Internships 101: How Students Find the Perfect Fit

Increasingly, employers insist that candidates should have years of experience — even for entry-level jobs. That means every college student should consider some form of experiential learning. With the right internship, you can enter the job market equipped, experienced, and ready.

Internships can also help you find the right job for you. By applying what you learn in class to the workplace, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of your field and begin to pinpoint desirable careers within your grasp.

Getting an internship can be hard work, but it’s well worth the effort.

Why Internships Matter

“Internships are a keystone for moving forward professionally,” observed Diane Mellon, the Assistant Director of Experiential Learning at the USF Center for Career and Professional Development. “Just being in the workplace can help confirm a career choice, help you change direction while you're still in school, or open your eyes to unknown possibilities.”

When you lack experience, choosing a career can feel like boarding a ship with only a vague idea of the travel time and destination. Determining your destiny in your teens or early twenties is a lot of pressure. Students who complete internships can breathe a bit easier. Most aim to do this around their junior or senior year of college, but opportunities are available earlier if desired.

Side note: Career changes in adulthood are common. While committing to a path after college is important, you will have future opportunities to adjust your direction when you reach one of life’s many crossroads.

How Two Students Gained Clarity Through Experience

Alisha Durosier is a senior at USF majoring in digital communication and multimedia journalism. Approaching graduation, she still wasn’t sure what career path to pursue. During her summer internship with the Black Archives History and Research Foundation of South Florida, though, she found a direction that excited her. “This internship solidified my desires for the future: I’m going to pursue a master's degree in library and information sciences and become an archivist,” she concluded.

For Durosier, finding her direction was a relief. “Not to be dramatic, but I left the Black Archives more at ease about my future. That’s such a great feeling for me: a person who was overwhelmed by a constant battle between post-grad career paths.”

Makayla Delia, a USF junior majoring in information science with a concentration in web development technologies, had a different goal in mind for her internship. Laser-focused on a career in user experience (UX), she interned at AutoNation over the summer and was assigned to a UX project.

“This internship aligned really well with my goals,” she said. “I came into it knowing I wanted to pursue a career in UX, but I wasn’t sure what the day-to-day work would look like.”

At each stage of project development, AutoNation invited Delia to peek behind the curtain and participate. That led her to discover new interests within her field. “It taught me how much I enjoy research,” she recalled. “This experience validated that UX is the right path for me and gave me a clear picture of what the career involves.”

For Durosier and Delia, internships made their next steps clear. Imagine how empowering that must feel!

Even if you leave with more questions than answers — even if you got an internship that wasn’t quite what you wanted — the experience is valuable. According to the Making Waves Education Foundation, professional experience of any kind can be transformative. More information is always better. “Sometimes the best way to learn is by doing!” they said. “What better way to explore [industries and careers] than through a short-term internship?”

After graduation, many of your peers will enter the job market wide-eyed and nervous, but with an internship under your belt, you’ll be equipped, experienced, and ready.

Experience Looks Different Across Fields

We’re throwing around the word “internship” a lot, but try not to get too hung up on that term. We’re really examining the benefits of experiential learning, a category which includes many forms.

Mellon suggested that students should just prioritize gaining experience and follow the specifics of what their field demands:

• Some fields, like medicine, social work, or education, call for a practicum — like an internship, but with somewhat different structure and expectations.
• In technology fields like computer science or cybersecurity, look for a cooperative learning program, or co-op. Co-ops significantly blur the lines between workplace experience and classroom learning.
• Similarly, service-learning projects give student cohorts a crack at solving an organization’s real problems and may be led by a professor.
• Students in fields that rely heavily on experimental data may get the most out of assisting a faculty member with their research. At USF, this can be done as early as freshman year.
• For some fields, the best way to get direct experience may be a job. If you have a specific, marketable skill, freelancing can be a flexible alternative. Any job will teach you valuable skills that cross over to your intended field.
• In other fields, the best way to get your foot in the door is to volunteer. Community service can teach you a lot. “I’m in the career I’m in because I volunteered,” Mellon said. “Before that, I never knew it existed. Now I’ve been doing it for 25 years.”
• Even study abroad experiences count! Learning in another country can be a transformative experience — and it’s a great topic to bring up in job interviews later.

