We’re excited to support you with your internship goals!
Welcome, Cougs! Whether you are starting your search, in the middle of applying, or just have questions about internships – we’re here to support you. This channel is designed to bring you featured resources, internships, articles, and more! Use the ‘Follow this Community’ button to update your content and weekly email preferences.
What is an internship?
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), an internship is defined as ‘a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional workplace setting‘.
In short, it’s your chance to put classroom learning into practice and build real-world experience. When we think about internships, we look for these elements:
- Learning objectives tied to academic and career goals.
- Opportunity to gain and apply skills and knowledge transferable to other jobs.
- Clear position description with responsibilities and qualifications in addition to a defined start and end (ideally aligned with our academic calendar).
- Direct supervision by a professional(s) with relevant expertise and educational and/or professional experience who offers guidance, feedback, guidance, and ensures access to necessary resources and a safe environment.
Ready to start your internship search? Here are a few actionable steps!
- Meet with a career coach during drop-in hours or schedule an appointment via Handshake.
- Draft a resume and have it reviewed by a Career Coach.
- Start your search!
- Look for internship announcements in your academic department or meet with an internship coordinator.
- Participate in the career expos. Over 70% of the employers in attendance are hiring interns, making it an excellent way to network and find an internship.
