Working at a summer internship has become the quintessential experience for many college students. It helps them get their feet wet in the real job world, learn interviewing and communication skills, and explore potential career paths. Many employers now look for internship experience on the resumes of students graduating from college, and while not a requirement, this experience can be a tremendous asset and help students stand out from the crowd. As the job market remains tight, it becomes even more essential for college students to find internships during their summer breaks, not the least because sometimes these internships can be later turned into full-time employment.

Internships are also becoming more and more important for high school students. College admission is as competitive as ever, and whatever students can do to differentiate themselves from the rest of the applicants helps their chances. Having an internship before college can also help students explore their interests and figure out what they might want to study and major in.

Here are some tips and advice on what students should do to find the right internship and maximize their chances of getting it. They're based on experiences and feedback from actual students who've gone through the internship experience and are thus well-tested in practice.

There are many different internships out there and students should take the time to research at least several to make sure that they find an internship that truly interests them. Some internships are paid, while others aren't, some are structured as a program and involve groups of interns while others are more flexible. Non-profit organizations, for-profit companies, and many government organizations offer internship opportunities. Keep in mind that many of the most interesting internships are offered without pay or with extremely low compensation-they figure that the value of the amazing experience students are getting is compensation in itself.

Networking sounds like a scary word that should only belong in the business world, but really it is just a concept of meeting and talking to people. Students should try to talk to as many people as possible about their search for an internship-the more people who know about their search the greater the chances that an appropriate opportunity will come up. Informational interviews are a great way to network. Students can talk to industry professionals about their careers, how they got there, what they do and don't like about their jobs. While students shouldn't ask for a job or an internship outright during these interviews, they should mention that they are interested in the field and would appreciate any tips or advice. College career centers usually have alumni databases which students can search to find alumni for informational interviews.

One of the differences between applying for an internship and applying for a job is that internship coordinators know that applicants are still students and therefore don't expect an extensive resume. Remember that work experience doesn't just mean putting in the hours at a 9-to-5 job. Babysitting, newspaper delivery, life guarding-all of these show that students have been in a position where demands were placed on them and where they were expected to carry out certain duties. When working on a resume, students should think outside the box and take stock of every experience that they've had.

More and more places will ask that applicants submit their resume and cover letter by email. While this method is faster and often more accurate, students should be careful not to treat email too casually. The best approach is to write a formal cover letter and resume, and attach them as word documents to the email. The body of the email should contain all of the formalities of a regular letter-date, name and address of addressee, full signature, etc., -- and should simply state that a cover letter and resume for the so and so internship are attached. A thank you should always be included towards the end as well.

Many high school and college students aren't used to formal interviews and can be intimidated. The key is to prepare beforehand-it will help students feel more in control and be less nervous. They should research the organization offering the internship and get to know what it does, how long it's been around, and so on. It's also a good idea to check the organization's website for any news items which might be related to it-these can often come up during the interview. Students should be prepared to talk about their experience and their goals, both academic and personal, and they should know that enthusiasm often counts for more than actual experience. Students should also prepare some questions for the interviewer: What kind of projects am I likely to work on? What's a typical day like at your organization? And so on.

Not all internships are exciting and rewarding, and students should be prepared to do significant amounts of office work. But with some initiative, even the most mundane of experiences can be turned into one of learning. Students should learn as much as possible about the industry where they're working to see if it's something they might be interested in pursuing later in life. They should take initiative with their boss or the internship coordinator and ask to be involved in projects and meetings-the worst thing that can happen is that someone will say no. Being an intern is a great opportunity to get a feel for what a real job might be like, and that in itself is a great experience.