“As long as what you’re doing is relevant to the career choice you’re making, they're all going to look the same in regard to experience,” Mellon assured. She emphasized the importance of open-minded experimentation — trying different pathways towards the same outcome.

“It depends on what your intended career goal is,” she elaborated. “Once you know, that's going to help you find the experiences that get you there.”

Mellon also cautioned students to choose carefully. Some employers advertise “internships,” but their top goal is extracting devalued work from you, not helping you learn — and learning’s the whole point. Searching the right places and asking the right questions will help you find an experience that benefits you first and foremost.

Three Steps to Find the Right Internship

There is very little difference between looking for an internship and looking for a job. In fact, that’s another huge benefit of this process: Navigating the job market can be brutal, but the more experience you have at it, the better you’ll get. Follow these steps to find the right fit.

Step One: Begin with Your Goals and Where You Stand

At the risk of sounding redundant, your goals should come first. You may land an internship that’s the envy of your group chat, but if you don’t go in with clear purpose, you won’t get the maximum value from it.

Think about life after graduation. Where do you see yourself working? Where will you live? Will you have good work-life balance? Will you need to attend grad school?

Next, determine where you stand in relation to your goals and think about what you need to do to reach them. Grad school may have prerequisites. To get a job, you need relevant experience on your resume. Maybe, like the USF students we highlighted above, you just need confirmation that you’re on the right track.

An ideal opportunity will bring you closer to your goals, ticking off any unchecked boxes on your to-do list. When you show up with a clear vision, you can start taking purposeful actions on Day One.

Step Two: Cast a Wide Net

Your next challenge is to identify opportunities that fit your criteria. Experts recommend casting a wide net, using several methods to find internships.

Pro tip: Start this process very early, because the application windows for some internships close six to eight months before your start date — some as early as one year in advance.

Search Job Boards

Job boards like Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and LinkedIn are a great place to find leads quickly. When Delia found her internship with AutoNation, a Fortune 500 company, it was with a simple search: her field (UX) plus “summer internships” plus the year (2025).

There are also specialized job boards for internships:

• Through Idealist, you can search for internships with non-profit organizations.
• GoAbroad.com shows you internships around the globe.
• Parker Dewey promotes micro-internships — short-term, paid professional projects.
• For maximum flexibility, Virtual Internships connects you with remote opportunities.

Like many universities, USF has partnered with Handshake, a special job board for students that’s curated by the career services staff. When you’re searching there, you can have greater confidence in the quality of your leads.

On USF’s Handshake, students have discovered remarkable opportunities with major companies like Tampa Electric, Tampa General Hospital, Cummins, and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

Use Your Network

Often, who you know becomes the deciding factor between getting an internship and not. A warm introduction can go a long way. Tell family and friends, educators and mentors — even your peers — about your goals and expectations. Ask for leads. Even if they don’t have one, they may think of you the next time they hear something.

You can grow your network by being active in your community and attending career fairs. Try to connect with alumni on LinkedIn. Step outside your comfort zone and give people the chance to meet you.

Cold Calls/Emails

If a company that you’d love to intern for doesn’t have an internship program listed, contact them and ask. What do you have to lose? You might put yourself on their radar for future opportunities.

During your job search, it can be helpful to maintain a list of companies you’re interested in, reaching out to them periodically to see if opportunities have become available.

Factors to Focus On

What determines a quality internship? Mellon suggested a few factors to focus on:

• Company reputation
• Your current experience level relative to the job description
• Alignment with your goals
• Developed program (established over many years and organized) versus a new program (still working things out)

These factors can help you recognize a can’t-miss opportunity when you find it. But one factor matters above all others, Mellon added: Is it doable for you?

Can you balance this internship with other responsibilities? Can you make the commute?

Will you face unmanageable financial strain? Might you lose your scholarship or student visa?

You could find the best opportunity in the world — a real dream scenario — but not be able to accept. Don’t sacrifice so much that you hurt your future instead of enhancing it.

Step Three: Prepare for the Interview

Once you get an interview, prepare thoroughly.

• Understand the core competencies and experiences that make you the best candidate for the job.
• Practice answering common interview questions to sharpen your responses and build your confidence.
• When you arrive, be early and dress appropriately.

