In these recessionary times, college graduates are finding out just how tough a job search can be. They've also learned something else: An internship is a virtual necessity when seeking a position as a technology professional.

"I've seen an increase in the emphasis on internships," says Tom Tarantelli, director of the Career Development Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. "Employers now want to hire people who can start running with the job."

If you're a college student -- or even a high school senior -- here's a key piece of advice about internships: Start thinking about them sooner, rather than later.

"From the student's perspective, it's never too early to start looking," says Tarantelli.

Where do students find internships? Career counselors cite these as among the best sources:

• Career Offices: College career centers typically maintain a database of internships, or refer students to sites like MonsterTRAK. For instance, the database at Allegheny College is set up to email students automatically when an internship matching their interests is added to the system, says Melissa Barnes, director of career services at Allegheny.
  
  
• Faculty: Professors who work with companies often refer students. For example, Google relies on a professor referral program for its interns, says Leesa Gidaro, the company's staffing manager.
  
  
• Alumni and Parents: Alumni listings provide a conduit for students interested in specific companies. A student's own parents, or those of classmates, may also be a link to companies with internship programs.

Internships have evolved, with the distinctions blurred between part-time work, co-op positions and internships, Tarantelli notes. For summer internships, students should start researching programs in the fall. Winter-break internships are often filled by students who already have a relationship with the company, perhaps from a previous internship. But students should be willing to dig for opportunities, since many companies have ongoing needs for interns, Tarantelli says.

Students may also want to consider developing their own internships, Barnes says. To do this, a student needs to write a proposal outlining his individual skills, hours of availability, the time frame for the position and how he could assist the company.

For the formal internships at prestigious companies, competition is often tough. Google issues its call for interns in January, primarily seeking candidates pursuing master's or doctorate degrees. Undergraduates should be stars, with strong GPAs and involvement in programming contests. "It's a fast-paced environment, and we want people who already know how to code," Gidaro says.

Searching for an internship may be a student's initiation into the world of job hunting beyond flipping burgers and lifeguarding. Consider these tips for embarking on the process:

• Follow Up: Too often, students don't pursue an opportunity beyond sending an application. "They send their resumes, but they never follow up with the company," says Marina Hayden, scholarship program manager in the Engineering Student Services office at the University of California, San Diego's Jacobs School of Engineering. After sending an application, call the company to check on the status. After an interview, be sure to send a thank-you letter.
  
  
• Work on Your Communication Skills: Don't assume everyone understands technical lingo, advises Hayden. She often hears from companies complaining about students' lack of communication skills. "It's very important that they know how to express themselves," she notes.
  
  
• Be Flexible: Don't dismiss less-than-ideal opportunities. Given the tough economy, students sometimes take part-time internships, perhaps for 10 to 20 hours per week, says Barnes, and hold down another job for pay. Students should also realize they need to look beyond the internships available at star companies. "Start where you live," suggests Tarantelli. Students may need to consider other companies before moving on to the likes of Google or Microsoft. "To get there, you have to take some steps," he says. "Sometimes the answer's right in front of you."