This is a guest post from SkilledUp.com – the Internet’s leading source of information on online courses, with over 60,000 courses from over 200 providers available in every subject. Find online courses at SkilledUp.com, and visit us on Facebook and Twitter.

By Nick Gidwani

The fall semester is winding down and students all over the country are busy burning the midnight oil, finishing final projects and papers or cramming for final exams. The semester had passed by at a frantic pace and once it is all over and the dust has settled you will have the time to think about something else besides schoolwork.

One thing that may be on the forefront of many people’s minds is planning for a summer internship. At this point in the year, very well prepared students who know what they want to do are way ahead of the curve and have locked up their summer internship with a leading investment bank, trending consumer brand, or government agency. Meanwhile, the vast majority of under- and middle-classman may be struggling to chose a major let alone, figure out which industry or job to intern in.

Worry not, an internship is the perfect chance to try out different industries and job roles. The great news is that although the fall semester has almost come and gone, there are plenty of internship positions that have gone unfilled and are waiting for you.

Get a jump on some of your fellow classmates and hone “hard” skills to give you that edge that will make you stand out from the rest. The following 3 skills are currently in high demand:

1. Excel

Excel is Microsoft’s classic spreadsheet application and can be used to store, manipulate, and analyze large amounts of data. It is a great skill set to have and has applications in almost any business setting, from statistics to accounting and finance. If you have advanced Excel skills it can benefit you in most any job where numbers play a role.

2. Content Marketing

When the Internet was in its infancy, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) specialists were able to game the search engines by using a very formulaic approach to webpage development, tricking Google into letting it rank #1, but the content was often irrelevant. However, in the past year or so all that has changed. Google made some major changes to its search algorithms and now quality content is the new rage in Internet Marketing. What does that mean? It means that web content needs to be written for a specific target audience, and written well so it engaging to that type of reader or buyer. Content marketing is also about creating interactive content like video and making it sharable. If you are interested in Social Media and Marketing, understanding content marketing is crucial.

3. Interaction Design

Interaction design (IxD), also known and User Experience Design (UXD), is all about designing for the digital world. However, rather than focusing on form it focuses on user behavior. Interaction design incorporates graphic design and web design with psychology. It is an emerging field that is scooping up more and more attention by the day, as computers and the Internet are becoming an important part of our lives. The applications that people use need to be created in a way that is easy and intuitive, and in business situations may encourage purchasing. Knowing the fundamentals of Interaction Design, can help you land a job in product design at gaming, technology, and internet companies.

The aforementioned skills are really just the tip of iceberg and there are a ton of “hard” skill areas that are in demand by employers. To find out more valued skills, you will need to get out and do some research on your own. Talk to your professors, university career services and get some first-hand insight. There is also a ton of information online, including free courses at your disposal.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and build that knowledge and expertise in to round out your resume and get that summer internship!

By Nick Gidwani

This is a guest post from SkilledUp.com – the Internet’s leading source of information on online courses, with over 60,000 courses from over 200 providers available in every subject. Find online courses at SkilledUp.com, and visit us on Facebook and Twitter.

After a semester of applications and interviews, your hard work has paid off and you scooped up the internship of your dreams! Congratulations! According to Vault.com, you are now part of the 86% of college students who participate in internships. But have you thought of what skills you hope to learn from your internship and how to get the most of it?

If you said no, you are not alone. Most people are just happy to have landed an internship and are just hopeful it will go well. Your internship is a crucial opportunity for you to gain substantive experience in your desired field of expertise, and start building the skill set required for your future career. To get the most of your internship, you need to be proactive and devise a plan to extract as much value from it as you can.

If you landed an internship with McKinsey or Goldman Sachs, chances are your internship program will be quite structured in terms of training, skill development, and application of knowledge. However, not all internships are equal in terms of structure and content. Believe it or not, many internships lack any structure at all. If you are unlucky you may end up an errand boy or gal Friday, essentially a glorified albeit temporary admin for odd jobs around the office.

