As the economy slowly rebounds, students are finding certain opportunities on the rise.

After plunging 20% during the recession, many companies are expanding internship programs by 3%, and university career centers are seeing a stronger demand this year, says a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Intern hiring is usually a sign the economy is slowly returning to form. Usually when internships go up, so does an increase in temporary workers, followed by a general revival in the labor market.

For example: Loyola University in Maryland has seen internship postings rise from 400 last year to 700 this year.

That said, competition remains tight, since many internship programs only require a few student workers. That includes college relations programs like CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, which has received 92 student resumes to fill only six slots.

Students can improve their chances by:

• Aggressively pursuing internships as early as possible
• Making sure their cover letters, resumes and portfolios are professional and error-free
• Learning as much as possible about the company’s needs and how their skills can help, and
• Showing employers they can work independently and without constant supervision.

How is your school’s internship program faring? Let us know in the comments section

Tags: College internships, Loyola University