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Internships

Table at the Internship Fair

A glimpse into the real world
How do you find an Internship?
What assistance do we provide regarding internships?
How can you earn academic credit for your internship?
What can you do to make the most of your internship experience?
Not sure you’re ready for an internship?

A glimpse into the real world

An internship provides hands-on experience in the world of work. Don’t worry
if you do not know exactly what industry or job you want upon graduation. Internships are just as much about finding out what you DON’T like as they are about finding out what you DO.  Internships help you clarify your interests,
gain experience in an industry, and discover what kind of professional environment is most appealing to you.
 
“Candidates with internship experience were considerably more likely to receive a job offer than their counterparts who did not have any experiential education in their back-ground.” - National Association of College’s & Employers (NACE) Research Brief: 2010 Student Survey

“Graduates with internships also tended to receive a significantly higher
starting salary offer.” - National Association of College’s & Employers (NACE) Research Brief: 2010 Student Survey

How do you find an internship?

Finding an internship does not start with the Internet – it starts with you! You can start with a visit with a career coach in CA 243 to talk about your interests, talents, skills, and values.
 
Take a look at what’s out there! Start with IndianaINTERNnet here and Jagjobs here to look at internships that are available. Ask your professors too!

Some popular internship web sites are: here

Print or download all the internship descriptions that sound interesting to you and bring them to CA243 when you meet with a career coach. Then we will help you make a plan to secure internships that will provide the experiences you most desire.

What assistance do we provide regarding internships?

Our career coaches can help you determine what types of internships will be most beneficial to you and then identify resources for finding those opportunities. We also provide feedback on your resume, cover letters, and any other application materials you are asked to provide. We are also happy to help you prepare for your internship interviews and to talk with you about how to make the most of your internship experience. 

We are also here as a resource during your internship to help provide guidance and advice when you think you have an exciting opportunity that you aren’t quite sure how to manage or if you find yourself in a difficult situation that you’re not sure how to handle.

Stop by during our walk-in hours for a resume review with a career coach or schedule an appointment to talk about the unique strengths and experiences you have to offer a potential internship employer or for a mock interview.

How can you earn academic credit for your internship?

Earning academic credit for an internship is something that many students consider and some degrees or employers require. It is not essential that students earn academic credit in order to have a meaningful, valuable experiences.

When students desire and/or are required to earn academic credit for their internship, this is typically pursued through the academic department in which they are majoring, or possibly a department in which they are earning a minor or certificate.

Some general guidelines regarding earning credit for internships are provided here.

A list of internship contacts for each Liberal Arts department will be provided on this web page soon. Until then, you can stop by the Career Development Office in CA 243 or e-mail us at libacdo@iupui.edu to get more information about earning academic credit for internships in your major and to find out the specific contact for your department.

What can you do to make the most of your internship experience?

The following articles provide excellent tips for how to make the most of your internship:

USA News, 10 Tips to Get the Most out of Your Internship

Quintessential Careers, Making the Most of Your Internship(s)

eHow.com, How to Make the Most of an Internship

AvidCareerist, 10 Things Someone Should Tell You About Internships 
(repost of tweet from Karen Siwak, a Toronto resume writer, #HFChat)

Get Out Today*, Making the Most of Your Internship
* This company/web site does not seem to be kept up-to-date, but this article is still accurate and worth reading.

Not sure you’re ready for an internship?

Try an externship! An externship is a job shadowing experience that can last one to five days, or possibly up to two weeks, to explore potential career paths.

Check out IUPUI’s Externship Program for more information about this career exploration opportunity.