"Internship" used to be familiar only to junior and senior college students, but now, thanks to the Chongqing Human Resources Market, freshmen and sophomores may learn more about it.

The market announced a new plan early this month to give them a chance at internships as well. Starting this year, freshmen and sophomores who are interested in internships related to their major can submit a background description to the market. It will then try to contact employers with opportunities.

Liang Jin, who is with the market's development department, said that internships are both necessary and helpful to young students.

"A growing number of employers are complaining that students lack work experience in their field, and they are placing more emphasis on it than ever," Liang said. "An early internship can help a student gain experience, build a network and get ahead in the future job-hunt," she explained.

Zhang Li, a senior at East China Normal University, said she had benefited from her early internship experience. The law major started working at law firms her first year at university.

"Getting an early taste for the job helped me set tangible career goals and make informed choices in future," she said.

Most freshmen or sophomores are not quite so lucky. First of all, just finding an internship is no easy matter. Obviously, without professional certification or particular skills, they can hardly be expected to impress potential employers.

"Trying to get an internship too early can cause you embarrassment," explained Lin Guo, a sophomore at Sichuan University, who said he had a frustrating experience when he tried to get an internship during his freshman year. He made several stupid mistakes and gave a poor account of himself in the interview.

He wasn't the only one. Five of his eight roommates had similar problems, with three of them being turned down for summer internships. That's why the Human Resources Market wants to help such students.

"First of all, to find an early and enjoyable internship, students should lower their expectations and be patient," said Liang, of the market, "Start with the simplest. There are always things to learn."

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