Fear not! With a proactive attitude and a little preparation you can turn a potentially unstructured internship that may or may not give you the skills you need into the “Skillternship” that is guaranteed to give you the exact skills training you need to advance your career.

The following steps can help add structure and content to any internship, even it comes with its own pre-set plan.

1. Research & Strategize. Probably by now you have done some research in the field of your internship. Now its time for a second pass. Do a deep dive and find out what are the important responsibilities, tasks, and skills, of an expert in your field. Come up with a list of 5-10 skills that are crucial to success in this field.
2. Evaluate & Set Goals. Now that you have a list of important skills you hope to build or improve on, give yourself and honest evaluation in each area in the form of a letter grade. In addition, to the grade list some discreet activities you hope to be competent in. For instance, if data analysis one of your desired skills, you may want to list pivot tables and chart generation discreet skills you hope to acquire. Online courses are now widely available, giving you an opportunity to build a base of knowledge in topics ranging from content marketing to blogging.
3. Collaborate & Plan. If you have the means, contact an expert in your field to see if you missed any crucial points. If you can’t that’s okay, because during your first week of work, you are going to meet with your new boss, and tell him or her about your aspirations and plans to develop specific job skills during your internship. Don’t be afraid to speak candidly to your boss. They were once in your shoes and will be impressed by your ambition, and it will set you apart from your fellow interns. Now that you have wowed your boss, the two of you can work together to come up with a concrete plan to develop all the skills you have researched and more. The more detailed your plan is, the better it will serve you. Set up learning tasks, reading assignments, and exercises to apply each skill. Set dates for key tasks and milestones.
4. Assess & Fine Tune. You will be interacting with your boss on a daily basis, but your internship is short and you need to make the most of it. Meet with your boss on a weekly basis to measure performance and improvement. Perhaps, certain skills will require more attention and extra work. While you have set a plan, it is important to be flexible. You may have the opportunity to learn even more than you anticipated.

Sounds kind of like a college curriculum, doesn’t it? Well if you get an A in this class, you will be setting yourself up for a successful career! A National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) study shows that 60% of paid and 37% of unpaid internships convert to jobs offers. Once you have scored an internship, don’t rest on your laurels and passively experience your internship. Get proactive and increase your likelihood of receiving one of those job offers!

Follow these simple and easy steps, and you are guaranteed to get the most out your internship and build the skills that will get you on your way to being an expert in your dream job!

Search through our internships here and start putting these steps to test!

Cassie Glenn (@cassieinmiami) is a Broadcast Journalism student who graduated from the University of Miami. Connect with her on LinkedIn // Blog.

By Cassie Glenn

Not long after beginning college, you start hearing the importance of finding an internship. Not only did I complete one, but upon graduation I had four internships under my belt. After travelling to Spain to teach English for a year, I came back to yet another internship. You can call me: The Serial Intern.

As a Broadcast Journalism major, I dreamt of becoming the next Ann Curry. Through an internship in my hometown newsroom, I eagerly applied what I was learning in school. However, news was never my only passion. I love running, travel and, most notably, food. I jumped at the chance to intern for the website Yelp.com. A semester internship turned into over a year helping with everything from writing the weekly newsletter to hosting events.

With my sights forever set on The Big Apple, I knew a summer in NYC would be a perfect opportunity to test my will to live there. I landed a position as intern to the Bookings Producer at CBS’ The Early Show. The program also gave me a chance to learn about different positions at a national network.

“I became skilled at telling stories through video and graduated feeling ready to work.”

My senior year, I served as a production intern for a niche lifestyle network, Plum TV. I became skilled at telling stories through video and graduated feeling ready to work. A year in Europe settled my travel bug and I am now serving as a social media intern for the largest independently owned daily deal site, 1SaleADay.com in Miami, FL.

Employers today want to know how their businesses can use social media to market their brand and want visible results. I am learning how to do that through this internship. Every day I create content for multiple accounts across Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and Pinterest. I interact with the community, coordinate promotions and analyze growth and engagement. On the side, I am constantly reading industry articles to learn as much as I can.

