What do you do when you are composing a resume to send to your dream job, only to realize you have little to no experience in that field?

Capitalize on your GPA? Expand upon the significance of your related course work? Hide the fact that your only work experience consists of flipping burgers?

This is not a trick question. The answer lurks behind a corner most students are too lazy to look around: Find an internship.

Interning is one of the great things students can do to be more marketable in their desired field. A resume with at least one internship usually stands out to employers and lets them know you will not be completely blind-sided by a new job and its counterparts.

“Interning is a great way to build your portfolio and get your foot in the door,” said Linda Watson, internship coordinator for the English department. “You can only learn so much in a classroom, and learning certain real-world lessons from your internship, such as the importance of a deadline, is crucial.”

As an internship coordinator, Watson relentlessly advocates the vitality of interning. Beyond offering the typical advice about internships, she shared a few lesser-known secrets about interning, which I am eager to share with you.

First, take what you can get. Some students are picky about where and when they intern. If a certain internship fits within your schedule, take it. Try not to eliminate a possible internship based on whether or not it pays. Any experience is good experience.

Also, summer isn’t the only time internships are offered. Internships are commonly offered during the fall and spring semesters, as well. If summer doesn’t work out because of previous obligations, don’t discount the idea of interning during the school year.

Another crucial truth about internships and the job arena in general is that what you know is as important as who you know. Believe me, when you don’t know many professionals, this lesson could easily be categorized under hard life lessons. However, finding a connection to a possible job may be easier than you think.

“Don’t forget the power of networking. Be creative; utilize parents, aunts, uncles, old jobs and other resources to look for an internship. Remember to think outside of the box, connect with people with the same skills and interests as you, and overall, be responsible,” Watson said.

There are always organizations out there eager for volunteers if you are equally eager to look for them. A good way to start? Research a nonprofit organization that relates to your interests and career. If you can volunteer for an organization and prove yourself to be dependable and responsible, the possibility of getting hired full-time rises.

Last, but certainly not least, try to be consistent with your jobs. That is, if you have an annual summer job, stay with it. Although it may not be the exact experience you need for your related career, several years at a single job looks great on a resume. Keeping your record consistent makes you look responsible and could possibly offer an advantage over those people who seem scatter-brained, having held many short-term jobs.

The job search as an undergrad and a post-grad could best be defined as tedious. Between multiple revamps of your resume, endless revisions of your cover letter and numerous phone calls and interviews, it’s almost easier to throw your hands up and admit defeat.

Just stick with it. Eventually, all your hard work will pay off.