Internships are an increasingly important part of the college experience. According to the NACE Job Outlook Survey, more than 70% of employers prefer to hire candidates with relevant work experience, and a majority of employers prefer that experience to come through an internship or co-op. Internships provide students with opportunities to build valuable skills and utilize what they have learned in the classroom.
What to Look for When Applying for an Internship
There’s a wide variety of internships and it is important to take the time when deciding which internship is the best fit for you. Below are a few tips to help you navigate your internship search and decide if an internship aligns with your career path.
Signs of a Well-Structured Internship
You are learning new skills and how to apply them
You want to walk away from your internship with new skill sets that will help you prepare you for future job opportunities.
You are supervised by someone with industry experience
Your supervisor should want to share their wisdom and expertise with you. Having a supervisor or mentor who guides you and gives you constructive feedback will help you grow professionally.
Your responsibilities align with your coursework
You want to ensure that you will be participating in meaningful projects that make an impact. Participating in these projects should allow you to apply what you have learned in the classroom in a real-world setting.
There are opportunities to meet co-workers from other departments.
Not only should you be learning new techniques in your internship but you should also be given the opportunity to network with coworkers and peers. Now is the time to start building your network!
Signs of a Poorly-Structured Internship
There are no clear goals
While you are reading an internship job description you should be able figure out what your goals will be, what new skills you will learn, and the type of projects you’ll work on. If you are unsure after reading the description then you might want to pass on applying.
The organization has a negative or no online presence
Does the company have bad reviews on Glassdoor? Are you having trouble finding out information about the company? Does their website look extremely outdated? You may want to look into these questions a little more before applying for the internship.
You only perform busy work and low-level tasks
If this is happening to you, schedule a meeting with your supervisor to ask about options to work on projects that will help you acquire new skills. You can also ask your supervisor if you can take the initiative to develop your own projects to work on.
Finding Internships in Handshake
Handshake is the university-wide internship and professional job database. Students can access Handshake by clicking here and entering their AccessNet username and password.
A few helpful tips for finding the right internship in Handshake:
- Fill out Your Career Interest Profile.
- Click on “Jobs” and use the Filter tool and keyword search function.
- Make sure to “Favorite” employers to ensure you are updated when they post internship opportunities.
- Explore collections! We have created collections to help organize your job and internship search! Filter by collections like proximity to campus, jobs/internships perfect for your college/major, and more!
Making the Most Out of Your Internship
Your internship is an opportunity to gain real-world experience while applying what you have learned in the classroom. Make the right impression by following our helpful tips.
Ask questions and listen
Make sure to ask questions. Your supervisor knows that you are there to learn and they are expecting you to ask questions.
Pay attention to the office culture
Conduct research on the industry in which you will be working. Is it a professional, business casual or casual dress environment? You want to make sure that you dress appropriately for the culture of the office. After you begin working, observe others to find the best way to interact with your team.
Connect with coworkers and peers to learn and build your network
Your coworkers might have certain abilities that you would like to develop. If they do, ask them how they developed those skills. If there is an opportunity to meet new colleagues or collaborate with a different department, take it. Your internship should allow you to build your professional network.
Ask for feedback from your supervisor
Ask to meet with your supervisor on a regular basis. When you meet, ask them for their feedback. What could you be doing differently? What could you be doing better? Are you on the right track to meet your goals? Once you get the feedback, make sure to use it.
Take initiative
If you run out of work to do, take the initiative to brainstorm project ideas and run them by your supervisor. What kind of projects would help you develop the competencies you intend to grow?
Make suggestions
Now is your time to learn and make mistakes! There should not be any repercussions for making a bad suggestion, so make your ideas heard. Your suggestions may benefit the company.
Seek advice on your resume
Towards the end of your internship, ask your supervisor to look over your resume to help you realize all of the new skill sets that you have acquired. This can also help you learn how to sell yourself to other employers when you begin your job search process.