One way to search for an internship is to focus on the local business that can offer such opportunities. The advantages of searching for an internship in your country or place of residence are that you will be still close to your family and friends for support; you will save some money not paying for rent and covering your own expenses. Also, this situation simplifies transportation to/from work. You don’t have to worry about adapting to somewhere new, so it can ease the process of adjusting to your new job. However living at home might not be the most adventurous and exciting way to spend your time.  Also, you may feel like you just got an independence downgrade from when you were on your own in school.  Depending on family dynamics, you may keep a schedule you wouldn’t normally make for yourself or be exposed to unnecessary family drama.  It may be difficult to readjust to answering to someone other than yourself.  Ultimately, it might be practicability for independence trade-off.

For students from smaller cities and towns, prospecting is often the only way to find potential internships. It’s important to follow some simple strategies in order to increase your chances of landing the internships of your dreams. Of course, the career field or industry you are pursuing will largely determine if paid internships are available.

Even with prospecting, there's no guarantee that students will be able to land a paid internship. Employers have seen a significant rise in the number of students seeking internships. Part of this increase is due to the fact that more students are realizing that employers are looking for students with relevant experience required to hire on for future full-time jobs.

Another reason a number of seniors (and post-graduates) are also interested in finding an internship is that they currently cannot find a job in their area of interest. Also employers have become increasingly demanding, and expect school graduates to come on board with specific skill sets and experience that they acquired during internships or through other means.

Some statistics say that up to 80 percent of job opportunities, including internships, are never advertised, and instead, get filled through personal networks and referrals. It pays to talk to anyone and everyone who might have some sort of connection to your target industry or internship; in particularly if you are looking for an internship close to home. You can take some steps to uncover leads to potential internships:

• Network with family, friends, acquaintances, previous employers, school’s alumni to seek out people who are currently doing the type of work you want to do. You never know who your parents know until you ask, or if you have well-connected neighbors in your target industry.
• Volunteer experiences and part-time jobs can often turn into full-time jobs after graduation.

Research organizations so you can include that information in your cover letter or introduction email as you reach out to employers through websites or when prospecting for internships online.