Starting an Internship Search

Internships can drastically improve your chances of being hired after you graduate because they provide experience and familiarity with the day-to-day operations of your field. However, beginning an internship search can be a daunting task. If you have an idea of what you’re looking for before starting your search, you can improve your chances of success in finding one that meets your needs.

There are a few essential questions to ask yourself before starting. Keeping a list of preferences will help you narrow your selection down and keep you from feeling overwhelmed.

• Do you know what field you want your internship to be in? If you’re thinking about changing your major, talk to the Career Services Staff. If you have a concentration within your major that you really enjoy, you may want to seek out organizations in that same vein. For example, if you are a political science major with a concentration in non-profit organizations, you may want to seek out child advocacy non-profit groups and shadow an employee in the field.

• What size of business? Does the size of the organization matter to you? If you’ve always pictured yourself in a small-town business environment, a large corporate business background may help you gain experience, but it may not satisfy your individual needs. Search for opportunities with organizations that fit with your vision of a company.

• Paid or unpaid? Can you afford to take time off your normal job to pick up an unpaid internship? While some internships are paid and highly competitive, many are unpaid. Be realistic in narrowing your selection down. If possible, evaluate the quality of the experience rather than the amount of money you’ll make as a result.

• How long, when, and where? Depending on the number of hours per week, some students take their internship concurrently with academic classes while others use Summer and Winter Terms. If you’re looking for out of state opportunities, can you afford a standard living in the area? Be sure to factor in financial obligations before accepting a position out of state.

• Do you want academic credit? Many departments offer internship credit within your major. If departmental credit is not available, you can still qualify for COOP 200 credit from Career Services.

• What skills do you want to learn or use? Watch out for glorified desk clerk positions! Before applying or accepting a position, ask your potential internship coordinator onsite what type of work you will be performing. Does the description fit with your coursework? At the end of the internship, you want experience in the field not just in answering phones. (Although that may be an important part, especially if you’re in sales.)

There are many questions to ask yourself before beginning your search. These are just a few that may apply to your field and major. You can also go to Career Services Center to receive assistance.