Internships and Getting Money for College

Excerpt from College Survival & Success Skills 101

Trying to find an internship can seem difficult, but with the right approach, it's entirely achievable. And they can be valuable in more ways than one. Internships can help you with all of the following:

• Work experience–An internship, cooperative education program (co-op), or other form of applied learning can provide you with actual work experience in the field that has your interest.
• Money–Many internships and cooperative programs are paid. Some companies and organizations may take care of living expenses as well.
• Contacts–As you get to know individuals within an organization you begin to develop contacts. You can refer to your contacts in the future to gain job-related or other types of information. Creating a LinkedIn profile (http://www.linkedin.com) is an essential tool for helping you earn career and internship opportunities.
• References–In many applied programs you have several supervisors and can use other coworkers as mentors. These individuals can serve as excellent references since they have firsthand knowledge of your abilities. These references can be used not only for employment purposes but also when applying for graduate school, scholarships, fellowships, and merit awards.
• Technical skills–As an intern or co-op, you may be taught certain skills in workshops, training sessions, webinars, or seminars in order to do your job effectively. These skills may be particular to an industry or they may be applicable to other jobs or activities you decide to undertake.
• Scholarship aid–Some companies and organizations that sponsor internships offer scholarships to those who are selected to participate.

To find internships, do the following:

• Check with the career services center at your institution
• Ask professors and other staff if they are aware of opportunities
• Use online networks such as wayup.com; joinhandshake.com, and collegerecruiter.com
• Update your LinkedIn profile and your resume 

Review College Survival & Success Skills 101 for more about the benefits of getting an internship and also learning how to find one. Marianne also offers workshops to help students find and get internships and cooperative education opportunities. In her latest virtual workshop on internships, 100% of attendees found value in the strategies and insights provided by Marianne. Not only does she detail these strategies in College Survival & Success Skills 101, she also coaches students in her workshops on how to effectively find and secure internships. An attendee's feedback underscores the impact: "Very informational and interactive. I love how encouraging she is. She also provided many resources and examples."