Online Career Tips

Start looking early.

This might be the cardinal rule! Deadlines for applications to internship programs can vary. It is essential that you start researching early, since most application deadlines are a minimum of four to five months prior to the start date of that internship. In addition, some federal internship opportunities require their applicants submit applications as early as a year prior to the start date of that internship.  Continue Reading

Use search terms that are simultaneously specific and broad.

How is it possible to be simultaneously specific and broad? With regard to being broad, what is important to remember is that different internship opportunities go by different names, therefore, your parameters should be set broad enough to capture all of the internships in your field. This might mean that you have to sift through a sizeable number of internships that are unrelated to your field of study, and unfortunately, this might be a necessary step in finding the right internship.  Continue Reading

Look to see what information others have aggregated.

There is really no need for you to start from scratch when you begin to look for internships. I think it is reasonable to assume that someone, somewhere, has looked for internships in the very field in which you are looking to intern. While you will have to do some research, it doesn’t hurt to try and piggyback off of the work of others (why duplicate their efforts?). Do some general Google searches to see if there is already existing information on the Web about internships in your field. Continue Reading

Start with what you already know.

Finding an internship, many times, can be a simple matter of using information that you already have. When you are looking for an internship, begin by making a list of public and private institutions you know require degrees in your field of study. Also, make a list of professions directly related to your degree field. As you browse the Internet for internships use these lists as a guide. Begin by looking for internships specifically at those institutions or related to those professions on your lists. If at first you do not find many internships that meet your criteria, gradually broaden your search to include opportunities that may not fit your mold.