A student should begin thinking about and identifying possible internships as soon as the school year starts, if not before. Company websites frequently list guidelines for when candidates' applications will be considered. If the website is not informative, the student should contact a career counselor to determine standard practice, depending of course on the type of internship sought, the location and the industry or field in which the student seeks to work. Some fields simply are more competitive than others and may have earlier application deadlines. A student cannot expect to begin looking for the right position just before summer break. At minimum, this is a six to eight month lead-time process.
Finding appropriate housing accommodations is a challenge for interns. Because of the difficulty students have in adapting to a real-world, standard work day schedule, proximity to the job location should be a paramount consideration. In a metropolitan area, this may be cost-prohibitive, particularly for those with unpaid internships. If a student is working for a sophisticated organization, the human resources department should have on file alternative housing arrangements, or may have lined up housing for other interns with whom the student can split costs over the summer. Additionally, a student can ask the human resources department for past interns who may have suggestions for effective and affordable housing. Social networking sites and craigslist.org may provide helpful alternatives, and staying with friends and relatives should not be ruled out altogether either.
© 2007 Real Interns