Five different internships, three cities and a variety of roles later, here is my advice for you:

1. Keep a portfolio

After working all those unpaid hours, you want something to present. Whether it is a video reel, online website or magazine clips, be able to show what you learned.

2. Talk to everyone

One of the best parts about interning is everyone knows you are there to learn. Do not take any conversation for granted- make connections and pick brains. You might even ignite an interest in a different position.

3. Take risks

You will hear it over again- internships are what you make of it. Stay extra hours, craft your own projects and be a leader.

4. Check-in

Internship supervisors have become my greatest mentors. Always check-in and let them know what you are up to, especially if you have an interest in working with the company after graduation.

5. Overachieve

Take notes, ask questions, arrive early, show initiative and dress for success. All clichés but qualities that will be noticed and work in your favor.

While stressing the importance of interning can be monotonous, there is no denying that the benefits come not in the money earned, but in all that you learn.

Thanks Cassie, your experiences are inspiring! Readers, have you ever had more then one internship? How many and what is one lesson you’d share? Let us know in the comments below.

Natalie Dance (@natcdance) is a marketing student at Brigham Young University and a summer associate with Ashoka USA. After graduation, Natalie plans to pursue a career in tech marketing. Her interests include running, salsa dancing, painting, hiking, biking, and reading. She is also a social entrepreneurship enthusiast, an animal-lover, and an ice cream addict. Connect on LinkedIn // G+ // Blog.

By Natalie Dance

I spent my summer interning for Ashoka in Washington, DC. Ashoka is a network of social entrepreneurs (known as Ashoka Fellows) who are out to fix some of the world’s toughest problems—people like Wendy Kopp of Teach for America or Jimmy Wales of Wikipedia. Ashoka finds and supports these entrepreneurs to help them spread their ideas across the globe.

I had a great experience at Ashoka, and I know the things I learned there will be applicable in my future whether I decide to stay in the nonprofit sector or try my hand and the corporate world.  In case any of you are on the fence about a nonprofit internship, here are five lessons I learned.

1. Nonprofits are looking for hard skills

“It’s not enough that you want to ‘help people’… you must obtain the specific skills that will help propel that change forward.”

After interning with Ashoka this summer, I learned that nonprofits have a desperate need for hard skills—skills like finance, accounting, photography, writing, web programming, and videography.  It’s not enough that you want to “help people” and you “hope to change the world;” you must obtain the specific skills that will help propel that change forward. Hard skills are just as crucial in the nonprofit sector as in the corporate or for-profit world.

2. Nonprofits are the best place for career exploration

The dearth of nonprofit employees with hard skills can sometimes work to your advantage as an intern, however; you will have the chance to try a range of projects simply because there aren’t enough people with the both the skills and the time to complete them.

I got to explore a variety of career paths as an Ashoka communications intern. Designing posters gave me insights about what it would be like to work as a graphic designer. Writing and editing Forbes.com blog posts opened my eyes to the possibilities of a career in journalism. Drafting Tweets and Facebook posts let me see what it would be like to pursue internet marketing. I even got to try my hand at storyboarding a video:

Click here to view the embedded video.

3. Who you work with is just as important as what you do

Although I loved the work I did with Ashoka, my team members made my internship so much more enjoyable. I was surrounded by some of the kindest, smartest, and most talented people I have ever met. From my Danish supervisor with an impressive background in political campaigns, to the Chilean former magazine editor who served as our director, to the Ashoka-writer-by-day, lead-guitarist-by-night Stanford grad, each member of the Ashoka USA team helped me grow by sharing new perspectives, knowledge, and friendship. I learned that great teammates are an essential component to finding satisfaction in your work.

4. Ambiguity is a blessing and a curse

Ashoka is a network of social entrepreneurs, so entrepreneurialism is highly valued and assignments are not always spelled out for you. It can be a great learning opportunity when your supervisor comes to you and says, “We should try doing a crowdfunding campaign—can you look into that?”

