannot speak on behalf of all schools, but I know the Scripps School of Communications at Ohio University puts out a newsletter that has multiple internship listings. The newsletter is a great place to find area-related internships. If your school does not send out a newsletter with internships, there is always the option to ask professors or advisors if they know of any internship opportunities for you. Professors are part of your network and as I stated before, your network wants to see you succeed.
- Reach out to create your own internship
-
One amazing way to get an internship is to reach out to a potential employer and tell them your interest in their company. Even if the company does not have a job posting for an internship, if you show enthusiasm and sell yourself, they may make a position for you on their team. There is no guarantee that if you reach out to a company they will offer you a position, but at least your name will be on their radar.
- Online Platforms
-
There are so many different online websites to help you find an internship. You can use Handshake, WayUp, Glassdoor, Google, LinkedIn and so many more. Using online websites is a great way to start your search. Many times you can even apply with one-click. Most of the time you can even filter the websites so you find an internship that is perfect for you.