• Are you still in high school, but want to gain real word experience over the summer? Perhaps you are a college student looking for some extra school credit or experience to add to your resume. Maybe you are just interested in learning something new, and you figure the best way is to volunteer around town. Whatever your motivations, finding a summer internship is not as difficult as it might seem. This guide will help provide you with information on how to find a summer internship.

• There are many reasons for students to engage in internships, especially during the summer months. It allows them to:

1. Gain college credit. Some colleges require internships, while others allow students the option of interning or taking a class instead.
2. Gain practical knowledge and experience in a specific field
3. Some students intern to decide whether or not they want to pursue a certain career
4. Build up their resumes and make connections. Many students want letters of recommendation from their intern point person.

UT Nursing school under construction (Creative Commons photo by Nat W)

• What type of internship is right for you? Many students that intern do so for credit in a particular college major. Those students can move on to step three, which is researching the internships available in a particular field. If you do not know what type of internship to seek, then you need to narrow it down by asking yourself some questions:

1. What are your interests? If you can choose an internship that fascinates you, it will make up somewhat for the lack of pay, or low pay, that you are receiving.
2. What types of internships are available in your locality? For those living in Los Angeles, for example, finding an internship in the film industry is relatively easy. However, the same cannot be said if you live in Ohio. It is important to tailor your internship search to the area in which you reside, unless you have the flexibility to go elsewhere.
3. What are your strengths? If you have certain skills that would suit you entering a certain field of study, then it might behoove you to explore your options. You might not like business, for example, but if you are good at it and think you might pursue it one day, then start gaining experience now.
4. What type of internship will help you meet your educational needs? Some internships will help strengthen your chances of getting into a certain major or into graduate school.

• These are only some questions to start out asking yourself before you narrow it down. Your decisions will obviously be based on many factors, including whether or not you are in high school and interning for fun, or college and interning to advance your educational needs.

• Once you know what field to focus your internship on, it is time to do some research on the internships available to you. As you begin your search, keep in mind that you will probably not be getting paid. Some internships will offer you a small wage, but most are designed for you to learn and gain hands on experience. For this reason, the qualifications for many internships are not exceedingly high. It all depends on the field you choose. To begin your research, you can:

1. Search online. This is a great way to find internships. Doing a search on Google is sufficient enough to bring up many sites that you can go and find lists of internships available in your area.
2. Your college adviser. If you are in college, your adviser will be able to direct you to internships, as will many of your professors. Ask around.
3. Friends and family. Internships are often found by referral from friends and family, so don't be afraid to call up Uncle Bob.
4. Call places you are interested in interning at and find out if they have an intern program

Beyond searching the Web, you might just want to jump into a few intern related websites to find that internship of your dreams.

Here are some recommended sites that might just help you find your summer internship:

InternQueen | ThinkIntern | Internship Programs | InternJobs | Internshipin | Enternships | Summer Internships | Intern Zoo | Urban Interns | Barefoot Student | ULoop | IHipo International Internships | Freelance Students

• Now it is time to start applying to all the internships you have listed. You will want to tailor your resume so that it appeals to the business you are contacting. You will also want to write a new cover letter for each place you are applying to. Some internships will have something specific for you to fill out, so you will need to contact everyplace you are interested in to find out what they need.