Program Makes Job-hunting Easy

Urban Interns is a national marketplace that connects people seeking part-time jobs, internships and freelance positions with companies and business looking to hire.

Joining Urban Interns is free. With a membership you have complete access to their database, allowing you to search for jobs and post your profile. Adding yourself to the Urban Interns database allows employers with open positions to find you.

“The belief that business owners are looking for interns, freelancers and part-time help creates many opportunities for the job seeker,” said Cari Sommer, co-founder of Urban Interns. “Our new website has features that include dashboards where employers and job seekers can easily manage their accounts, messages and jobs, the ability to include video resumes, social media profiles and links and enhanced messaging capabilities.”

Urban Interns started in New York in 2009; it was launched in Miami earlier this year. The company has also expanded to Boston, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Seattle, Los Angeles, Austin, San Francisco, Dallas, Atlanta and Chicago.

The database is just more than a job finder; it also provides virtual internships so you no longer have to go out of your home or dorm room to nab an internship.

“Virtual internships are growing because students no longer have to worry about going out of town to do an internship,” Sommer said. “You can be living in Miami and be doing an internship in an office located in New York.”

Mariana Osorio, 19, a criminal justice major at Miami Dade College thinks the idea of a virtual internship is exciting.

“I guess it’s a great idea and it gives the student the opportunity to find a job,” Osorio said. “The idea of a virtual internship is pretty cool. With many internships you have to be commuting and sometimes you just can’t, but this way, it’s easier and you still get the same benefits.”

While some students find this idea to be the best next thing, others still prefer the old fashion way.

“I like the idea of having a website where employers can look at your qualifications,” said Claudia Alonso, 19, biology major. “But I think the whole point of an internship is working face to face with people and companies… networking with them. I don’t believe the idea of a virtual internship is useful or has many advantages.”