Job, Internship Search Guides

• Apply classroom concepts to real work life
• Build professional confidence
• Build your resume
• Develop and enhance communication, critical thinking, teamwork and other transferable skills
• Learn and develop professional work habits
• Learn what skills are required to successfully navigate a career choice
• Network — get a foot in the door!
• Understand corporate cultures and analyze different work settings

• For-credit vs. Non-credit – Some programs allow you to earn college credit for an internship. Check with your academic advisor.
• Paid vs. Unpaid – Some internships offer hourly pay or stipends, while others are unpaid but offer valuable experience.
• Remote, Hybrid, or In-person – Choose what fits your schedule and preferences.
• Summer, Semester, or Year-round – Internships can be short-term (eight to 12 weeks or longer).

Internship Search Websites

General/All Industries

• Handshake
• Glassdoor
• Indeed
• Intern Jobs
• LinkedIn
• Parker Dewey
• Virtual Internships
• Way Up

Industry Specific

• Entertainment
• iHireMarketing
• Kaiser - Healthcare/Tech
• Los Angeles Country Arts and Culture
• Museum Internships
• Pathways to Science
• Social Science Internships

Non-Profit/Social Services/Government

• Idealist
• Government Internships and Jobs
• Los Angeles County

Travel/Outdoors

• Coolworks
• Goabroad

Company Websites

Many companies and organizations have established internship programs only found on their own website. If you are interested in working for a specific organization, visit their website to search for internship programs (examples include: Disney, General Electric, Google, JPL, Warner Brothers, and many more).

• Mentorship and training opportunities
• Performance evaluations and feedback
• Possibility of a full-time job offer
• Work responsibilities (varies by field but often includes assisting with projects, research, administrative tasks, and team collaboration)

• Ask questions and seek feedback
• Keep a record of accomplishments for a resume
• Network with professionals in the company
• Set goals and take initiative
• Turn your internship into a job offer (link directs to a video on Candid Career)

What is an apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction to prepare workers for highly skilled careers. Workers benefit from apprenticeships by receiving a skills-based education that prepares them for good-paying jobs.

Visit the Registered Apprenticeship Program on the U.S. Department of Labor ApprenticeshipUSA website to explore opportunities in industries such as construction, agriculture, energy, healthcare, hospitality and more.

When looking for internships, it is important to research the company and carefully review the posting to ensure that it is not fraudulent or fake.

Verify the Company's Online Presence
Search the company's name + "official site" in Google.

• Do they have a professional-looking website? Does the website URL match the company's name (not something weird or "off")?
• Check for an active LinkedIn page. Most legitimate companies have one. Look for employee profiles tied to the company too.

Cross-Check the Job Posting

• Is the job posted on the company's official website? Go to the "Careers" or "Jobs" section of their site.
• Compare postings across sites, like Indeed, Handshake, and LinkedIn. If it's only showing up on random, sketchy job boards and not official channels, be cautious.

Look Up Reviews and Reputation
Search "Company Name + scam" or "Company Name + reviews".

Use websites like:

• Better Business Bureau
• Glassdoor
• Indeed Company Reviews

Red flags will be many bad reviews, accusations of scams, or almost no information available.

Review the Communication

• Check the recruiter's email address. It should match the company domain (e.g., jane.doe@company.com, not janedoe.recruiter@gmail.com).
• Evaluate the tone and professionalism. Bad grammar, urgent demands, or strange language can be signs of a scam.

Ask Smart Questions Before Committing

• Ask about the company's structure, supervisor's name, job responsibilities, etc.
• Legitimate employers will be happy to answer.
• If they rush you to accept or won't answer basic questions, it's suspicious.

Job Fraud (link directs to a video on Candid Career)

• The job description is vague and/or full of buzzwords with no clear duties.
• They ask you for money up front (for "training," "equipment," etc.).
• They communicate through unofficial channel (e.g., through WhatsApp, instead of email).
• They offer you a job immediately without an interview.