Summer is approaching, and if you’re bummed because you didn’t get that stellar internship or–let’s be honest–couldn’t muster up the motivation to apply, it’s not too late. In fact, this economic conundrum might actually work in your favor.
In April, unemployment rose to 8.9%, spreading across nearly all major private-sector industries, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
As more employers reduce staff, onerous workloads for remaining employees may create just the opportunity for college to students to pursue last minute work opportunities. “There are many internships available at organizations that are all suddenly short staffed,†says Tere Ramos, internship director at Wellesley College, in Boston.
Before you throw in the towel, here are five tips to help you secure a last minute internship for the summer.
Stay local: If you haven’t nailed down an internship by now, chances are, traveling across the country to live it up without mom and dad is out of the question. Instead, stay local. If you live in an on-campus apartment, or plan to go home, search for openings in the region. Tap into your network, too. Talk to professors, former internship advisers, friends and family about any companies or organizations that will need help this summer. Sometimes, a recommendation from a friend can take you further than just a resume.
Read, read, read: Stay abreast on what’s going on in the community where you’d like to intern. “Start reading the local newspaper to find out who is doing what,†Ramos says. “See who’s feeling the downtown,â€
she adds. If a particular company has cut jobs or even begun working on the new project, chances are, there may be room for you to intern. Do your research and try getting in contact with the human resource manager or even the person you’d likely work under. Remember, there’s a fine line between persistence and annoyance.Step outside your major: When searching for a last-minute internship, your options may be a bit limited, especially if you’re a college freshman, since most internships are reserved for upperclassmen. I came across this problem my freshman year of college. My recourse? I interned in the marketing department at a local radio station. It was completely out of left field, but the experience set me up for a sweet radio job two years later, and the director wrote an amazing recommendation that helped me out for my next internship.
Look, the point of an internship is to obtain professional experience and interning outside of your major may give you insight on other off radar career choices.
Travel off the beaten path: Focus your search on nontraditional internship opportunities such as start-up companies, non-profit organizations and civic groups, Ramos says. “Many non-profits are looking for interns this year because they don’t have the level of staffing and funding they had in previous years†she says. Also, try looking into local parks and recreation centers, as well as summer school programs.
Ditch the cash for credit: It’s the final hour and unfortunately interning for cash may be an absolute
long shot (though not a completely out of the question). Be open to the idea of interning for credit. Again, for many college freshmen and sophomores even getting college credit is out of the question, so you’ll need to be open to interning solely for networking and professional experience. But the return will surely be great, especially for underclassmen, as it can put you a step ahead of your peers. Consider splitting your summer between working a part-time, paying job and an unpaid internship. “Think about what kind of skills you’re going to learn from an internship,†says Deborah Halliday, assistant director of career services at Boston University.For internship and career help check out:
www.idealist.org
Wesley University’s Internship Guide
Indeed.com