If you're on the fence about summer internships, here are seven really good reasons you should do one while you're still in school:

1. You get a taste of the working world.
2. You get to try out a career choice without committing to it.
3. You get paid for it (sometimes).
4. You earn credits for it toward your degree (sometimes).
5. You can gain valuable networking contacts to reach out to when you start job searching.
6. It could turn into a full-time position after you graduate (if they want you).
7. It looks good on your resume.

Now that you've got the why, let's talk about the how of getting an internship. Here are a few ways to find one:

1. Search job boards with a combination of keywords that focus on your area of interest and the internship factor. Example: Engineer Intern, or Fashion Internship.
2. Talk to your professors and career center staff about internship programs that might be offered for your major (and if you can get credits for completing one).
3. Research companies you're interested in working with, and check the employment section of their web sites to see if they have internship positions available.
4. Ask friends and family members if their places of work are looking for interns.

It's not too late to start looking for a summer internship! If you can't find openings within your company of choice, go ahead and send an e-mail to the HR staff explaining what you're looking for and see if they'd be able to accommodate you. In fact, that's how most of my friends in college found their opportunities. It never hurts to ask; plenty of employers are willing and happy to take you on board for a short while.

Do you have an internship lined up already? How did you find it?

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