Right Around the Corner

Spring Break means a lot of things, but it is definitely the time when those of us who haven't quite figured out our summer (and/or life) plans should take some time to do so. My break doesn't start for another week, but I figured I would give you all a head start by introducing you to some summer internship opportunities. Obviously, summer internships are a great opportunity for undergraduates, but the lesser known part is that they are also a great idea for recent graduates. If you are unsure what you are going to be doing next year, taking a summer internship can buy you time to plan and apply to jobs. It can also provide needed experience for your resume, or give you an "in" at a non-profit. (I say non-profit because often times NGOs hire based on grants and openings, and if you are interning there you will be in a better position to take advantage of these opportunities). Here are the results of my findings:

1. Palo Alto, California. Who wouldn't want to intern there??


Now, luckily, you all have the chance. The City of Palo Alto is hiring a number of interns to work on various municipal projects. These include library organization, economic development, public administration and city planning using GIS. However, there seems to be a lot of flexibility in the type of project you undertake. If you are interested in energy and utilities, there are a number of projects detailed on the website which would be great opportunities. They will also pay you between $12 and $20 dollars an hour. . .schweet.

Application details:
Please submit a cover letter describing internship preference, why the individual is applying, what he or she hopes to learn from an internship and the time commitment he or she can make. Additionally, submit a current resume with references.

To check out this internship, go to:

http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/depts/hrd/news/details.asp?NewsID=316&TargetID=137,138

2. Research Support Intern at RightFish, a subsidiary of Careerbuilder.com
This looks like a primarily marketing related internship, but also includes elements of data analysis and market research. You get paid competitively, and would get a great experience in internet marketing. The application is due on April 1st. To see more, check out:

http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/ApplyOnline/ApplyStart.aspx?ipath=
EXEXP&siteid=exp01&Job_DID=J7X1BZ5YK6JMXRWJG3Q&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=fedb1dad3686418a9d191
afe1b60cd02-257795992-WV-2

or use the search function at experience.com!

3. Finally, my personal favorite. The Chicago Botanic Garden is hiring summer interns at $9/hour. They are also hiring 2 research assistants, for those of you with a background in plant research. Check out all the details at:

www.chicagobotanic.org/internship