How to Find Paid Summer Internships

Summer internships are all about making connections and getting valuable experience. Unfortunately, many college students are simply not in a financial position to work all summer without a paycheck. In this case, they will need to find an internship that is going to pay them. Although they are more difficult to come by than unpaid opportunities, they are out there and there are a few places that students can go to find them.

Before a student even starts looking for an internship, the most important thing they can do is make themselves as marketable as possible. This means that they need to get excellent grades during the school year and get involved with campus activities that are related to their field. If they expect to be paid for their efforts over the summer, they need to be able to prove to a company that they are worth the money.

A great place to start looking for an internship is with the career services office at whatever college or university the student attends. They will have a great deal of information on a variety of internship programs and they should know which ones are paid and which are not. When speaking with the career counselor, the student should be very clear about the fact that they are only interested in applying for paid positions.

Another good place to check out for a paid internship is a local job fair. This is a great way to get an idea of what companies are out there in a particular field. If a student sees a company that interests them, they should not be shy about asking the representative present if they offer any paid internships. When attending this type of event, it is a good idea for the student to have copies of their resume on hand in case a company wants them to submit an application on the spot.

Some students may be lucky enough to have a summer job in their desired field. For example, a student studying to be a teacher may have a job tutoring over the summer. If this is the case, they should simply ask their academic advisor if they could get credit for doing their job. They very well may say yes and then the student will have to search no further for their paid internship.

Paid Summer Internships are not always easy to come by, but there a student who is focused and specific in their search should be able to find one. It is a good idea to speak with a career counselor or attend a job fair for ideas. Students should also remember that, if they expect to be paid for their time, they should make themselves excellent candidates by performing well in school.

Important aspects of an internship program

A university or Business School that is keen on a comprehensive internship program will have to make concerted efforts to help students gain experience in highly competitive organizations. Their fresh ideas, unique perspectives and fundamental knowledge are important assets that can help shape the future of an organization. The Internship Program for interns has to be designed to provide students with the opportunity to work on meaningful assignments and gain real-world experience. Real-world experience will be aligned to the courses studied by students. Such experience is of vital importance to students in two main areas:

1. Gain Valuable Work Experience in the Chosen Field of Interest

An internship is a great way to gain hands on work experience, develop specific skills and knowledge as well as to network with people from the students' chosen field. Moreover, employers assess the skills and abilities of prospective employees by evaluating their previous experience. Students pursue career-related opportunities prior to graduation, thereby, obtaining an edge over other candidates in the competitive job market. A dedicated hard working student should impress the employer to the ultimate aim of gainful employment towards the end of the internship tenure.

Summer Internship 2016 for Cloud Computing 

2. Decision on Right Careers Prior to Graduation

An internship provides a more accurate picture of what individuals do in certain professions. After experiencing a particular job environment and observing what it entails, students may decide if this is the right career for them.

The internship should be compulsory for all final year students of various disciplines. It has to be of a minimum duration of six consecutive weeks.

Executive students should be exempted from the internship program since they are already working employees.

Through a combination of real life experience and academic coursework, the university must offer a unique insight into the world of business, providing both tangible and intangible benefits:

1.Students gain practical training and real life, hands-on work experience.
2. Learn about the dynamic world of business.
3. Explore and develop career options.
4. Enhance their resumes and improve their marketability.
5. Learn about living and working with persons from varied backgrounds
6. Develop new skills and competencies

Students should be required to explain in their research report how the internship enriched their learning by identifying theories and concepts studied in class and their application in relation to their experience in the organization of internship. Reports should be provided to faculty through the Internship Department and graded by the concerned faculty in the area in which the student is majoring. Certain credit hours should be allotted for passing internship grades.