<p>NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Even as the trim their payrolls, companies are keeping one eye on the future by stocking up on summer interns.</p>
<p>Employers, in a sign that they are looking beyond the current economic slowdown, are using intern programs to help build their junior ranks. Certainly interns can provide cheap and eager labor. </p>
<p>But they also bring fresh ideas and allow companies to build their talent pools, experts said. Firms are hiring a larger number of their entry-level workers from their intern pool, so they are looking to lure top college students well before graduation.</p>
<p>"We're seeing growth every year in the number of interns being hired," said Camille Luckenbaugh, research director for the National Association of Colleges and Employers.....College administrators report similar findings, saying that most students seeking these posts have been able to secure them, albeit not always in the desired company but at least in the appropriate industry.</p>
<p>Is previous internship experience a major factor in getting a good internship? It seems like more and more people are finding decent internships after just their freshman year of college. They'll already have something great on their resume and be much more competitive in subsequent summers. As someone who doesn't have much academic-related work experience, I'm worried that it'll just be harder for me to get a good internship.</p>
<p>Having any previous work experience and/or having documented skills in the internship field are major boosts to getting internships.</p>
<p>For instance, journalism students get internships based mainly on the quality of their published or broadcasted work. First internships usually are related to their work in campus media. GPA is of little value. </p>
<p>In other fields, one can have related experience through one's clubs or community service.</p>
<p>Companies may be taking on more interns, the number of applicants has grown exponentially. Previous experience is essential and, because the market is so competitive, a strong gpa is becoming increasingly important.</p>
<p>In my experience, most internships for students who have never before had an internship come about through what is either called "networking" (if you want to put a positive spin on it) or "connections" (for a somewhat less positive spin). </p>
<p>For example, a student might get an internship at a particular company because a friend of the family works there. My son got his first internship this way.</p>
<p>Thus, it's a good idea to ask people you know about internship opportunities in the places where they work. </p>
<p>On the other hand, it doesn't hurt to apply to places where you have no connections, too. My daughter is currently working at a summer internship at an organization where she had no connections and where she is by far the youngest and least qualified intern on the staff. They hired her simply because during the four months between her interview and the offer, she periodically sent them polite e-mails to let them know that she was still interested, and those e-mails had perfect grammar, spelling, and punctuation -- something that this particular organization cares about greatly.</p>