This week’s post is a Q&A session with Nate Whitson from Intern Match. As you’ll see, Nate shares some valuable tips and pointers on getting, keeping and making the most of internships.

1. How has the internship world changed over the past 5 to 10 years?

The value and importance of internships have changed in many ways over the last 10 years. First, internship experience has evolved from simply a resume booster to essentially a pre-requisite for landing an entry-level job.

Second, the popularity has increased. In fact, the number of internships taken by students has increased over 8-fold in the last 10 years, and internships are now the #1 way in which employers are hiring students.

Because of this increase in importance, internships have become much more competitive in the past decade. Career changers, graduate students and even high school students all compete for the same positions.  This means that looking for positions early and often in college is essential.

2. A lot of recent grads are taking unpaid internships after they graduate. Can you discuss this trend and whether you think this is a good choice for a recent grad who can’t find a full-time, paid position?

In the current economy, recent graduates are having a hard time finding jobs and are willing to do just about anything to get a foot in the door.  At the same time, other employees who are being laid off are trying to break into new industries — and at times are offering their services as unpaid interns.  This means businesses are seeing applications from a variety of qualified candidates who are willing to work for free.

There are a lot of problems with this.  Unpaid internships can be exploitative, and they exclude those students and graduates who need to support themselves with a wage.  They are also illegal in some circumstances.

That being said, considering an unpaid internship as a recent grad depends on the individual and the opportunity.  For example, some non-profits or startups simply cannot afford to pay, but offer a highly educational experience that may be worth taking (in fact until this year, White House internships were unpaid). My recommendation is to keep an open mind, but be cautious of organizations looking to exploit over-eager job seekers.  Part-time unpaid opportunities are frequently a better decision.

3. What are some ways to get the most out of an internship?

The first step of any internship is proving your salt – turn work in on time, keep a positive and professional attitude, and make yourself a valued member of the team.

Throughout the internship, develop a broad understanding of how the organization works, what skills different employees have that make them valued, and talk to your co-workers about their jobs and how they got there.  Networking is more powerful when combined with a sincere interest in your co-workers’ career paths.  Also, focus in on learning industry-specific software tools, like Salesforce for a sales internship, or QuickBooks for an accounting internship.  This experience is something that is not taught in school.

4. How can people turn an internship into a full-time job?

Turning an internship into a job is a matter of proving your commitment to the organization and going the extra mile — even on small tasks (all organizations have grunt work, and showing that you are committed regardless of the task helps prove that you are indispensible).

Also, staying in touch with your boss after the position is over is a great way to convert internships into jobs.  Connect with co-workers on LinkedIn, try to assist the organization in finding their next intern and write a positive article or blog post in your school newspaper or department blog about the experience.

5. Can you share some tips and tricks about the intern hiring process?

Having a great resume is essential.  You can view our sample internship resume here, and know that highlighting past work experiences in a quantitative manner helps a resume standout.

Getting hired also means marketing yourself.  Develop a professional persona that you use in all of your applications.  Create a LinkedIn account that includes a professional picture. Make this picture the same as your Facebook picture (as long as it’s professional), and print out business cards.

The easiest and most often overlooked tactic that makes a major difference in the hiring process is following-up.  Send a kind follow-up email the day after your interview.  If it was an in-person interview, send a hand-written “thank you” note.  Small personal touches will make you stand out.

Thank you to Nate for answering my questions today. What additional questions do you have about internships?

Some of Lauren’s tips for landing jobs/internships via Urban Interns:

* Don’t be turned off by the terms “internship” or “part-time”. Many people have developed incredible careers by serving multiple part-time clients. Also, starting out this way may allow you to get your foot in the door with some very cool, interesting startup companies.
* Think of the things you are good at, both personally and professionally. If you have years of experience with Facebook, even if you have only used it for your own relationships, you may qualify as a social media intern.

Read the rest of this post on my “College to Career” blog at MyPath.com…

How do you feel about the future of jobs, and do you have additional pointers that have helped you? Please share your comments below!

1. Spell the recruiter or hiring manager’s name right. Of the emails I received responding to the position I posted, about half spelled my name wrong. That’s an instant sign that a candidate lacks attention to detail.

2. Know as much as you can about the employer. The job I posted was for an intern to help edit the second edition of my book, Getting from College to Career. Although I didn’t require anyone to read the book before interviewing with me, the two people who had taken the time to read even one chapter impressed me the most. The one who read my entire book got the job. Given the amount of information you can find on the web, it’s inexcusable not to thoroughly research the company — scour its website, use its products, read its press releases — that you want to work for.

3. Be positive. Particularly in challenging economic times, employers want to hire people who will be a positive, helpful presence. No one likes a complainer. This includes criticizing a previous employer. A job interview is your chance to shine and to demonstrate your enthusiasm for a position; even if you’re a little bitter from a previous experience or a long job hunt, don’t let those emotions creep out in front of an interviewer.

