Where Can I Find Internships and Jobs While in College?

College is more than just classes and grades—it is also your chance to start building real connections and gaining experience that will help you land a job after graduation. Internships, part-time work, and networking opportunities can give you a huge head start in your career.

At first, though, the idea of "networking" or figuring out where to look for opportunities can feel overwhelming. The good news is that there are plenty of resources designed to connect students with employers, mentors, and hands-on experience. Whether you are browsing job boards online, exploring programs through your university, or checking out other platforms, knowing where to start can make the process much easier—and a lot less stressful.

Where Should College Students Look for Internship Opportunities?

University Resources

You might be surprised by how many opportunities are within reach when it comes to internships. Many schools provide opportunities for students to start networking and gain practical experience, such as:

• Job fairs: Campus career fairs are a great place to meet professionals in your industry, giving you the chance to pitch directly to a prospective employer.
• Career offices: If your university has a career services office, they're a great resource for landing internships. The staff can help you with everything from finding opportunities to fine-tuning your resume so you can stand out from the crowd.
• Professors and advisors: Maintaining a good relationship with your professors can have many benefits, as they can often provide valuable insights based on their career experience. A professor can also write a letter of recommendation for a job opportunity or an internship, vouching for your character and skills.

Plenty of colleges offer career development courses, but most of the time, you will have to actively seek out these opportunities for yourself on campus. As such, it is important that you keep a sharp eye out for networking events.

Online Job Boards

Platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter can be of great value to college students looking to broaden their experience. To get the most use out of these websites, however, you have to know how to curate your searches. When looking at online job postings, consider:

• Are you filtering for entry-level positions?
• Is the geographic area of your search too broad or too narrow?
• Are you able to balance the job or internship with your studies?

It may also help to bookmark or save certain search queries so that you can easily access them later.

If you are looking for something geared more toward your level of experience, many universities partner with Handshake to give students personalized job recommendations. WayUp is another valuable resource for students looking for internships, including paid jobs.

Industry-Specific Opportunities

Many companies offer internships and starting positions to students who are looking for work. Even if you do not see a listing on an online job board, you might want to look at the "careers" page on a company website just to see if they have any open positions.

Outside of company websites, you can search for professional associations in your industry that may offer apprenticeship programs and guidance, potentially serving as a bridge to your career post-graduation. You could also consider looking for work at non-profit organizations or local government agencies, which could reflect brightly on your resume.

Need More Help?

My College Companion is a valuable resource for students of a variety of different backgrounds. You can find a wealth of resources on our website, including scholarship opportunities and practical advice for making it through university.

Our team is here to support you in your career ambitions. If you have any further questions or inquiries, you can reach out to us today through our online contact form.