(MONEY Magazine) – A full 58% of students who worked for companies as interns in 1994 received permanent job offers from those firms or others by graduation day, according to a national survey by Northwestern University. In contrast, only 30% of all graduates finish college with job offers. It's not surprising, therefore, that while only one in 36 students sought out college internships 18 years ago, the number has rocketed to one in three today. Some internships pay salaries (typical wage: $5 to $8 an hour), others do not, but all can help build career skills. The best programs let interns do real entry-level work, from writing speeches for local members of Congress to studying ocean-floor core samples in a lab. Many career counselors urge students to start their search for an internship the minute they hit campus, using the following strategies: Write a crisp resume. Avoid putting together a laundry list of activities. To make your resume stand out, use active words that express the specific tasks, roles and responsibilities you've had. Short on experience? Think back to your high school days. For example, just how big was that backstage crew you managed for the school play? And how did you organize the garage sale that netted $1,000 for your family ? Seek substance over prestige. An internship at MTV, say, might sound quite alluring, but it's important to determine what career interests you, not merely where you'd like to work for the fun of it. Find out what you'll do during your internship, whom you will meet and how the job suits your interests and long-term goals. And be patient. "The key is to go out and do several small internships before trying out for the big ones," advises Rosemary Bedoya, coordinator of academic internships at the University of California at Riverside. Look for internships at job fairs. Smart internship seekers start attending campus and regional jobs fairs as early as sophomore year. While the sessions are primarily intended for juniors and seniors, they also give underclassmen the chance to ask about paid and unpaid work opportunities. Your willingness to volunteer at a nonprofit outfit such as the YMCA, for example, will demonstrate to prospective employers your interest in gaining work experience. Create your own internship. Can't find what you're looking for? Make it happen, say, at your church, parents' workplace or local hospital. Just because organizations don't have a formal program for interns doesn't mean they won't be willing to take one on. "Come up with a unique project you'd like to pursue," recommends career counselor Victor Lindquist of Oakbrook, Ill. Then ask for an appointment to make your presentation. Says Lindquist: "Employers are impressed by people who can clearly describe what they want to do." -- S.B.