It never fails. I'm a freelance writer (read "hungry dog"), so I am constantly sniffing out the truffles of good jobs and contacts. Along the way, I run across numerous calls for interns from start-up companies that read like this:

Unpaid intern wanted with extensive knowledge of C, C++, HTML coding, PERL, Java, Javascript, website design, project management, omniscience, omnipresence, and the ability to juggle small critters. Oh yeah, and you'll be answering our phones and doing all of our filing, too. 90 hours a week.

And, I always think the same thing: Are these people insane? The slaves were freed a long time ago, and a person with this skill set could be writing their own ticket and pulling in $80k a year.

No longer just a mandatory requirement for recent college grads, internships are on the upswing, though the quality of the jobs offered may be plummeting into a downward spiral. Job seekers need to protect themselves and ensure that they get something out of an internship other than unlimited trips to the copy machine.

View internships not only as a way to gain valuable experience and contacts in their field, but also a way to obtain skills and hands-on experience for people of all ages and at all stages in their career, particularly in high-tech and new media.

Decide what you want to get out of the exposure of an internship. The more you know going into a program, the more you will get out of it. If you've been eyeballing a particular company or field and you know exactly what you'd like to do, then head directly there.

For example, if you know you want to gain experience with Microsoft , Industrial Light and Media's LucasArts , or Mother Jones Magazine , then a phone call or a click to their Web site is the best place to start.

If you're like most people, the vision of what you'd like to be doing isn't quite so concise. If you're sorry that you skipped out on your appointment with your high school career counselor and you'd like to make up for it now, take a look at the words of wisdom offered by StudentCenter.com .

Let them point out some of the benefits of an internship, a few resources for finding a job, and tips on how to spot your gem of a job in a mountain of opportunities. If you prefer to do your research off-line, the Princeton Review offers a couple of great books you can preview and order. Consider their yearly installments of The Internship Bible and America's Top Internships .

Almost all fields offer green enthusiasts the opportunity to work and learn, but the majority of positions offered online are geared toward the media-minded, either print or digital.

A couple of great Web-based resources for current opportunities in writing, editing, website design, graphic design, and other related fields are Salon Magazine's weekly postings and The Base for Mighty Internships , which also lives up to its name.

Those looking to intern with a non-profit anywhere on the planet will love the searchable and browsable database from Nonprofit Internships , which offers all sorts of opportunities. It includes everything from assisting with research in Argentina to rescuing wild animals in Thailand. Jobs and volunteer positions are also available.

The Carleton College Career Center has put together an impressive page of resources for their own students, but you can also reap the benefits of their research and their advice.

One highlight includes Internship Weekly , a periodic installment of available jobs in a wide array of fields and pursuits. Other general interest databases awaiting your search include 4work.com , and the database on the site of The Princeton Review .

There, you can conveniently search by region or state, via keyword, field of interest or skill set, or by the rate of pay. These are great places to start for someone who is ready to graduate or to take that giant leap into a new career.