Why summer?

Summer internships provide extremely valuable experience in your chosen field, and they are also plentiful. If you’re too busy to commit as an intern during the school year, the summer could be a great option for you. While other students are focusing on play during summer break, you can get a foot in the door at one of your favorite companies by interning and learning everything you can. So consider a summer internship and get ahead of the curve!

Typically, employers start looking as early as January and begin to fill up internship positions by March for that summer.

Companies offer some of their best internships during the summer and some companies only offer summer internships. Why? For starters, interns produce some of their best work when they’re 100% focused. During the school year, interns often juggle schoolwork and activities and can only work at their internship a few hours each week, whereas summer interns can fully immerse themselves in work. Employers can also attract talent from all over the United States for internships over the summer months. Companies such as the Walt Disney Company even offer housing and relocation assistance to attract the most talented students to their summer internships.

What can you expect as a summer intern and beyond?

You’ll learn about a company and its culture, the industry, and various job roles. You’ll also develop new skills and make new connections that very well might provide professional references for you some day. You’ll go through training, get feedback on your performance, and get career advice. During your summer internship, be sure to take the opportunity to build your communication skills and get familiar with common office software packages including Microsoft Word and Excel.

Your summer internship checklist for success

Get an early start

There’s a lot you can do to increase your odds of landing a competitive internship. Most importantly, start your internship search early! Employers start looking as early as October to start filling internship positions for the next summer. For example, the recruitment season for Bloomberg’s summer internships lasts from October through March. Big companies sometimes offer information sessions about their internships and jobs at college campuses. Be sure to talk to recruiters about their summer internships if you have the opportunity! Set your sights high! Make it your goal to apply to all the internships that interest you over your holiday break and don’t be afraid to apply to your dream internships in other cities.

Get your online presence in order

Maintain a professional online presence. When an employer types your name into an Internet search engine, what will they find? Go ahead and search your own name and see for yourself. Do you see a professional-looking LinkedIn Profile or embarrassing public social media accounts in the top search results?

Once you’ve completed a summer internship, you’ll secure future internships more easily because you’ll already have the desired real-world experience in your chosen field that employers look for. Plus, employers will know you’ve received training and mentorship on everything from email etiquette to professional dress. This gives you an edge over any competition, and it also prepares you for working in a professional environment.

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Original artical from: http://www.internships.com/summer