Internships, apprenticeships, on-the-job training programs and entry-level jobs are great ways of testing out new careers while earning college credit, work experience and extra money. The best time to take advantage of these options is during or just after high school or college because, at that point, employers do not expect you to have a wealth of work experience or knowledge. Instead, they expect and understand that you need a lot of training, mentoring and exposure to new things, and they are willing to help. But, don’t mistake this “help” for charity. Nope. employers get something out of this too–lower-cost labor and early, exclusive access to young talent. Employers offer internships, apprenticeships and entry-level jobs to students because they hope that once the students graduate they will choose to work for the employer instead of their competitors.

Below is a collection of resources to help you find apprenticeships, internships, job training and entry-level jobs:

GENERAL

• Visit everybodyelsesguidetocollege.com for the latest internship and apprenticeship information
• Check careersthatdontsuck.com for information on first jobs and interesting opportunities
• Electrifyingcareers.com - Explore 59 careers in the electrical industry

APPRENTICESHIPS

• State Offices of Apprenticeship - Find apprenticeships in your state
• Discussions on Apprenticeship (Audio for RealPlayer or Windows Media)
• Government Apprenticeships - Apprenticeships with the U.S. Armed Forces, USDA
• Electrifyingcareers.com - Watch videos of students apprentices in the electrical Industry
• National Joint Apprenticeships -Training and apprenticeship programs in the electrical trade
• California Apprenticeship Programs - A solid list of apprenticeship programs offered by trade unions in the state of CA (millwork, welding, auto mechanics, plumbing, etc.)

ENTRY-LEVEL & TRAINEE JOBS

• MonsterTrak.com -Search internships and first jobs
• Snagajob.com -Search large database of hourly and entry-level jobs
• Your school counselor or career services office

JOB & CAREER SEARCH TOOLS

• Careersthatdontsuck.com Job Search Help - Complete list of job boards and other sources of job listings
• Career Interest Survey (Government Jobs) - Answer a few questions about your interests and discover entry-level trainee jobs in federal and state government agencies

JOB TRAINING

• Job Corps -Free job training program for youth aged 16-25; students may earn a GED or HS Diploma, prepare for college or learn a trade (masonry, electrical, automotive, computer systems technician, etc.), or . Students receive a bi-weekly stipend, clothing allowance, may live on campus, receive career placement assistance and subsidized travel to and from home. Some centers offer child care for single parents. Centers located throughout the U.S.

• Manchester Bidwell Corporation - This nonprofit organization runs the Bidwell Training Center (Pa), the National Centers for Arts & Technology (SF, Grand Rapids, Cinncinati), Drew Mathieson Center (Pa) and the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild. Low-cost, high-quality job training. Programs include: Studio Arts, Chemical Laboratory Technician, Horticulture, Office Technology, Animation and Medical.

CAREER & TRADE SCHOOLS

DeVry - a private, for-profit university offering certificate programs, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in majors including business administration, biotechnology, computer engineering and gaming simulation. Classes are offered on campus and online. DeVry claims 90% of new grads are employed and earning an average of $40,000/year within 6 months of graduation!

Universal Technical Institute (UTI) - a national provider of technical education training for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians offers specialized technical education programs including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI), Manufacturer Specific Advanced Training and NASCAR Technical Institute (NTI).