You don’t get a second chance at a first impression!

Use Your College’s Resources to Prepare

Most universities have career centers that help students find opportunities and support them through the application and interview processes. According to Mellon, visiting a career center should be an internship-seeker’s top priority.

She offered some ways that USF’s Center for Career and Professional Development supports students searching for internships:

• Hosting career fairs to connect students and employers — about a dozen each year.
• Offering help with writing resumes and cover letters. Additionally, USF students can use an AI tool called Quinncia, which analyzes resumes the same way screening bots automatically disqualify applicants. This reduces their chances of being unfairly eliminated.
• Performing mock interviews that build confidence for the real thing.
• Providing professional attire when needed.
• Helping any other way they can! “If we haven’t said we do it, we can figure out how,” Mellon explained.

Your academic department may have career resources, too. For example, Muma College of Business at USF supports its students through the Bellini Center for Talent Development. Mellon urged students to take advantage of whatever help their department offers.

Your tuition is funding these services. Use them to their fullest extent.

Ask the Right Questions

Interviews go both ways. Hiring managers usually open the floor for candidates to ask their own questions. Remember, as much as it matters whether you’re a good fit for them, it matters more if they’re a good fit for you. Ask insightful questions like:

• What does the company hope to get by having an intern?
• How does the company show its commitment to my learning?
• What kind of supervision will I have? How involved will my supervisor be in my day-to-day work?
• What opportunities for training and development are available to interns?
• Can I meet with leadership to learn more and receive mentorship?
• Where is the previous intern now? Could I contact them about their experience?

Quality internships have an X-factor — something Delia discovered while interning at AutoNation. “Some of the most valuable parts of my summer were the conversations I had,” she explained. “I gained a lot from people I worked with. They gave me feedback and advice that built my confidence and pushed me to think in new ways.”

“That is something I think some interns are scared to do, but need to learn,” Mellon affirmed. “Talking to the people around you — being curious — helps students learn a lot about the field while developing relationships.”

Seek out internships where the whole workforce will take you under their wing. That’s where you’ll grow the most.

Barriers to Internships 

Everyone’s circumstances are different, and privilege can play a huge part in whether an internship is feasible for you. According to Mellon, the most common barriers to entry are:

• Money: Many internships are unpaid, asking interns to invest time and effort that could be spent earning wages. This can screen out students from lower-income households.
• Time: Similarly, students from lower-income households can bear more responsibilities. It can be prohibitively difficult to balance school, work, home life, and now an internship on top of it all.
• Transportation: Students from lower-income households are less likely to have reliable transportation to get them to an internship location.
• Course credit access: Not all academic departments grant credit for experiential learning.

Fortunately, college career centers and internship placement services are actively addressing these barriers. Mellon said that her team educates employers about the necessity of paid internships. Non-profits have stepped up to ensure interns get paid, too, like the Mellon Humanities Internship Program, which funds internships for up to 900 USF students each year.

Another way universities make experience more accessible is on-campus internships within key operations departments — serious, fast-paced workplace environments. Mentioned earlier, the micro-internship and remote internship trends have improved accessibility, too.

If your academic department won’t give you college credit hours for your internship, consult your school’s career center. If they’re anything like ours, they may offer a special internship elective you can take for credit.

Experiential learning has tremendous value, and these efforts help ensure everyone has a chance to benefit.

Help is Available

Internships are a lot to handle. There’s intense soul-searching, careful planning and organizing, and a rollercoaster of emotion — all before your first day in the workplace. Don’t get discouraged; plenty of help is available.

And don’t let self-doubt limit your options. Delia encouraged other students to apply to a wide range of opportunities, even the ones that feel like longshots. “It’s okay if you don’t check every single box,” she stressed. “You may have other skills or experiences that bring value in ways you don’t expect.”

Lean on your college career center for advice. “The first step is meeting with a career coach to discuss what you're looking for,” Mellon revealed. “They can help you identify the best resources for finding those types of opportunities.”

If you’re a current or future USF Bull, start exploring the Center for Career and Professional Development's resources now. You’ll be glad you did.

Good luck. Happy hunting. Go Bulls!