How to Find an Internship in College

Internships are often the foot in the door that opens your future career. But how do you find one? Here, we explore why internships are important, how to find one and best practices during an internship.

By Lora Korpar

Sometimes all you need is a foot in the door when looking to start a career. And internships can be one of the most effective ways to do so.

College internships will prepare you for the workplace by providing experience and connections in your chosen field.

“I strongly feel that internships are important and it can be really challenging to find an internship,” said James Kendall, an internship coordinator at Missouri’s Westminster College. “So really taking the time to have an idea of what the students want to do and how internships can benefit them is really important.”

Diana Almontesar landed a college internship at NBCUniversal Media, then turned that opportunity into a job. She saw the other side of the interning process working as an internship experience coordinator at the company for a year and a half.?

“I think internships are amazing opportunities,” Almontesar said. “Each company is so different, and you learn so much from each experience.”

I spoke with Almontesar and Kendall to explore why internships are important, how to obtain one and how to succeed during one.

Why Apply to an Internship?

Internships are a vital part of the college experience. They are often your first taste of working in your field of study.

According to The Balance Careers, internships help you learn new skills, build your resume and make connections that could later serve as references. Internships even turn into permanent jobs if the employer likes you enough.

Kendall added that internships are also a good way to test-run a career. Not enjoying your internship could be a sign you should switch paths.

“It's a very unique opportunity for students to get the first-hand experience of the professional,” Kendall said. “With classes, you're getting the educational side of that, but usually there's a number of jobs that don't give you the opportunity to get first-hand experience [in a classroom setting.]”

How to Obtain an Internship

Almontesar says the key to finding an internship is to start early. Begin the search your sophomore year. Though most internship coordinators prioritize juniors and seniors, you never know what kinds of opportunities you can find.

“Realistically, I feel it's important to give yourself a year or at least a semester to start the internship search process, especially if you're unaware of what you're wanting to do internship-wise,” Kendall added.

Start searching by looking at career websites, checking job postings and attending a career fair at your school.

“I would always do my research, see what I'm interested in and see what opportunities are out there,” Almontesar said.?

Networking also helps open opportunities. Meeting people around your campus or in your desired career field will “educate you on opportunities that you would not have known about,” according to Almontesar. Kendall said meeting your school’s alumni can also provide the connection you need to land an internship.

Once you find an internship you want, you have to ace the interview. Kendall said students should take advantage of any opportunity to practice their interviewing skills. Many colleges offer mock interviews to help perfect this skill.

Almontesar suggests researching the company, showing your enthusiasm for working there and being honest about what you can bring to the table.?

“When I interviewed for the ‘Late Show with Stephen Colbert,’ I talked about any transferable skills I had from previous positions that will help me succeed in the role that I was applying to,” Almontesar said. “And I was talking about my interest and love for the opportunity… So just be confident, be honest and willing to learn.”

“Be able to take the time to have a better understanding of the company,” Kendall added. “Get into what the work tasks are going to be and the cultural environment in the company.”

Also, note whether the internship is paid. Some argue unpaid internships are unethical and should not exist. Others think you should take advantage of any opportunity to gain experience and build your resume. Whether to seek an unpaid internship is your decision.

“As much as I do see a valuable experience in internships in general, personally I've always applied to paid internships,” Almontesar said. “Because at the end of the day, my work is valuable and [an internship] is a job.”

Kendall said though he believes students should be compensated for their work, some industries – like the nonprofit sector – don’t have the funding to pay their interns. So take that into account if offered an unpaid internship.

If an internship you are eyeing doesn’t pay, Almontesar also recommends asking whether they can pay a stipend for transportation costs.

“Just find a way to see how you can get paid because you’re college students,” Almontesar said. “Paid internships are a must, in my opinion.”

Internship Best Practices

The real work only begins after you land the internship. Now that you are in a job environment in your desired field, you have the opportunity to meet people and build connections.

Kendall says to develop a rapport with fellow interns, co-workers and supervisors. It could help you later in your career.

“If the student doesn't stay with that company, it's still a great networking opportunity for someone to see their work firsthand and to make connections,” Kendall said. “You never know how someone can help you down the road in networking for your career. Also getting good insights from those people about the field and that the students are in [is important].”

Almontesar says it is easy to become the “quiet intern,” so make yourself known to the company employees to leave an impact on them.

“When you're an intern, you always feel like you’re the lowest there,” Almontesar said. “So I think the best way to network is letting everyone that's full-time there know that you're available when they need help and just being very vocal.”

Also, Almontesar says to show your excitement about the field and your work at the company.

“Realize that you may never get this opportunity again,” Almontesar said. “And I think [the most effective ways to network are] just being confident and slowly bonding with employees to an extent, having that confidence to speak and really letting them know that you're grateful and excited to be there.”

Top takeaways

How to land an internship as a college student

• Internships are important because they help you build connections, gain experience and test-run your desired career path.
• Start searching for an internship as early as possible, and use the internet and your college’s resources to find one.
• To ace an internship interview, do thorough research, express your enthusiasm and be honest about your skill level.
• During the internship, connect with other interns, co-workers and supervisors.
• Make yourself known to the full-time employees to leave an impression and show your excitement and dedication to the position.