With few specific guidelines, you have the opportunity to add your own ideas and perspectives to the project. However, loose project guidelines can also leave you feeling a little lost, confused, or stuck. In a workplace that thrives on ambiguity, you must be willing to hit the ground running and ask for more direction when you need it.

5.Don’t lose sight of the “why”

In the day-to-day grind of meetings and project deadlines, it can be easy to lose sight of the bigger picture—the “why” of all your work. Taking the time to regain some perspective about why you do what you do can serve as powerful motivation. For me that perspective came every time I attended a “brown bag luncheon” with an Ashoka Fellow. Hearing the fellows explain how their ideas are solving social problems and and how Ashoka has helped them to get those ideas off the ground served as a reminder and a strong motivator for me.

My experience at Ashoka this summer has been invaluable and will serve me for years to come. I learned so much, and I would recommend a nonprofit internship to anyone.

Thanks Natalie, your experience is inspiring! Readers, did this inspire you to intern with a nonprofit? Search nonprofit internships.

Victoria Shockley (@Victoria_Writes) is a sophomore at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, majoring in English (with a concentration in Scientific & Technical Communication). She is currently working as a virtual editorial intern, and is planning a career in writing or editing after graduate school.

By Victoria Shockley

One of the most important skills to have when working as a virtual intern – or in any type of internship – is the ability to communicate clearly. Whether it’s over the phone, in person, or through emails, you’ll need to be able to clearly articulate questions, status on projects, and acknowledgement of directions. With this post, I’ll outline some easy ways to improve your communication skills.

Email

Respond to any questions you’ve been asked, and acknowledge that you understand any instructions given to you.

If you’re working virtually, chances are that most of the communication with your boss will be conducted via email. In an in-person setting, you’ll probably still be using email to communicate on the days when you aren’t in the office. It’s important for you to be able to write a detailed reply and organize it in a way that is easily readable. To do this, read over the email twice – once when you receive it, and once as you are writing your reply. Respond to any questions you’ve been asked, and acknowledge that you understand any instructions given to you. Don’t assume that your boss knows you understand. If it’s a lengthy email, it’s helpful to read over it in sections, and write your reply to each one as you go. Make sure to use separate paragraphs for each topic you’re covering. You may even need to use numbers or bullet points to denote separate points. The more organized the email is, the easier and quicker it is for your supervisor to read it.

Phone Conversations

Keep a pen and paper handy to take notes or write down new instructions.

Your time and your manager’s time are both very valuable, so make the most of phone conversations. If there are certain topics you want to cover during the call, such as a project on which you need assistance, write them down. Also write down any questions or new ideas. It’s a good idea to create a free account on www.do.com, where you and your boss can schedule tasks for each other. This is a great way for you to keep track of tasks your boss needs you to finish, and for your boss to have a convenient list of items he/she needs to follow up on. During the call itself, keep a pen and paper handy to take notes or write down new instructions. Managers can sometimes be very disorganized (especially if they are managing a variety of different initiatives at once), and it’s good to be prepared to take notes throughout the call. This will ensure that the time is well-spent for both parties.

Progress Updates

Periodically you will need to write progress updates for your boss; this is especially important for those of us who are virtual interns. Without progress updates, our managers have no idea what we’re working on – or even if we’ve been working at all! The report doesn’t have to be formal; sometimes just a few sentences are fine. When you write your report, make sure to clearly state which project you’re referring to (for example, say “Bob Smith’s article titled ‘New Opportunities’” rather than “the article you sent me last week”). If you can, give your supervisor an estimate of when you expect to be finished with the project.

Read more from Victoria: Intern Diaries: How a Virtual Internship is Helping Me Become a Better Writer

Daria Kyrilova (daria_k) is a graduating business major at Hult International Business School. She currently interns at New-York based company futurethink, where she gets to combine her passion for innovation and marketing on a daily basis.

