Internships provide a valuable opportunity to gain work experience, sharpen your skills and acquire references and contacts in the field you choose to work in. With the number of internships to choose from increasing, you can choose an opportunity that aligns with your career objectives. Employers are increasingly using internships to manage staffing costs. Twenty five percent of employers are planning to hire interns in the second quarter, according to Careerbuilder.com’s newly published job market trends survey reports

Paid internships are available but the majority of internships, one in three, are unpaid or pay a small salary. Following are a few tips to leverage internship opportunities to your advantage.

Seek sponsorship. Many internships are subsidized by unemployment insurance or other government sponsored job programs. These opportunities are often posted at your local employment office. Internships sponsored by third parties are often promoted through colleges.

Develop your own internship position. Approach an employee you would like to work for. If it is a big company, ask for an informational interview with the human resource manager and explore internship possibilities.

Use internships as a mid-career transition strategy. While we often associate internships with college students, increasingly employers are seeking to exchange work experience for the professionalism and skills of an experienced worker.

Increase your odds of gaining an internship by targeting your search. There are many agencies that specialize in sectors – accounting, biotechnology, dietician and environmental engineering, for example. With so many opportunities, it is important to start your internship search early. Although more internship positions are available there are more job applicants per internship opportunity. Colleges often run internship days. Job fairs are another good source. Set aside time to thoughtfully fill out applications. Here is one of many good sources of how to apply for an internship: The Internship Application Process.