Q: What are your best tips for finding a fall internship?

A.You have lots of resources on internships.com to help you get started. If you don’t know exactly what kind of internship you want, the Internship Predictor can help you out. Here are our top 5 tips to remember when you begin your search:

1. Visit your Career Center for advice. You may find that new internships have come in since school started. Companies usually offer internship opportunities year-round to a school. The virtual or remote internship often works well for a Fall internship because you can work online at your own convenience and not miss any classes or activities.
2. How many hours can you work, and where? You may be limited by class hours and location. If you have transportation issues, you could consider taking an internship on campus.
3. Review your resume and cover letter.  Update your resume with any summer accomplishments, including jobs, volunteer work, sport achievements, travel, or new skills, such as foreign languages. Write a basic cover letter that you can customize for every application.
4. Network! Talk to other students, friends, and family members about your interest in a Fall internship. They may know of an opening in their companies. A potential intern may have had to step down from the internship, leaving it vacant. Then, send out your resume and customized cover letter, using your contact person as a reference.
5. Create your own internship. If nothing comes up that you want, design your own Fall internship in a company that appeals to you. Write up a proposed internship description and send it to the human resources department and follow up with a phone call to set up an appointment. Present your ideas and your available hours and you may soon find yourself in the perfect Fall internship.

Good luck!  Have other tips you could recommend?  Please list them in the comments!

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A. Absolutely. You have lots of resources on internships.com to help you get started. If you don’t know exactly what kind of internship you want, the Internship Predictor can help you out. Or the Company Directory can help you identify companies and people that you want to reach. Here are our top 5 tips to remember when you begin your search:

1. Visit your Career Center for advice. You may find that new internships have come in since school started. Companies usually offer internship opportunities year-round to a school. The virtual or remote internship often works well for a Fall internship because you can work online at your own convenience and not miss any classes or activities.
2. Decide how many hours you want to put into a Fall internship and where you want to do your internship. You may be limited by class hours and location. If you have transportation issues, you could consider taking an internship on campus.
3. Review your resume and cover letter, updating your resume with any summer accomplishments, including jobs, volunteer work, sport achievements, travel, or new skills, such as foreign languages. Write a basic cover letter that you can customize for every application.
4. Network. Talk to other students, friends, and family members about your interest in a Fall internship. They may know of an opening in their companies. A potential intern may have had to step down from the internship, leaving it vacant. Then, send out your resume and customized cover letter, using your contact person as a reference.
5. Create your own internship. If nothing comes up that you want, design your own Fall internship in a company that appeals to you. Write up a proposed internship description and send it to the human resources department and follow up with a phone call to set up an appointment. Present your ideas and your available hours and you may soon find yourself in the perfect Fall internship.

Q. I didn’t find a summer internship. Is it too early to look for a fall one?

A. Absolutely not, especially if you want to get a really good one. There are lots of resources on internships.com to help you get started. If you don’t know exactly what kind of internship you want, the Internship Predictor can help you out. Or the Company Directory can help you identify companies and people that you want to reach. For good measure, you could complete the Intern Certification Program. And check out the Intern Tool Kit for other resources. Here are a few more tips:

1. Lay out your fall schedule. Decide how many hours you want to put into a fall internship and where you want to do your internship. You may be limited by class hours and location. If you have transportation issues, you could consider taking an internship on campus in a department that is relevant to your career interests.
2. Review your resume and cover letter, making sure that you have updated your resume with any summer accomplishments, including jobs, volunteer work, sport achievements, travel, or new skills, such as foreign languages. Internships.com will help you decide if a video resume is appropriate for you. Write a basic cover letter that you can customize for every application.
3. Visit your Career Center for advice. These professionals work with companies and help you get interviews with the proper personnel. Companies usually offer internship opportunities year-round to a school. Discuss the many new options that are available to you, thanks to technology. The online internship often works well for a fall internship because you can work at your own convenience.
4. Network. Talk to other students, friends, and family members about your plans for a fall internship and ask them for suggestions. The best way to evaluate an internship is to talk to a student who has just completed it.
5. Tracey’s Angle. Check out the newest Eye of the Intern blog by internships.com intern, Tracey. She has some great tips for finding a fall internship.

Q. I can’t do a summer internship because I have family obligations. What should I do?

A. I admire your priorities. Don’t worry, there are lots of internships offered on a part-time basis throughout the year.  

1. Explore opportunities if you have a part-time job during the school year. Ask your employer about internship opportunities at work. You may be able to move to a different department or assume more responsibilities that advance your skills. You may also be surprised to find that you can receive internship credit for your current job.  
2. Check into campus internships. Many departments, such as Human Resources, Communications, Alumni Affairs, and Admissions, use interns throughout the year. Your own major department may employ interns to assist professors or work on special projects, which would advance your own knowledge and increase networking opportunities.
3.  Sign up for a full-time, month-long internship—called  the January term—during  the winter break if your school offers such a program. Since many schools close for nearly a month at the holidays, it’s become an opportune time to arrange internships for students who can’t do summer, fall, or spring internships.
4. Keep in mind that it’s not too early to apply for a fall internship. Most companies appreciate a 3-month or longer lead. Be the first to apply and get your internship lined up. Companies that offer a variety of internship opportunities—fall, spring, or summer—tend to be flexible in hours and schedules.

P.S. Here are a few part-time fall and spring internships that might work for you:

Going to school in San Francisco? Try the deYoung Art Center.

Chicago? Get in touch with CBS 2.

In Washington, DC? Apply to the US Dept. of Justice—Community Relations Service.

Want a January term internship? Go to the International Partnership for Service-Learning and Leadership in New York City.

Any readers have experience in non-summer internships? We love comments!

Q. I can’t do a summer internship because I have family obligations. What other options do I have for doing an internship?

A. I admire your priorities. Don’t worry, there are lots of internships offered on a part-time basis throughout the year.  

• Explore opportunities if you have a part-time job during the school year. Ask your employer about internship opportunities at work. You may be able to move to a different department or assume more responsibilities that will advance your skills. You may also be surprised to find that you can receive internship credit for your current job.  
• Check into campus internships. Many departments, such as Human Resources, Communications, Alumni Affairs, and Admissions, use interns throughout the year. Your department may employ interns to assist professors or to work on special projects, which would advance your own knowledge in your major and increase networking opportunities.
• Sign up for a full-time, month-long internship—called  the January term—during  the winter break if your school offers such a program. Since many schools close for nearly a month at the holidays, it’s become an opportune time to arrange internships for students who can’t do summer, fall, or spring internships.
• Keep in mind that it’s not too early to apply for a fall internship. Most companies appreciate a 3-month or longer lead. Be the first to apply and get your internship lined up. Companies that offer a variety of internship opportunities tend to be flexible in hours and schedules.

 P.S. Here are a few part-time fall and spring internships that might work for you:

Going to school in San Francisco? Try the deYoung Art Center.

In the Northeast? Contact Northeast Utilities.

Chicago? Get in touch with CBS 2.

In Washington, DC? Apply to the US Dept. of Justice—Community Relations Service.

Want a January term internship? Go to the International Partnership for Service-Learning and Leadership in New York City.

Any readers have experience in non-summer internships? We love comments!