By Daria Kyrilova

Months ago, intense job-hunting via Internships.com landed me an internship at futurethink, the world leader in innovation training. My work is fast-paced and exciting, and my daily priorities often change before the morning caffeine hits my bloodstream. From liaising with Fortune 500 clients and creating new products, to seeing a book manuscript through to publication, I’m enjoying my fair share of learning experiences.

“Interviewing candidates for my replacement is painful… yet enlightening.”

As my internship comes to an end, one of its highlights involves gaining access to an area that intimidates so many interns: the interviewer’s seat. Interviewing candidates for my replacement is painful, because I saw all the mistakes I made when applying for internships, yet enlightening, because I see what I got right during my actual internship.

Many candidates I’ve interviewed were great at reciting tangible achievements from their resume, such as completed projects or acquired software skills. However, when answering trickier questions about situations in which they had demonstrated certain professional qualities, they seemed completely lost.

My advice to fellow interns who want to avoid this is: get into the habit of tracking your professional development. Here’s how:

1. Set goals. Write down a list of things you want to learn and achieve during your internship. Check it weekly and discuss your progress with your boss. Don’t be afraid to ask him/her for more complex work – they will appreciate your initiative, and you will learn to clearly define your goals, and articulate the steps you plan to take to meet them.
2. Identify and solve problems. Missed deadlines, tensions with a colleague or constant miscommunication? Ask yourself the following: whom does this problem affect? What can I do about it? Who can help me? Answering these questions and working to bring your solutions to fruition is a great way to show initiative and train your entrepreneurial capabilities.
3. Seek and give feedback. Seeking feedback helps uncover your hidden strengths and weaknesses, and ways to work on them. Giving feedback develops your teamwork and leadership qualities. Remember: learning to give and accept positive feedback is just as important as giving/accepting constructive criticism.
4. Talk to colleagues. Taking an interest in your coworkers helps establish a positive working atmosphere and open up networking and mentorship opportunities. However, be aware of the huge difference between genuine interest and self-interest. Remember: no professional relationship is a one-way street!
5. Document what you learn. Every day of your internship presents a learning opportunity, which is wasted if you forget what you’ve learned the day after. Find a way to track your achievements (and mistakes!), and record your newly found wisdom in a way that best suits you. Try mindmapping software like MindMeister, note-taking apps like Evernote, or go old school with a notebook or Post-Its.

Developing your professional qualities and learning to articulate them will not only build confidence, it will help you brave the toughest interviews on the way to your dream job. Good luck!

In his career as a producer and talent agent, Jorge Insua (@JorgeInsua) has worked for the #1 talk show on English-language television (The Oprah Winfrey Show), the #1 talk show on Spanish-language television (The Cristina Show), and the #1 talent agency in the world (Creative Artists Agency, the Los Angeles shop known for representing the entertainment industry’s greatest innovators). Presently, Insua is president of marketing and development of Cristina Saralegui Enterprises (CSE) the global entertainment empire helmed by Cuban television icon Cristina Saralegui.

Jorge as intern with Oprah Winfrey, 1987

1. How did you get started in the industry? How can someone who is interested in your work get started?

I started out as an intern right out of college with “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” I moved from Cleveland, OH after graduating from John Carroll University to Chicago for my internship. (He interviewed the talk show host as part of a senior project — after pursuing her publicist relentlessly for seven months. Winfrey was so impressed with his perseverance, she offered him an internship.) For six months I got “paid in experience” and did EVERYTHING that was asked of me WITH A SMILE ON MY FACE. I got coffee, would have to go up to the 11th floor of the WLS building (the ABC affiliate in Chicago) to do Diet Coke runs for all of the producers, I answered phones, and got everyone’s lunches. As a result, I became the intern who never went home. At the end of my 6 month internship, I was hired by Oprah to work for Harpo Inc. and stayed for 7 years working my way up the production ladder.

I would totally suggest that anyone interested in a career in broadcasting start by getting an internship. Not only does it show you the intricacies of the business but it may also show you that what you think you wanted to do in the business, may actually not be for you.

2. What do you think is the future of your industry?

I think there will always be jobs in broadcasting–whether it be in television, cable or the web.