4. Send a thank you email within 24 hours of interviewing. If I don’t receive an email within a day of the interview, I assume the person is not really interested in the position. The thank you email doesn’t have to be long; it just has to be sent. Although handwritten notes are lovely (and can be sent in addition to an email), in this day and age you have to be fast.

5. Respond positively to rejection. I was extremely impressed by a few applicants to my internship who wrote me very nice notes in response to my email saying that I had chosen a different candidate. Their graciousness has led me to keep their resumes on file in case I have a position in the future that might be a good fit.

What other simple strategies do you recommend for job seekers? Remember that seemingly small actions can make a very big difference!

This weekend, New York Times columnist Bob Herbert addressed the same issue, writing:

“These recent graduates have done everything society told them to do. They’ve worked hard, kept their noses clean and gotten a good education (in many cases from the nation’s best schools). They are ready and anxious to work. If we’re having trouble finding employment for even these kids, then we’re doing something profoundly wrong.”

Like BusinessWeek and Herbert, I am very worried about the situation for recent college graduates. Today I want to share with you what I’m doing about it:

I have and always will pay any interns who work for me. If you are a business owner, I ask that you do the same.

The reason I call myself a Generation Y career and workplace expert is because I spend my days studying and talking to college students, recent grads, university career services professionals and employers of entry-level workers. Lately, a major topic of these conversations has been the fact that so many ambitious, energetic, intelligent college graduates are currently working for free as unpaid interns.

Bob Herbert has noticed this as well. “As jobs become increasingly scarce,” he writes, “more and more college graduates are working for free, at internships, which is great for employers but something of a handicap for a young man or woman who has to pay for food or a place to live.”

Certainly unpaid post-college internships have been popular for many years, particularly in glamorous, highly competitive fields such as magazine publishing, fashion and politics, or in the nonprofit world where employers simply can’t afford to pay. Over the years I have regularly advised students, particularly those interested in internship-heavy professions, to get the best experience they can, which often means working for free.

But, before the recession, most students did internships before graduating, to receive college credit or to gain “real world” experience over the summer. Today, a large number of college-educated young people are working as unpaid interns after graduation, in the hopes that they may one day receive paid positions. This holds them back from becoming financially independent, and it means that students with no family support are excluded from many opportunities because they have to make money to support themselves.

Bottom line: companies that can afford to should pay their interns. Right now lots of businesses that could pay interns are taking advantage of the recession and bringing in recent grads to work for free, simply because they can.

If you are a business owner of any size and you employ or are thinking about employing an unpaid intern, I encourage you to reconsider and pay that young person a decent wage. A relatively small amount of money, such as $100 or $200 a week , probably won’t impact your bottom line, but will help a young person get by and get experience.

I recently hired a part-time assistant, who is a 2009 college grad. She works 10 hours per week and I pay her a fair hourly wage. She works additional hours for another business owner, who also pays her for her work. I have paid an intern in the past and will pay all interns in the future.

If you are concerned about older workers or rural workers or single moms or any other demographic hit hard by the recession, then hire and pay an intern or part-time worker in that situation. (For more on adult internships, read Marci Alboher’s column on the topic.)

I know that my paying interns won’t move the needle on job creation or GDP, but it’s a small step toward helping the next generation avoid becoming “lost.” I want to see young people succeed and receive payment for work they perform. This is why I will always pay my interns and I encourage you to do the same.

Resources for hiring interns:
UrbanInterns.com
CollegeRecruiter.com
Internships.com
Craigslist.com

1. Learn how work is different from school. Of course, the most exciting difference between college and the real world is the fact that you get a paycheck instead of grades. However, there are a few other changes an internship can help you adjust to. For instance, missing a deadline has major consequences. As an intern you’re supporting full-time employees whose jobs are their livelihoods—there’s no room for messing around with projects they’re relying on. Furthermore, your work as an intern could directly impact the bottom line of the organization you’re working for, particularly if you’re dealing directly with clients or customers. Your professionalism is not requested; it’s required. (Or you might get fired.)

2. Step outside your comfort zone. Internships are a great time to take risks, face your fears, and challenge yourself to try some big new things.

3. Be proactive. Asking, “What is a good thing for me to work on when you’re busy and I have nothing specific to do?” shows that you are a go-getter who wants to contribute and learn as much as possible. And, you may get assigned a cool project that no one else was smart enough to ask for—something that you can highlight on your résumé and promote in future job interviews.  Remember, raising an internship from the “busy work/no experience” level to the “real experience” level is in your hands.

Click here to read the rest of the eight internship tips.

Have a question about internships? Post in the comment section below and I’ll answer this week.

As the article states, “Many companies treat internships like extended job interviews. When it comes time to hire, interns are often the first candidates they consider.” So, if you’re looking for a great job at a smaller company, one of these internships could be a really smart move for you.

Don’t miss the fun slide show on famous former interns. (Basketball star Patrick Ewing interned for the Senate Finance Committee — who knew?)