If you're in the human resources business, or part of a large organization, it might benefit you to look into hiring students for HR summer internships.

Students looking for HR internships are definitely out there and will benefit from the pre-work experience. Large organizations will benefit, because interns contribute to the bottom line, not to mention they're inexpensive and productive.

According to an article by Business Management Daily, the current state of the economy is making it even more important for HR departments to find all the low-cost talent they can.

Here are a few tips to help you find HR interns and maximize their potential:

First, focus on location. Contact state and regional college chapters of the Society for Human Resource Management. Many student SHRM chapters allow organizations to post internship openings on their Web sites and some maintain databases of companies that provide internships. These Web sites can also be good places to find information to reach faculty who might be able to recommend interns.

Second, you can post internships on SHRM's Web site at no cost by contacting the organization’s student programs department.

Third, become a student mentor. This will help you get in touch with possible internship candidates. Colleges are usually in need of volunteers and becoming an HR student mentor is a great way to do so.

Next, once you've found interns, focus on productivity instead of busy work. You can do this by assigning meaningful duties that also help lighten the work of the regular HR staff. Most companies allow students to rotate through different HR functions, while others allow them to specialize in one area.

Following that, set specific qualifications for interns that match the company's needs. For instance, some employers require one to three years of undergraduate HR program experience, while others only accept HR graduate students.

Finally, require your interns to be organized and detail-oriented. They should not only be able to communicate with employees at all levels and work as a team, but also be able to work independently.

What do a rum company and green-oriented environmentalists have in common? They're both teaming up to offer a short an unusual internship. Click here to learn more about green internships.

Malibu Rum has teamed up with Reef Check to offer 10 people a Malibu beach internship working as coral reef health checkers. The interns who are selected will travel to Thailand, the Maldives or the Philippines to work with Reef Check, a group that monitors, protects and rehabilitates coral reefs.

The internships, which last 10 days, are unpaid. But the program is an innovative way to encourage interns to try something different, instead of sitting in an office all day during the summer.

On top of that, it's a win-win for both companies. Malibu gets to promote its rum, while Reef Check gets to highlight the importance of coral reef health which can be an important early indicator in the effects of global warming.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and at least 21-years old. Those who convey the most creativity, enthusiasm and character will be selected as finalists. Those interns will then blog about their experiences.

"What we love about the Malibu/Reef Check Partnership is that it is very real - with on-the-ground training in reef monitoring - the core of the Reef Check program," Dr. Gregor Hodgson, founder and executive director of Reef Check, said. "With Malibu's help we can reach out to so many thousands of young people and engage them in marine conservation."

Anyone not selected to be a Malibu beach intern can still join Reef Check expeditions to destinations such as the Philippines, Oman and Honduras, with fees ranging from around $999-$3000 for the dive trips.

Many more students are focusing on finding internships and entry level jobs in Washington D.C. Visit http://www.experience.com to find out more about government internships.

A recent survey from The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars found that 69 percent of students are more inclined to choose a career in public service. This large increase creates a number of benefits for federal government agencies.

"With baby boomers getting ready to retire from government service, agencies can utilize internships to eliminate 'brain drain' and fill vacant positions with qualified, trained personnel," Jennifer Clinton, TWC Chief Operating Officer said. "Plus, interns bring new ideas, technological skills, and many can be hired for full-time positions directly through the Student Career Employment Program."

TWC is one of the largest internship and education organizations in the country. The organization has placed more than 800 interns with hundreds of companies, non-profits and government agencies this summer alone. Interest in internships with TWC has increased by 20 percent, with the greatest rise in federal agencies.

"It is very encouraging that this generation wants to work in government to help solve our country's tough economic challenges," Norman Y. Mineta, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, said. "In essence, they want to get involved because they can make a difference. And, there has never been a better time for the government to show this generation all that it has to offer."

TWC provides the necessary infrastructure for a student to complete a successful internship. The organization provides housing, academic classes and a series of career seminars, as well as education on what will be required at their current position.

Some workers in South Carolina are getting help from the government to receive the skills they need in order to find entry level jobs.

The South Carolina Department of Commerce recently announced that it is adding $4 million to the state technical college system's Quick Jobs program. The money is coming from the federal Workforce Investment Act and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The investment in the training program could tremendously help those who are looking for an entry level job. For instance, people can receive up to 240 hours in training for energy-related jobs, such as weatherizing homes, that pay anywhere from $15 to $31 per hour.

Anyone who loses their job to foreign competition or who lacks the skills necessary to be considered for an existing job is eligible for the training. Workers will be screened by state employment offices to see if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Finding entry level jobs has become harder than usual as of late, as older and more experienced workers who have lost their jobs are thrown into the same candidate pool. And in South Carolina, finding any job has become increasingly difficult for some time.

During May, the state's unemployment rate increased from 11.4 percent to 12.1 percent, which is higher than the national unemployment rate of 9.4 percent. South Carolina hasn't seen its unemployment rate decrease since January 2008, when it went from 5.8 percent to 5.7 percent.

Despite the rising unemployment rate, South Carolina has managed to add some jobs as of late. The state had a total non-farm employment of 1,852,000 workers during May, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 1,851,400 workers during April, but a 4.8 percent decrease from last year.