Look ahead to land the right internship

If you're serious about securing that top-drawer internship, remember: It's never too early to prepare. Use this timeline to get started.

Successful internship timeline
August	• School begins. • Visit placement offices for career-assessment tests and interviews with career counselors.
September	• Research national directories for internship opportunities. • Find out which companies are visiting campus and sign up for interviews. • Check company Web sites for internship policies and application guidelines. • Fine-tune resumes and portfolios, if applicable.
October-January	• Brush up on interview skills by practicing with mentors or friends. Some colleges offer interview training. • Begin interviewing. • Follow-up all interviews with e-mails and handwritten thank-you notes.
February	• Expect offers to begin coming in. • If you receive no offers, reassess what you're looking for and endeavor to create your own internship.
March	• Research local companies or non-profits for internship opportunities. • Call for appointments and interviews. • E-mail your resume; mail a duplicate. • Follow up two weeks later.
April-May	• Check placement offices for start-ups or dot-com internship opportunities. (These companies typically staff later.) • E-mail your resume; ask for an interview.
June	• Start your internship.

Source: Susan Bowles, special for Gannett News Service