How can I find an internship?

Finding an internship is all about you. Follow these three steps:

1) Sign up for career fairs! (Register now!)

Mostly in September/October, Purdue CCO has a big list of career fairs on campus. Strongly recommended: the Purdue College of Science Career Fair (small but growing); Industrial Roundtable (not just for engineers).

Sign up for as many as you can -- you gain critical experience simply meeting employers, finding out what jobs are out there, and talking about your interests. Just ask "Are you looking to hire people with [your background/interests]?" -- some positions may not be advertised.

2) Make an appointment at the Purdue Center for Career Opportunities (CCO) -- update your resumé, your LinkedIn profile, and much more.

Their job is to help you find a job. They help with anything – resumés, interview prep, career fairs, career consulting, networking, professional clothing etc. They also have a list of alumni who may be able to provide mentoring or who can connect you to employers seeking to hire Purdue students.

In other fields (e.g. engineering), students expect they will have to spend time seeking out internships/job opportunities on their own starting in early Fall. You need to do the same. Early bird gets the worm.

3) Be persistent and positive -- finding internships takes hard work.

Internships are competitive -- you almost certainly won't get the first (or second or third...) internship you apply for. Look at every possible option, and keep at it. Any opportunity is a great one -- something you think is not what you were looking for could surprise you and open up new career paths you had never realized existed before.