School is out in a month, and you’ve sort of dropped the ball on finding that internship that everyone tells you is critical to landing your dream job (or any job) when you graduate. The good news is that, in this economy, more and more companies are interested in cheap (or, let’s face it, free) labor. The tricky part is finding them. Here are a couple ideas - and, if you read all the way to the end, there may be something in it for you. (How’s that for a teaser?)

Before you start knocking on doors or papering strangers’ email boxes, think about this. Are you willing to forgo a “real” job that pays you money for the experience (which can be questionable) and the ever-important resume line? That’s some thing you just need to come to terms with. Of course, many internships lead to permanent positions if you can prove yourself and the company actually needs some one, it may well have been worth a summer of foregoing tips at the local restaurant. Keep in mind, though, that no one is going to begrudge you having to earn a few dollars while you were in school, so evaluate your situation honestly.

There are companies out there that will help college students find internships. Some are good; some aren’t. Just be wary of paying for a service - know what you are getting. is it really something you can’t do yourself with a little more elbow grease?

Okay, so now some ideas of tracking down the illusive internship.

• Online. Of course, you’ve check on line. But, did you see some of these great websites that provide matching services for companies and intern-wanna-bes? They are like the match.com of internships - and many of them are free. Check out internships.com. Also, this Forbes article highlights companies that hire hordes of interns annually - it might be a little late for this year, but planning ahead for next year wouldn’t kill you.
• Offline. You’ve heard it a thousand times. It’s not what you know - it’s who you know. Unfortunately, that’s often true. This is where you have to buck-up, find some confidence and put on your tthick skin. Ask anyone and everyone - and keep asking. No, it’s not a lot of fun. But, calling or emailing your eighth grade friend’s father that owns a company may be your only shot - even if it is a long shot.
• Tenacity. Tenacity is the name of the game. Set aside a whole day and research companies in your area or where you want to work. Find email addresses and send them personal notes indicating that you’ve done your research and will work just as hard for them. People respect this - so long as it isn’t intrusive. If anything, you may end up with a few contacts down the road.
• Alternatives. You may need to start thinking about Plan B. Everyone wants a summer internship - which makes them a scarcity. Think about finding a school-year internship. You can cut back on your school load if you need to (and make it up over the summer) or just find one for a few hours a week. Depending on the industry, you might find opportunities to work full-time for a full semester - and get paid. Accounting and finance jobs are perfect for this.

OK, now for the big reward. If you are in the Chicago area, WilliamPaid might be able to help. We could stand a few great interns - marketing, design, accounting/finance and development (ColdFusion). If you are interested in hearing more about these opportunities, please send a resume/cover note to [email protected].

Good luck!