How is your college student spending their summer? Summer is a great time to take a different approach to career preparation.

Networking is the number one way to find work. That means job seekers need to be exposed to people who are working in their chosen field. Why not encourage your son or daughter to explore and pursue an internship for their next work experience? An internship not only provides valuable work experience, it can also offer a way to stand out from their non-interning peers.

What Is an Internship?

An internship is either a paid or unpaid work experience offered by an organization to help youth connect with the world of work. Often, they are offered in conjunction with a specific program at post-secondary institutions, but they can sometimes be part of a broader community effort, such as the intern positions found at the White House.

Internships are becoming a necessary recruiting tool for employers. Companies from Walt Disney to Proctor and Gamble hire intern students.

In today's tight labor market, companies offer such programs as a significant way to lure new talent. In addition, student interns can meet short-term needs for extra assistance and bring enthusiasm and current industry knowledge.

The purpose of an internship is two-fold. Interns will provide some useful assistance to the organization while gaining on-the-job training that will assist them with their future career search. Gone are the days of using interns as simple "gofers." Students are seeking opportunities that will stimulate them and provide real experience.

A good internship program will provide challenging projects and tasks coupled with adequate supervision. Whenever possible, most companies try to include the intern in organization events such as staff meetings and allow opportunities for networking and informational interviewing with key personnel.

Participating in an internship program allows your kids to make connections and show their stuff. It might just land your kid the "big" job down the road.

How Do You Find Out About an Internship?

Over 80 percent of all colleges and universities offer internships, so a good bet is to start at the office of the career counseling center. The staff there will help your son or daughter connect with the right program for them. As well, there are specific organizations that promote the concept and bring in students from across the country or all over the world.

The more you research, the more you find out the scope and depth of opportunities available.

Helping Kids Prepare

With a great deal of competition for all intern positions, your son or daughter needs to prepare ahead of time. Several strategies make internship students stand out above the rest. These steps might seem like something you would do to prepare for an entry-level job, but the most successful candidates rack up experience and do some planning.

1. Get experience. The kids who shine are the ones who have some form of experience working in a related field. Kids should join a community, school club or committee, or start a club or activity in an area that interests them.
   
   
2. Learn to write an awesome resume. Research what prospective companies require and gear the resume to the skills and abilities they are looking for.
   
   
3. Learn to write a gripping cover letter. Help your son or daughter make it really interesting and demonstrate why they should be picked for the internship.
   
   
4. Practice interview skills. If the resume is great and the cover letter is really catchy, make sure your son or daughter can follow through with a fantastic interview. It might mean practicing with them or bringing in one of your friends who is used to interviewing to put them through their paces.
   
   
5. Follow-up. If your son or daughter was good enough to get to the interview stage, insist that they follow up with a thank-you note. There are typically many applicants for the same intern position, so the thank-you letter might make the difference between getting the internship or not.

What Can a Parent Do Beyond Coaching?

Parents can try to arrange to have interns in their own company. It might not directly impact your own child, but it could provide valuable experience for a budding scientist, a marketing specialist or a distribution whiz kid.

Help your kids get connected and explore the world of internships.