Finding a Paid Internship - Which Fields Offer The Best Chances?

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The best fields for paid internships.


When you are in college, finding a great internship is the key to finding a great job after you graduate. In fact, many companies go on to offer their best interns full time positions. For those new to an industry, these internships provide a foot in the door and valuable work experience. The problem is that most internships are unpaid, offering just college credits. However, there are some fields that offer paid internships, which can really make a difference if you are struggling through college.


There are some industries that offer higher chances to land those coveted positions. If you're thinking about a career change, here are the best fields for finding a paid internship:


Finance - Even though there are many non-paid internships, because the field is the fifth fastest-growing according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, there is a higher likelihood of finding a well paying internship. Firms like Goldman Sachs Group and JPMorgan Chase & Co. pay interns, on average, $30 an hour.


Government - The Federal Government offers many different types of internships to college students studying a wide range of majors. Because there are so many different departments that use interns, there's something for all interests. Most of these positions are paid, and the pay ranges between $10-$25 an hour.


Communications/Social Media - This is a growing field. Although communications interns weren't in high demand in years past, with the rise of social media, these same students have many more options. The average pay for a communications intern is around $11 an hour, however those with extensive social media backgrounds can command much higher rates.


Accounting - There aren't many accounting majors to go around, so people studying these fields have a very high chance of finding a paid internship. The average accounting intern earns between $10-$18 an hour.


Information Technology - Computer science is a growing field and there are many internships available. If you are studying programming, web development or engineering, the odds are good that you can find a great paid internship. The average intern makes between $19-$29 an hour.


Whether you decide to look for a paid or un-paid internship, keep in mind that where you work is more important than how much you make. Because many companies offer permanent positions to their best interns, taking an un-paid position at a company where you really want to work can pay off big in the long run.


What do you think about these career fields? Would you accept an internship? Please share your thoughts in the comments.


By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for FinancialJobBank and Nexxt. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.


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