3. What do you look for when you hire an intern or entry-level candidate?

You want someone with a good attitude. Someone who knows they are there to learn and pay their dues. Someone who is a go-getter and someone who is eager to learn.

4. What is one thing an intern can do to make a favorable impression?

Do everything that is asked of you with a smile on your face. No one wants to be around someone who is constantly complaining. I always knew that my “job” as an intern was to make the jobs of those around me easier without drawing too much attention to myself. If anything, the kind of attention you want to attract is that you are a team player, that you will go the extra mile, that no job is beneath you. People are totally observing you and seeing what kind of person you are. You want to make yourself so indispensable that at the end of your internship, they will want to hire you.

5. Can you share a positive internship story, and a horror story? No names needed…

He's come a long way, but still credits his internship with Oprah as the beginning of his career

Well I think the positive is obvious. I was hired by Oprah, put on her payroll and spent the next seven years working my way up the production ladder from receptionist, to mail room, to production assistant, assistant audience coordinator, audience coordinator, associate producer and finally producer!

My worst intern horror story has got to be one afternoon going to get lunch for the producers at McDonalds in the dead of winter in Chicago. I had to walk 8 blocks in the snow to get everyone their lunch. And, of course, people couldn’t just order off the menu–people had special requests (Big Mac with no lettuce, cheese burger with extra cheese, filet o fish with extra sauce–you get the picture.) I got everyone’s food and walked the 8 blocks back in the snow. As I was giving everyone their orders, there was one producer who did not get her hot apple pie (they had forgotten to put it in the bag.) So, I asked the producer, “would you like me to go back and get your pie?” Thinking in a million years would she make me walk BACK in this weather…guess what she said? “That would be great! Thank you Jorge.”

And, so I had to go back out and get that damn apple pie. I never forgot that. And, because the world works the way that it does…fast forward 15 years and I am now a motion picture talent agent at Creative Artists Agency (CAA–the largest talent agency in the world) and who ends up sending me an email to see if I could help her son who was interested in a career in acting??? You guessed it…the apple pie producer. I’m proud to say I took the high road and did what I could for her son.

People love their apple pie  Amazing journey Jorge, hope you keep that photo on your desk! Interns, leave your favorite internship stories in the comments below.

Alyssa Marino

Alyssa Marino spent her senior year spring semester interning with AOL, and was a key contributor in the re-branding of the newly launched video hub, AOL On (on.aol.com). That experience led to a full-time opportunity on the B2B marketing team at AOL where she is responsible for building marketing collateral and promoting the exciting enhancements and capabilities of AOL On. Alyssa graduated from Fordham University with a degree in Marketing and a minor in Communication & Media Studies. Prior to joining AOL, she completed an array of marketing internships at Sterling Publishing, Conde Nast, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and Hearst Corporation.

At AOL we’re focused on radically redefining the world of online communications. We are transforming how people around the globe connect with information, entertainment and one another by bringing together award winning journalists and innovative technologies to create rich and engaging consumer experiences. We look for people who are exceptionally imaginative, collaborative, and truly excited about our mission – to inform, entertain and connect the world.

1. How did you go about getting your first internship? What about your internship at AOL?

I actually got my first internship by attending a University Career Fair. I dropped my resume with the recruiter and a little while later I got a call from the HR department. As for AOL, I actually wasn’t planning on interning during my final semester of college. But a good friend of mine (who had raved about his internship at AOL) mentioned there was a marketing internship open, so I submitted my resume and a cover letter. After a phone interview with the recruiter, I went in to meet the hiring manager and clicked with her right away. I got the job the next day!

2. What do you think it takes to be a successful intern?

I think the most successful interns are those who are really there to learn. You need to want to take in absolutely everything your manager and others teach you. Also, a successful intern does not count the minutes until 5:00pm. There were many times when I brought work home with me and there were nights I stayed late to get projects done. This shows that you’re serious and passionate about the role and not just interested in adding another company name to your resume because you think it makes you look good. If you do not put forth the necessary effort, you are not benefiting yourself or helping the company.

