Internship Guide: The Experience Imperative

A "How To" Guide

 

Introduction

An internship is a part-time or full-time temporary experience usually lasting one semester that is designed to give students exposure to their chosen major or career interest.  Participating in an internship is definitely a vital element when planning for a successful career.  Why?  Because not everything about your chosen field or career can be taught in a classroom or learned from a book.  By participating in an internship, you can experience firsthand what someone in your chosen major or career does each day.  You will also gain insight, perspective, and experience that you can offer to a future, prospective employer.  Nowadays, experience on your resume is imperative to obtaining a full-time position after graduation, or being more focused and successful in the graduate/professional school application process. 

 

Conduct a Self-Assessment

Before you start to look for an internship to fit your particular needs and wants, it is a good idea to take an assessment of your interests, skills, talents and abilities.  Taking this inventory will not only help with building a strong resume and preparing for interviews, but it will also help with setting goals for the internship and beyond. 

 

Create a Plan

Setting a plan of action is primary in the internship search process.  Here are a few important considerations: 

• Where?  Is location a factor?  In San Antonio?  In your hometown?  In a different city or state?  Being geographically flexible can significantly increase your options.

• When?  During the summer or during the semester?  What will your schedule look like?  How many hours a week can you dedicate as an intern?  Keep in mind that the summer is the most common, and therefore, most competitive time to do an internship.

• Pay?  What are your financial obligations this semester/summer?  Do you need a paid internship?  Should you search for a part-time job instead?  Just remember that many good internships are unpaid or pay a stipend. 

• Credit?  Are you doing this internship to count for academic credit?  What are the qualifications?  Will this internship count towards your degree in any way?

These are all are pieces of the internship finding process that will make your search more efficient and organized.

 

Set Goals

Setting primary goals for your internship experience is helpful to narrow options and gain a focus.  The best way to set these goals is to ponder questions such as:

• What am I planning to learn or gain from the experience? 

• What specific skills do I want to strengthen or develop?

• What am I willing to do/not do?

• Why am I doing this internship?

Now that you know a bit more about yourself, your goals, and what you’re looking for, it’s time to begin your search. 

 

Get Orientated

Visit Career Services to go over the basics like your resume, cover letter and interviewing skills, plus get advice on what field or industry you might focus on for your internship.  We will also take you around the office and guide you through the various resources and services that Career Services offers. 

It is also a good idea to visit with your academic adviser about your interest in doing an internship.  Some majors require an internship, but most do not.  Some departments will grant credit for an internship experience.

 

Consider Your Strategies

In Career Services, you can begin your search using a variety of resources and strategies. 

1. On-Campus Interviews:  Look through the list of companies coming to campus to recruit for internships and full-time employment.  You can pick up an on-campus interview schedule in the handout rack in Career Services.  Students must be registered in TigerJobs to participate.

2. Resume Referrals:  Post your resume in the TigerJobs Resume Book, an online resume databank where employers can search for you.

3. Career/Networking Fairs:  Attend local career fairs such as the SACUCCA Job Fair (November), to meet with employers who are looking for candidates for internships as well as part-time and full-time employment.  Career Services also receives information on other local and national fairs.  Check TigerJobs for the latest information on job fairs and other career events.

4. Internship Listings: Career Services houses binders of current internship listings both in and outside San Antonio. These listings are also available via the web by registering with TigerJobs. 

5. Internship Archives:  Career Services has Archive Binders that house information on internships that employers have advertised in the past. These past listings may be your key to an internship that has not yet been publicized. 

6. Print Resources:  Come look through the Career Resource Library in Career Service for books such as The Internship Bible or the Yale Daily News Guide to Internships for structured internship programs nationwide. There are also books on choosing careers, what jobs are available for your major, and other related topics.

7. Internet Resources:  There are many good websites that list internships across the country and beyond.  Log onto websites like monster.com, experience.com and internshipprograms.com, to conduct your search. In Career Services, you can log onto these websites and print any necessary information free of charge. 

8. Departmental Research:  Speak with your academic adviser, or someone in your specific academic department, for tips on internships in your field of study. Most professors have outside contacts that may help you to develop internship leads. 

9. Personal Research:  If there is a specific company, organization or industry you would like to work in, you may be able to develop your own internship. Use resources located in the Career Resource Library to conduct industry or field specific research.  Also take some time to consider any personal networks or contacts (e.g., friends, family, etc.) to generate even more potential internship leads. 

 

Implement Your Search

Create & Send Resumes/Cover Letters: 

Once you have compiled a targeted list of potential internship sites, the next step is to send out resumes and cover letters to the employers you are interested in and then set up interviews.  Refer to the Resume Guide, available in Career Services for tips on writing a professional cover letter and resume.   

 

Set Up and Prepare for Interviews: 

It is always helpful to conduct research on employers of interest so that you are knowledgeable in the interview.  This can be done by visiting the company's website or by doing your own personal research.  Important things to find out are the company's size, products or services, structure, advancement possibilities and overall expectations.  Refer to the Interview Guide, available in Career Services for tips and information for a successful interview.   

 

Send Thank You Letters and Follow Up: 

If by chance you do not hear back from employers, it is a good idea to keep in contact with them.  A follow-up phone call or letter is a courteous way of showing your continued interest. 

 

Be Patient: 

Now it is time to be patient, and wait for a response.  It is very possible to receive more than one offer in a short length of time.  Do not feel pressured to accept an offer right away, it is always a good idea to keep your options open.  Normally, a week or so is an appropriate time frame for your response.  Last, once you accept an offer, it is courteous to let any other employers know that you’ve made a commitment elsewhere

Questions or comments?  careerservices@trinity.edu   

© 2006 Trinity University│One Trinity Place, #78, San Antonio, Texas 78212-7200

Coates University Center, Suite 215│(210) 999-8321│(210) 999-7493(f)│careerservices@trinity.edu