In today’s highly competitive employment environment, one would think it would be pretty easy to land a coveted summer internship. Many new casinos are constantly popping up, both online and as their brick-and-mortar equivalents, with so many job vacancies advertised, for instance. More than ever, students are seeking internships and after school jobs in order to get a head start on their careers.

For some students, the idea of a summer internship may conjure up thoughts of The Firm or some other highly respectable firm in New York City. But what does that mean? A recent study completed by JobsVine highlighted many of the top rated internships for summer 2018 and one of the key findings was that the average internship job listed was well below an entry-level professional position.

The analysis looked at the top 25 online job search websites including Monster, Yupisoft, InternshipX, Jobo, Multiplicity, TaskTrain, Internships.com, Scobleizer, Aspiré, ScoopNation, The Intern Group, ThoughtWorks, BatchC and Savvy Search.

Do Your Qualifications Stand Up Internationally?

Do You Understand The Search Process?

Do You Have The Right Qualifications?

No matter what country you are working in, many companies are looking for interns, entry-level positions or internships, so this is a good time to figure out what you need to meet their standards.

In the U.S., many universities have summer internships set up and if you are a summer student, you are likely aware of the common threads and requirements that may apply. These companies may not always have the exact requirements for their internship program, so don’t assume you will be considered.

A good place to start is to research employers, see if you can meet them, determine if you are qualified to meet their expectations and make sure you have the right qualifications. These could include earning a bachelor’s degree or a professional certificate or a special work experience. These qualifications are typically found on the individual company’s website and may be listed with their employment requirements.

Do You Have The Right Skills And Experience?

Does The Company Have Experience With Your Skills?

Do You Meet The Time Requirements?

A lot of companies have guidelines about what they will consider in terms of time requirements and training opportunities. As a general rule, it is always best to set realistic goals in terms of timing and be realistic about meeting them. If a company requires you to work 10-12 hours a day, for a week, you may not meet that requirement. The schedule may be more appropriate for someone who works a typical work day and then does additional tasks as required. You may not need to meet a certain amount of time requirements in order to earn an internship.

Keep In Mind, Any Job Doesn’t Have To Be In A Growing Industry

An example would be an entry level position in a healthcare or educational setting where your position may not require you to be a nurse, doctor, dietician, doctor of nutrition or medical assistant. Those are professions whose expertise form a fundamental part of our lives and so there’ll probably always be a demand.