3. What about your internship at AOL made you decide to pursue a full-time position there?

I enjoyed and learned a lot from all of my internships and I truly believe that each experience made me the person I am today. However, I ultimately decided to pursue a full time role at AOL and my reasoning for this was two-fold. First, I wound up loving digital. Digital is much more fast-paced than publishing and I love that no day is the same. Every day at AOL is full of new, exciting challenges. Plus, being part of a “re-brand” was an unbelievable experience. From the start, I felt like I was able to contribute to big decisions with the launch of the AOL On Network and I wanted to be able to help this product grow to its full potential. Second, I loved the company culture at AOL. From day one, everyone was unbelievably supportive and welcoming. Going to work everyday with incredible, smart people made my already amazing job that much better.

4. What is the future of your industry or job?

Like print, digital faces many challenges as technology evolves, but I definitely see tremendous potential for continued growth and success in the future. I believe the idea behind the AOL On Network is the future of digital, specifically video. The Internet is full of so much content that it is sometimes overwhelming. What AOL On does is curate that content, showing viewers the videos they should be watching now from breaking stories to trending topics. I believe that many Internet media companies and sites will probably start to go in a similar direction as AOL On, gaining more control of what is important and what people view on the web.

5. What advice would you give to interns looking to make their job more permanent?

I think interns looking to make their position full time should definitely make their intentions known to their manager and team early and often. It’s important that those around you know you’re serious about landing a full-time job within the company. In addition to voicing your opinion, you need to show your dedication and willingness to do whatever it takes to land a role. I made sure that I was constantly adding value throughout my internship, staying late, coming in on days off and showing that I was really passionate about video, marketing and our product. I also made it known that I would have to look elsewhere if I couldn’t stay permanently at AOL, and I reached out to an internal recruiter to see if any similar positions were available within the company. But, in the end, it was my manager’s push and recommendations that solidified my permanent offer to join the team—and I could not be happier!

So much great advice, thanks Alyssa! Readers, what advice do you have for interns who are hoping to become full-time employees?

Chris O’Keeffe is a student at South Puget Sound Community College. Last spring, Chris participated in the College Pro student program in Olympia, WA. He generated $229,000 revenue in his summer business making him the Top Rookie Franchisee in North America. Watch him accept the Platinum Award. Below, he shares how his College Pro experience has changed his life – professionally and personally.

By Chris O’Keeffe

Real life, right now. That’s a bold, challenging statement. But that’s what College Pro is all about, boldly challenging people to start living a meaningful life, right the heck now. It’s definitely been the biggest challenge of my entire life, but it’s also been the engine for the biggest positive change I’ve ever seen in myself.

In the spring of 2010, I didn’t have a lot going for me. I was midway through my college education, but I couldn’t afford to finish it at the time. So I was back home again, living with my parents. No job, no car, no real direction. That’s when I first found College Pro. I applied for a summer job as a painter, and little did I know that would be the first step towards changing my life. While working out in the sun for decent money was a good start, I knew I wanted more. I then got the chance to interview for the Franchise Manager position. “Now THERE’S a summer job,” I told myself. Being a Franchise Manager seemed like such a great job; being able to make your own schedule, hire your own crews, and be the leader of your own team. I was really scared though, I’ll be honest. Deep down, I wasn’t sure I had what it took to achieve the level of success that I wanted. What I did know was that I needed to do something to move up from where I was, and College Pro was giving me an opportunity that I might never catch again.

“Every day provided me the chance to learn something new, and useful.”

Fast forward to January 2011. I had been hired to run one of the franchises in Olympia, Washington. There were several of us who all drove up to our first training session together in Seattle. Sitting in the car that morning, I’ll never forget how nervous and excited I was. Here I was, about to start my life as an entrepreneur. Everything in my life had led me to this point, but who knew where the future would take me. The rest of that day, and the next several months, are a bit of a blur for me. That period of time was the most instrumental part of my entire life.

