If you've landed that internship you always wanted, you might be thinking ahead and wondering how to turn that position into a full-time career.

Employers often view internship opportunities as a way to recruit new full-time talent, but there are certain skills and qualifications employers look for when considering new talent. Apart from relevant skills, employers usually seek someone with personal values, characteristics and personality traits that will lead to the company's success.

According to an About.com article by Penny Loretto, an internship is the perfect opportunity to learn what a potential employer wants and to show off those qualities. Some traits employers generally look for include:

• strong work ethic
• dependable and responsible
• possessing a positive attitude
• adaptability
• honesty and integrity
• self-motivated
• willing to grow and learn
• strong self-confidence
• professionalism
• loyalty

Especially in today's workforce, employers are giving employees, including interns, opportunities to give feedback and chances to lead. This gives employees a greater sense of satisfaction and control over their job. At the same time, empowerment encourages employees to do better because the company is trusting them and believes they will do a good job.

"Offering jobs that encourage learning and the development of new skills also gives employees a sense of empowerment in the workplace," Loretto states. "Aligning an employee's values with the goals of the organization will foster loyalty and a bond between employer and employee.

"Fostering good relationships within an organization and offering constructive ways to handle conflict provides a win – win situation for both employer and employee," Loretto continues. "Creating an organization that values loyalty within the organization can also work to its benefit by using the same techniques and strategies to establish loyalty with customers; and loyatly from customers ultimately makes for a successful business."

So whether an internship is a requirement through college or just a chance to learn more about the workforce, it should be looked as a potential chance to secure a future career.

If you're a college student or recent graduate, you're probably looking for an entry level job with good pay.

Most entry level jobs that offer a starting salary higher than the national average deal with finance and management, education or healthcare.

According to Yahoo! Education, there are 10 careers that usually pay more than $50,000 the first year of employment:

• marketing and sales managers at $80,000
• high school teachers at $59,269
• education administrators at $80,000
• staff registered nurses at $63,803
• network systems and data communications analysts at $53,000
• computer software engineers at $58,900
• physical therapists at $61,478
• restaurant managers at $53,255
• web designers at $51,931
• financial analysts at $84,000

Marketing and sales managers help companies develop strategies to sell products and services to the public or other businesses. Financial analysts are required to have a background in economics, revenue forecasting and accounting. Financial analysts usually serve business, manufacturing, finance and government organizations. Restaurant managers who work in large chains and hotels are predicted to have greater financial success.

High school teachers' pay varies depending on the subject and school district. To get a teaching position, you'll need to obtain a teaching degree and to complete your state's certification requirements. Education administrators either work at the individual school level, directing the academic performance of the teaching staff, or at the school district headquarters to help define curriculum and teaching materials.

Staff registered nurses are expected to remain in high demand through the next 10 years, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most registered nurses are required to have a two-year or four-year degree. Physical therapists usually work in clinics, hospitals or private offices to rehabilitate and treat disabled, injured and post-surgical patients. Most positions require the completion of physical therapy school and a state license.

Network systems and data communications analysts design, trouble-shoot and install Internet and intranets for companies, colleges and government agencies. Careers associated with computer software engineering are expected to be some of the fastest growing occupations through the next 10 years, and Web designers are expected to have some of the best job opportunities of any design profession.

Internships have become commonplace, and sometimes required, for many college students. However, they aren't always easy to get.

An internship is a pre-professional work experience that provides students, recent graduates and those changing careers with an opportunity to gain experience in a particular field.

According to an article by Liz Wolgemuth, a writer for U.S. News & World Report, internships are often very competitive and usually unpaid. Available opportunities can often be found on company Web sites and more recently on social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn.

"Internships at flashy companies are great for your résumé and possibly your skill set," she notes. "But you can learn sales at a small firm. You can work on terrific projects at little-known companies. The world is full of successful people who got their start at small-town spots and no-name firms."

"The world is also full of successful companies that were once no-name firms depending on employees and interns who were willing to take a risk on them," adds Wolgemuth. "When Google hired its first employee in 1998, the company could hardly have depended on its illustrious name. Be brave and look beyond a label. Then go work hard and work smart."

TheStreet has many tips for those seeking internships:

• talk with teachers - many organizations turn to professors to locate potential interns
• use your school - most colleges have a career services center that can offer advice, counselors and job fairs
• network with friends
• go straight to the source - it's helpful to talk with a company's human resources department to learn about internship possibilities
• update your resume
• practice interviewing
• choose the right references - it's important to choose a diverse group, including previous employers, professors and coaches
• look beyond your comfort zone - location shouldn't prevent you from applying for opportunities, and some companies will pay for relocation expenses
• don't rely on just one source - apply to more than one internship and use all available sources
• remember it's never too late - you won't know if positions are still available unless you ask

Once you've obtained an internship, there are a few steps you can take to prepare, according to Monster Career Advice: accept an offer verbally and in writing, continue to study the organization you will be working for to prepare for your position, buy internship-appropriate clothing, make sure all transportation and living arrangements are in order and that you'll be able to get to work on time and show up a few minutes early on your first day.