Internship & Volunteer Opportunities for People Who Love to Build Things

Book excerpt: Internships and volunteer positions offer young people a unique opportunity not only to test their interest in, and aptitude for, certain career paths but to also begin the process of career building in their desired fields. In a time of economic hardship and a tight job market, having the kind of hands-on experience provided by internships and volunteer work can be the decisive factor in an employer's decision to hire one candidate among many other applicants. This book surveys all of the many internship and volunteer opportunities available for those who like to build things—including shipbuilding and instrument-making to cabinetry and furniture-making, to civil engineering and architecture. In addition to discussing how to land, keep, and leverage an internship or volunteer position, the book also details the educational and training paths that should be pursued to optimize chances of success in the various professional fields.