Up until then, I had felt like such a failure. I hadn’t really accomplished anything and I had no idea where I wanted to go in life. Once I started running my franchise, I knew I was on to something. Every day provided me the chance to learn something new, and useful. Every obstacle became another challenge for me to overcome on my way to the next goal. It really was Real Life, Right Now. No more babying myself. No more boring classrooms and useless information. No more waiting around for some grand external factor to change me into the person I wanted to become. College Pro gave me the chance to pour myself into something that I cared about, something where I could see and feel the changes in me every day.

Like I said, those first few months were paramount to me. After that, my business really started to blossom. Driven to work harder and care more than I ever had during my entire life, I rose up the national rankings at a breakneck pace. By the time summer came, I had reached the Top 10 in the entire country. And that’s also when I started painting.

“Driven to work harder and care more than I ever had during my entire life, I rose up the national rankings at a breakneck pace.”

Painting season, or production as we call it, is the make or break portion of our year. Throughout the spring, I worked as hard as I could to set my business up for a great summer, but nothing could have prepared me for all the learning I would experience over those three months. I don’t want to get too detailed, but suffice to say that I learned a lot this past summer, through both successes and failures. By the end of summer, and our overall year, I had reached number five in the entire country.

Through all my experiences, all my success and failure, all my learning, all the goals I hit and missed, I can honestly say I have never been happier. College Pro gave me a summer job that has literally changed my life. No more waiting to grow up. No more relying on others. I’m an adult now, and College Pro has shown me how to live my Real Life, Right Now.

Amazing story – Thanks Chris for sharing! A summer job isn’t just a summer job, it’s what you make of the experience. College Pro currently has open positions for their window cleaning brand in Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington. Learn more and apply.

Have you had a summer job that had a significant impact in your life? Share your story in the comments below.

David Oliver (@doliver8) is a sophomore journalism major at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is pursuing magazine journalism and an English concentration.

By David Oliver

At the end of my first semester at college last fall, as I was slaving away studying for finals, I received an e-mail from The Washington Post Express about a possible internship interview. After frantically sharing the news on Facebook and tweeting about it to all my followers, I set something up and had the internship a few weeks later.

Little did I know that one e-mail would change the course of my internship and career experience.

Be ready for transportation.

Your job isn’t always going to be 20 minutes away. Since the University of Maryland is close to Washington, I was able to commute twice a week to Express, but it took a 45-minute Metro ride to get there. And there were ALWAYS delays. Once, the train was delayed 20 minutes and I had to show up late to work – very embarrassing, but understandable given the circumstance. I left even earlier from school after that to make sure I got to work on time.

At Express, I created headlines and decks for stories and web produced articles that appeared in the print edition. This skill is vital in today’s ever-changing news atmosphere, where access to news exists 24/7.

This experience inspired me to apply for a job as a staff writer for College Magazine, a virtual magazine by and for college students across the nation.

Cherish your laptop.

Your laptop is your best friend – it holds all your vital information, whether that is word documents or passwords to your favorite websites. One way to ensure your best friend never leaves you? Back it up on a hard drive. I had a scare the first week of September and dragged a friend with me to the nearest Apple store to straighten things out, and it felt like my world was crashing in. The life of a modern day journalist – and any job in today’s world, really – revolves around the use of a computer. Never take it for granted.

After writing for College Magazine and various other publications throughout the rest of the semester and summer, I applied for and became the entertainment section editor. Although the initial promotion felt overwhelming, I figured out how to best manage my time. How did I do that?

Make time for a life.

I dropped a class within the first few weeks of the semester because I knew it would have been too much on top of everything else I was doing. Fortunately, I had enough credits to do so. What higher-ups often forget to tell you is that although job and internship experience is key, we’re college students. We have friends, relationships, organizations, homework and sleep. An internship on top of all that can be quite daunting, especially if it’s your first one, so make sure you’re taking the appropriate amount of classes and can balance work, activities and a social life.

I will be interning at USA TODAY this spring, with a sense of pride in my work, love of journalism and appreciation for my experience.