Internships & Experiential Education
Defining
Internships
What is an internship?
An internship is a short-term experiential work opportunity that
allows you to build professional skills and contacts while involving
you in substantive responsibilities for an organization. Internships
are not the only type of experiential learning opportunities. Others
include:
- Research Opportunities
- Externships: Short-term exposure to a career field
- Summer jobs
- Service learning
- Volunteer Work
- Part-time jobs (on-campus part-time
jobs through the
Student Employment Office)
Questions to Ask Yourself & Benefits of the Internship
Before you begin to search for internship opportunities, ask yourself
this question: what is your mission? What do you hope to gain from
your internship experience? Is your internship a vehicle to be used
to:
- Base a decision on for an academic major?
- "Try out" a particular career field?
- Acquire broad exposure to an industry?
- Develop specific skills?
- Gain professional experience and a competitive edge?
- Learn while having fun?
- Do research or independent study?
- Learn or improve foreign language skills?
- Travel or explore a new culture or geographical area?
- Earn money?
The benefits that can come from completing an internship include:
- Clarification of your likes and dislikes in courses, experiences,
etc.
- Assistance in building your contacts in various industries
(networking)
- Establishing a work history
- Connecting course work with the "real world"
- Fostering professional maturity
- Provide examples and experiences to discuss in an interview
- Lead to a full-time job offer
Why would employers hire interns?
- Seeking possible candidates for future hire
- Looking for creative, bright ideas
- Provide an educational opportunity
- Assistance in accomplishing tasks & goals in the organizations
Priorities and Limitations
Geography: Establish a geographic focus for your internship search:
- Do you have to be in a specific geographic area?
- Do you prefer one geographic area over another?
- Do you prefer to be at home this summer, or is part of your mission
to live in a new city or environment?
Housing: Will you have access to housing?
- Do you have relatives in the area with whom you can stay? Friends?
Family of a classmate?
- Can you afford to sublet an apartment?
- Are there any university-based housing options available?
Summer
Housing Resources
Finances: Some internships are paid, while some are not and may offer
academic credit
- Do you need to make money over the summer? How much?
- What will your living expenses be?
Internship Search Strategies
Three Strategies for Internship Searching
Focused Flexibility: It is important that you are clear about why you
are pursuing an internship while being flexible and open to
opportunities that may arise as you search. Once you have hammered out
your goals, think of ways you could realistically achieve them through
an internship. Your focus will be essential in identifying appropriate
internship opportunities and in cultivating a satisfying and rewarding
internship experience.
1. Database Searching: Start your search by viewing what already exists in the
UCAN
database or internships.com.
(To use internships.com, click on their site, find University of
Richmond and add cdc as the promo code. You will then need to
enter your UR email address and a password.) There are
many other formal, structured, and established opportunities already listed
in these resources and many students have been successful in finding
opportunities that fit their summer goals.
2. Targeting Organizations: Target an organization, an industry, or a geographic location and
create your own opportunity. Many students design an internship that
will provide them with an experience that will fit their summer goals
- this takes time and work so be sure to start early. Using resources
like CareerSearch
may be useful in this process. Here is a link to a list of the
top 200 internship employers:
http://www.collegegrad.com/topemployers/internships.shtml
3. Networking:
80% of jobs are filled through networking. An internship is no
different.
It is not a dirty word. This is still the most effective way to secure
an internship (or full-time job). Tap into your circle of friends,
family, professors, previous employers,
Richmond alumni, etc. Make
them aware of your summer goals and give them an opportunity to
provide their assistance - whether it is in the form of advice,
connecting you to their network, or an actual opportunity.
A Few Suggestions:
If you know of someone who works in an organization that interests
you, talk to him or her! Start early and take control of the process
- Follow up with every application you submit (unless it states not
to!)
- Use a combination of the search strategies and resources
- Conducting an informational interview; It can give you an
edge in developing your application materials as well as
demonstrate your interest to someone inside the organization
- Apply to as many opportunities as you can handle the follow up for
- Your job is to figure out exactly what this company is looking for
and incorporate that into your application materials. To do this
effectively, research the company and apply your skills in a way that
matches the position's description. Knowing the industry is also
important.
- Read the application material thoroughly — know what is required
- Approach your internship search and application process with
professionalism
- Don't stop the process until you have received and accepted
an offer
- Keep track of deadlines
- One thing to keep in mind if you're looking for an
internship: it's good practice for finding a job
Following Up: This may be the most important component to the internship search
process. A follow up phone call or email may be the difference
between you and another candidate. Do not be overly persistent
(calling every day) and make sure to play by their rules (if they say
no phone calls, then do not call). Inquiring where the organization
may be in their search process or contacting them to ensure that they
received your materials is a professional and subtle way to get your
name across their desk once again. This is an especially important
step when targeting an organization and when you are working with your
network. If you get nervous talking to people, script out your
conversation on paper so that you have a guideline to follow. This
will help you get comfortable with these professional phone calls.
Meet with one of our counselors to help clarify things--that's why
they're here!
Don't Forget About...
 Résumés
Cover Letters
Interviewing
UR Internship
Programs & Support
Bonner
Scholars
Center for Civic Engagement
Connect
Richmond
DC Initiative
Jepson
School of Leadership Studies (Research, Internships, and
Independent Study)
On Campus Interviewing
(CDC)
Richmond
Research Institute (Search under "Student Resources" & "Student
Research")
Academic Departments
(Also review Research and Independent Study opportunities)
Resources for
Your Search
|
