Many students have the educational background that employers and graduate schools are looking for in potential candidates, but they don't really have the work experience and skills that are required. It's kind of like a catch 22 situation, right? Well if you find yourself in this situation, don't despair. There is a solution. Some of the ways that students can gain real-world experience that is related to their field of study is by participating in volunteer opportunities, summer or part-time jobs, or internships.

Internships are a great way for undergraduate and graduate students to gain hands-on work experience within their industry. This hands-on work experience will provide you with marketable skills that are attractive to future employers when combined with your education. Many colleges and universities partner with local companies who will offer their students internship opportunities. Some internship opportunities are paid positions, while others allow you to earn college credits toward your degree. Other internships are simply for the experiences themselves.

Internships are a great way to break into a particular company as well. Many students start with a company as an intern and then are offered a full-time employment opportunity after graduation. That is why it is important that if you do partake in an internship that you work very hard, not just for something to put on your resume, but because it may just be your foot in the door to a career.

You can find out about internships several different ways. Your college or university career center can help you find available internships in the area. They can also search by whether or not they are paid internships or for credit or experience only. If you are trying to complete an internship for class credit, be sure to check with your counselor to make sure that you are eligible to do this. Online job boards also list internships. These job boards are setup so that you can search by industry, type of position (internship), location, and whether it is a paid or unpaid position. If there are companies in your hometown (for summer work) or that are in the local college community that fit your industry, contact their Human Resource Department and ask if they have any internship opportunities available.