How do I start looking for internships?
I am hoping to do some internships for music next summer, I know it is early, but I do not know where to begin. I am only the second person in my family to do college and get a career they love so I need some advice. #career-advice
4 answers
Victor’s Answer
Simeon’s Answer
Racquel’s Answer
I award you for being the first in your family to go to college. I also think that you are going in the right direction in looking for internships early. Internships are a great way to earn experience prior to graduation. You can also look for part-time jobs that are related to your field. A good way to also gain experience is to shadow a mentor or someone within a company to see what it is like to be in your industry. I would recommend that you open an account on LinkedIn and begin searching for part-time positions or internships that are related to the job you desire to be in. More resources for jobs and internships are indeed.com, https://www.looksharp.com/s/music-internships, and http://www.internships.com/music.
Good luck on your further endeavors!
Racquel S.
Wayne Archibald
Wayne’s Answer
I did a few internships when I was a student and I found them very rewarding. An internship can be a financial benefit but it can also provide invaluable experience that builds a strong professional foundation as you embark on your career journey. This can mean better opportunities after your graduate, a higher earning potential, and a network of connections that can be beneficial for years to come.
Here are a few suggestions:
1. Start by asking your school about internships for college students. Your school should always be the first place to check for internships. Speak with your advisor who can help guide you in the right direction about upcoming internships for college students and inform you which internship will satisfy certain required credits for your degree. Your school might also have a career services department with more information about upcoming student internships. Sign up for their email list or newsletters and monitor often for internship openings.
2. Look for college internships on company websites. Is there a specific company that you’ve always wanted to work for? Look at national and local companies of interest. Make a list of the companies where you’d like to intern, and then visit each company website. Look for a careers page on the company’s website and see if there’s a separate section for internships. Bookmark these pages and set a calendar reminder to check these pages once a week, this way you’ll know as soon as they’re announced, and you can get started on the application process as quickly as possible.
3. Search online job boards for internships for college students. There are tons of online job boards out there – Monster, Glassdoor, Indeed, and CareerBuilder, among dozens of others. But these aren’t just websites for jobs, they’re also a great resource for college internships. Narrow down the search criteria to only include internships or add the word “internship” to any job search phrase that matches what you’re looking for.
4. Search internship-specific job boards. There are several online job boards out there that are exclusively for finding internships and entry-level listings:
Chegg.com
Collegerecruiter.com
GlobalExperiences.com
InternJobs.com
Internships.com
Idealist.com
USAJobs.gov
WayUp.com
5. Use Google to find your college internship. Googling “internships near me” may turn up quite a few options.
6. Social media can be a good source for student internships. LinkedIn is the top social media platform for professionals, ranging from college students to experienced executives. Plus, many companies use LinkedIn exclusively for job listings, and this also includes internships for students. Other social networks, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, are also good sources. Many businesses will use social media to announce job openings and information about upcoming internships.
7. Ask your family and friends about internships for college students. Networking doesn’t just include connecting with professionals on and offline – it also means reaching out to your other close network: friends and family. Once you know you want to take on an internship in college, tell everyone you know. If a friend, parent, or other family member hears about an upcoming internship at the company they work for, they can keep you in the loop. If you apply, you’ll likely have someone at the company willing to offer you a glowing recommendation. When it comes to jobs and internships, recommendations can go a long way, so don’t underestimate the power of word of mouth.
8. You could find a college internship at a career fair. Many hiring managers will be impressed that you left campus (and the virtual world) to find a college internship. Come prepared with your resume and to spend the day networking. You may want to practice talking to businesses you’re less interested in first so you can feel confident before hitting up your dream companies.
Good luck!