5 Best Fields For Paid Internships

Looking for a paid internship? Bankrate.com compiled the best 5 fields for paying internships and provides links to search engines in those areas.

They are:

• Banking (up to $30/hour)
  
• Government ($10-25/hour)
• Communications and Social Media ($11/hour)
• Accounting ($25/hour)
• Information Technology ($19-29)

As an rising Junior, I landed an internship in Government with the US Department of Homeland Security, earning $500/week or approximately $12/hour for 40 hours a week. For me, a paid internship was a must. I was not financially able to take 10 weeks out of my summer without getting paid for it. If you're in the physical sciences, take a look into the numerous National Labs across the country. I was stationed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory just outside of Knoxville, TN. They're renowned for hosting nuclear, chemical, and mechanical engineering majors, future math teachers, and those in the social sciences.

If paid internships are your thing, browse the links in Bankrate.com's article or--better yet--call Career Services Center for a personalized meeting.


**Disclaimer:WKU and the Career Services Center are not affiliated with outside links in any way and are not responsible for the link's content. The article, however, contains useful information relevant to career preparation.

Advice for the Unemployed and Job Seeking

For those who have recently been laid off, downsized, or are just plain out of work, these helpful tips can improve your chances of standing out from the crowd.


From resume preparation, career fairs, waiting for callbacks, and selling yourself in the interview, entering the workforce can be an intimidating time. Click here for advice on how to make it a little easier.


**Disclaimer:WKU and the Career Services Center are not affiliated with Suite 101(the link) in any way and are not responsible for its content. The article, however, is written by a Peer Career Counselor (Sarah Spiker) and contains useful information relevant to career preparation.

Resume Design Tips

Resume design is an important part of the presentation process. A modern, yet professional design scheme can increase a resume's attractiveness and add to its content.

A cohesive design strategy can augment the content of the resume itself, while a shoddy or plain document can force the content to fade into the background of an employers choice of potential picks. Use the handy design tips on color, simplicity, font types, balance, paper choice, and white space at my article on Suite101** to brighten up a boring resume.

If you need assistance with the content of the resume, stop by Career Services for informational handouts and schedule an appointment with a Career Counselor. Or, simply pop on by on Walk in Wednesdays for assistance...no appointment needed!


**Disclaimer:WKU and the Career Services Center are not affiliated with Suite 101 in any way and are not responsible for its content. The article, however, is written by a Peer Career Counselor (Sarah Spiker) and contains useful information relevant to career preparation.

Walk in Wednesdays

Need a resume edited? Need to polish up that Cover Letter? Then hop on over to Career Services in DUC A230* every Wednesday from 10:00am-3:30pm, no appointment required.

Peer Career Counselors-- like myself-- and the Career Services Staff can help you improve resumes and cover letters.

Things to bring:

• Hard copy (paper) of your resume/cover letter--not a digital copy. If you bring a digital, we'll ask you to print it out.
  
• A list of your volunteer activities, work experience, awards, and extra curriculars
• A list of 300-400 level classes you have taken/are taking in your major or field that relate to your intended job
• The job description of the job you are applying for (helps us focus your resume). If you don't know, bring a sample of a job you'd like to eventually have.

Now, be careful...we don't do your resume for you. But we can help you edit. Having a perfectly polished resume will make you stand out in the selection process and get a call back for an interview.

*DUC A230 is across from Southwest, in DUC, but up the hill from the food court. Enter the doors in DUC nearest to the Bate Shop.

Starting an Internship Search

Internships can drastically improve your chances of being hired after you graduate because they provide experience and familiarity with the day-to-day operations of your field. However, beginning an internship search can be a daunting task. If you have an idea of what you’re looking for before starting your search, you can improve your chances of success in finding one that meets your needs.

There are a few essential questions to ask yourself before starting. Keeping a list of preferences will help you narrow your selection down and keep you from feeling overwhelmed.

• Do you know what field you want your internship to be in? If you’re thinking about changing your major, talk to the Career Services Staff. If you have a concentration within your major that you really enjoy, you may want to seek out organizations in that same vein. For example, if you are a political science major with a concentration in non-profit organizations, you may want to seek out child advocacy non-profit groups and shadow an employee in the field.

• What size of business? Does the size of the organization matter to you? If you’ve always pictured yourself in a small-town business environment, a large corporate business background may help you gain experience, but it may not satisfy your individual needs. Search for opportunities with organizations that fit with your vision of a company.

• Paid or unpaid? Can you afford to take time off your normal job to pick up an unpaid internship? While some internships are paid and highly competitive, many are unpaid. Be realistic in narrowing your selection down. If possible, evaluate the quality of the experience rather than the amount of money you’ll make as a result.

• How long, when, and where? Depending on the number of hours per week, some students take their internship concurrently with academic classes while others use Summer and Winter Terms. If you’re looking for out of state opportunities, can you afford a standard living in the area? Be sure to factor in financial obligations before accepting a position out of state.

• Do you want academic credit? Many departments offer internship credit within your major. If departmental credit is not available, you can still qualify for COOP 200 credit from Career Services.

• What skills do you want to learn or use? Watch out for glorified desk clerk positions! Before applying or accepting a position, ask your potential internship coordinator onsite what type of work you will be performing. Does the description fit with your coursework? At the end of the internship, you want experience in the field not just in answering phones. (Although that may be an important part, especially if you’re in sales.)

There are many questions to ask yourself before beginning your search. These are just a few that may apply to your field and major. You can also go to Career Services Center to receive assistance.