How to Get an Internship this Winter Photo Source: Flickr
October 17 2012

How to Get an Internship this Winter

Even though the leaves haven’t completely stripped from the trees and Halloween is still on the horizon, now is the time to start planning for an internship this winter.  The best thing college students can do to secure a spot for themselves is to start looking now.

During my time in college, I had winter breaks that lasted two months.  An unusually long time for a break to last, I knew I’d eventually have to find something to keep me busy so I wasn’t stuck hibernating at home and gaining pounds by the minute.   During my freshman year, the mistake I made was waiting until I came home to start looking and by that time I’d noticed most internships and available part time jobs were already taken.

Don’t let this happen to you.  Be the early bird. Take initiative and start sending in applications and making calls today.  Even if your winter break is only a week or two, don’t think you’re discounted from the winternship opportunity.  Many businesses will attempt to work around your class schedule once you’re back on campus. 

So how do you go about finding an internship this winter?  Here are some suggestions.

Search the web
Search for positions on websites like Internships.com, and Ed2010. Both list seasonal internships and have very good credibility among college students.  These are just two of the many websites that list internships.  So a little researching on your part might be necessary to find out which sites cater best to you and your interests.

Ask your professors
It’s good to keep in mind that your professors have been around for a while and have helpful connections.  Try your hand at networking with your professors and ask if they have anyone, either friends or acquaintances, they can connect you with.  You’d be surprised at some of the “in’s” professors have at good companies.

Hit the town
As I mentioned, during my freshman year winter break, I was behind at finding an internship and I had to start going around on foot.  I knew the jobs and places I was interested in, so I simply walked in and asked if they were hiring. That’s how I landed my first paying gig at my town’s newspaper.

Reach out to previous employers
If you’ve had previous internships that went well, consider reaching out to those employers to see if they need help again this winter.  If you did a good job the last time you were working for them, there’s a good chance they will bring you back on and provide you with greater responsibility.  There’s also a good chance they will continue to remember you the next time they need a reliable worker, like say after you graduate!

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