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Internships
What is an internship and why do one?
How do I find an
internship?
How do I find an internship
that's right for me ?
How do I get the most out of an internship?
Other frequently asked
questions about internships...
What if I have problems in my internship?
What is an internship and why do one?
-
An internship is
your best chance to test out potential career choices. You'll get
real-life experience doing the work of an employee in an organization.
-
An internship is
also a good way to learn about different management styles and work
environments. Internships help you learn what type of work suits you.
-
An internship
helps you develop professional skills and build a network of contacts. This will help you later when you begin your job search.
-
An internship is
the best way to connect the learning you are doing in the classroom to the
world of work. Basically, you'll learn by doing.
- An internship will help you get a job after you graduate.
Employers seek job candidates with some type of experience. Internships
build your resume and increase your chances of getting hired later.
How do I find an internship?
-
Search for listings on GoldPASS, the U of M's job
and internship database. It lists
thousands of opportunities just for U of M students.
- Stop by the Career and Community Learning Center in 135 Johnston Hall. We can steer you to books, internship-search sites, and other ways
to find internships. After you find an internship you want to apply for, we can
also help you write a resume or prepare for a possible interview.
- Check in with
the department that oversees your major.
Some departments have newsletters or e-mails that provide
internship information. Or they may have an office bulletin board where
listings are posted. Ask someone at the department for suggestions.
- Do an
internet search for sites that post
national or international internship listings. Our check our page with links to sites listing internships, jobs, and volunteer positions.
- Ask people! Use your personal networks. You do have them: family,
friends, classmates, faculty, advisers, teaching assistants, neighbors....
anyone you can think of. To broaden your network, join a student organization
or volunteer somewhere. Here's
what you can say when asking about internships:
Sample script: I'm hoping to get an internship soon, so I can
explore career options and get some experience before I graduate. My major is
____, and I hope to get an internship doing ____. Do you know anyone who
works in this field or who works somewhere that might have internships in that
field? Or can you think of any other ways I might find an internship? If not
and you hear of something later, I'd appreciate you keeping me in mind.
How do I find an internship that's right for me ?
- First, consider your academic and personal goals. Also consider your strengths
and values. Do you want to work for a nonprofit? Then focus your search there.
Do you want to do advertising, anywhere? Then search by category, concentrating
on ones related to that field (e.g., Advertising, Marketing, Public Relations).
- Write a goal statement for yourself: "I would like an internship that will
give me an opportunity to...." This statement will guide your search. If
you're struggling to clarify your career goals, consider taking one of the
career exploration and planning courses we offer, ID
1201 or ID 3201.
- Explore
as many internship options as possible.
- If you
have trouble finding the right internship, try creating your own .
Decide what you want to do and find an organization that will support you. Keep
in mind that smaller, lesser-known organizations often provide internships that
are just as good as internships at big companies, and tend to be more flexible.
- Do an informational
interview with someone in an organization or field that
interests you. If it seems like a good fit, ask them about internship
possibilities in their organization or company. The Career and Community Learning Center provides books, handouts
and personal tips about conducting informational interviews. Stop by our
Resource Room in 135 Johnston
Hall.
- Once you find an internship, negotiate a 'Learning Contract' with your site supervisor.
This agreement clarifies your expectations and those of your supervisor and
maps out a plan for you as you work through your internship. Some experiences
are centered around a specific project--a campaign, for example--so your
agreement should be written with this project in mind. (See the next bullet below for even more info.)
How do I get the most out of an internship?
- Create a Learning Contract! Here’s how it works:
When you begin the internship, work with your supervisor to create a document
that maps out a work plan. Outline what you intend to learn and accomplish.
Both you and your supervisor can use this document to manage the position. If
your internship focuses on a specific project, write the learning contract
with that in mind. If it doesn’t, chart out various activities and projects, mutual
expectations, and goals. As you begin, consider your goals in these areas:
—Academics: What ideas and concepts in your field of study would you like to learn about, practice, or test?
—Skills: What practical skills do you want to develop?
-
Need help creating
a Learning Contract? Visit the Career and Community
Learning Center in 135 Johnston Hall.
- If you're doing an internship and you have difficulties in it, see our helpful chart that lists problems and potential solutions. It's a helpful tool for problem-solving various internship issues.
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