Searching for Internships in the USA

4 minutes

Finding an internship requires assertiveness and communications skills.
Image courtesy of InterExchange

There are many benefits to finding your own internship and many tools available for you to use in your search. The internet is an excellent resource when searching for an internship in the U.S., though personal connections and networking are likely to be the most valuable. Here are several ways to jump-start your search.

Networking & Personal Connections

The most effective way to find an internship in the U.S. is through personal connections and networking. Speak with family, friends, fellow students, coworkers, professors, and past or current employers. Chances are that someone you know may have visited, gone to school, or worked in the U.S. — or they might know someone who has. Don’t be shy about asking for their assistance!

Collect contact information for anyone who may be able to help you find an internship in the U.S. Reach out to them via email or phone and let them know that you are looking for an internship in the U.S. in your field of interest. Even if your contacts are not working in your particular industry, they may know someone who is. Although there may not be any available internships at their company at the moment, they can refer you to their own contacts and will keep you in mind if something becomes available.

It’s also very important to be proactive! If you are ever in the U.S. on vacation, try to set up informational interviews with employers for whom you would be interested in interning. This is a great way to learn more about a particular company; it’s also a way for them to consider you should an internship position become available. Even if they do not have any internships available, they may know other employers who do. Read our blog post on networking for more tips.

For more detailed information on using social media during your internship search, read our guide, Leveraging Social Media to Search for Internships and Training Programs.

Facebook: Become a fan of American companies on Facebook and contact them directly to learn more about them. Companies may even have internship listings on their Facebook page. And remember, if you plan to allow employers to view your Facebook profile, be sure that all of the information and photos on your page are appropriate. Many employers turn candidates away due to inappropriate content on their Facebook pages.

LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a social network for professionals. If you do not have a LinkedIn profile yet, create a profile and fill it in as completely as possible. Your profile will essentially serve as an online resume. Your information should be in English and should include all relevant educational and work experience. Once you have a profile, you can search for companies and their employees and contact them directly about internship opportunities. There is also a section where you can search for internships.

Check out the Career Training USA LinkedIn Guide

Twitter: Companies usually keep their followers informed about their business operations and relevant industry news on Twitter, and some even post internship positions on their feed. Set up a Twitter account and follow the top employers in your industry to see what they’re tweeting. This is also a great way to get updates and information about the company which will be helpful when writing a cover letter or interviewing with the company. You can also reply to tweets from the employer about something related to the company to get a dialogue going.

Blogs: Check official company blogs to learn general information about potential employers and to see when new internship opportunities are available.

Search Engines

Internship Search Engines

There are hundreds of different online internship search engines in the United States. The following websites allow you to post your resume, search listings by industry, find career advice, and discover tips for cover letters, resumes, and interviewing:

Other internship search engines include:

Industry-Specific Listings Include:

Accounting & Finance

Advertising, Sales & Marketing

Architecture

Arts & Culture

Engineering

Hotel Management & Tourism

Information Technology & Computer Science

Media, Communications & Graphic Design

Non-profit Management

Political Science & Public Affairs/Administration

InterExchange Staff

InterExchange is proud to have an experienced team that is dedicated to international cultural exchange. We come from a variety of backgrounds, but nearly every member of our New York City-based staff has extensive experience traveling, working, or living abroad.

Tuesday September 27, 2016

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