2. Learning Outcomes
Understand what an internship is and how it applies to your
academic journey at GC
Become familiar with national trends and the importance of
completing an internship
Be informed of resources available to help you prepare, search and
complete an internship(s)
Obtain answers to general questions you have with the internship
process
3. The Chronicle of Higher Education and American Public Media’s Marketplace Survey (2012)
5. What is an internship?
- An opportunity to integrate career-related experience into an undergraduate
education by receiving credit for participating in planned, supervised work with an
employer.
- A form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the
classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting
(National Association of Colleges and Employers)
Traditional Academic Coursework On-site Internship Full-time Job
Goal: Link critical/ analytical skills gained from a liberal arts holistic worldview to desired
skills needed for practical professional workplace experience
Internships provide: an understanding of a particular career field, exposure to a work
environment, skill growth and personal career goal projections
6. What is an internship - continued
Generally, most internships are temporary and have a defined time frame (one
semester, one year)
Includes a position description with relevant and clearly defined learning
objectives
Designated on-site working hours
Supervised experience, providing regular feedback and evaluation of the student
Assigned academic work, major project and reflection assignments
Internships compensation varies upon employers offerings (unpaid, hourly,
stipend, room & board, travel reimbursement, etc.)
7. Academic credit
Receiving academic credit for an internship requires you to pay tuition.
Academic credit 1-3 hours depending on department
Number of credit hours available varies per major, which will vary the cost of tuition.
The Career Center recommends getting academic credit for unpaid internships.
Academic credit may not be necessary for paid internships.
Certain academic departments on campus require an internship prior to graduation while others
may or may not offer optional opportunities for academic credit. Speak with your academic
advisor for more information.
Based on your academic plan, some students complete part-time internships with their academic
courses while others may elect to engage in summer internships
Remember to report your internship to both a faculty advisor and the career center
9. Internships Paperwork
The following majors process paperwork in Career Center AFTER approved by faculty advisor.
• Biology • Chemistry • Community Health • Criminal Justice • Environmental Science
• History • Mass Communication • Math • Liberal Studies • Physics
• Political Science • Public Administration • Sociology
Business, psychology, music therapy, education, nursing, exercise science and athletic training have
academic internship programs or field placement experiences and use their own paperwork process.
10. Legalities to Know About Unpaid Internships
The following six criteria must be applied when making this determination:
The internship, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is
similar to training which would be given in an educational environment;
The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern;
The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of
existing staff;
The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the
activities of the intern; and on occasion its operations may actually be impeded;
The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship; and
The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the
time spent in the internship.
Fact Sheet #71 –The Fair Labor Standards Act
11. How does an internship benefit me?
Elevates the development of “soft skills”
Helps provide long-term application of core academic material and a deeper understanding of major-specific
courses
Reinforces conceptual learning
Allows you to master skills more specific to your industry
Opportunity to gain responsibility and play an active role within the organization
Introduced to multiple industry contacts and a chance to enhance your professional network
Provides safe space to make mistakes and learn from them
Increases probability of obtaining a job and finding a mentor
Creates a sense of identity as a professional, builds a sense of accomplishment, and confidence
Provides you unique access to high-profile projects, department meetings, and company partners
Some companies support and provide additional professional development opportunities
14. Exercise – Make your time chart
Class/ Study Intramurals USG Greek Org Job Give Center
How you spend your time defines what you think is
important.
Am I investing my energy into the right things?
How can this help me gather skills for an internship?
Am I well-balanced, under or over working myself?
Am I setting aside time for rest, professional
development or time to do an internship search?
15. Wandering Map – ConnectYour Interest IntoYour Passion
Running
Traveling
Working
with people
Golf
Mountains
Urban City
Mizuno Shoe Territory Sales Manager (Atlanta)
Structured work
Helping
others
State Farm Insurance Rep (Chicago)
Scrap
booking
Wedding Planner
Movies
16. Activity - SWOT Analysis -Write DownYourTop 3
Fashion Design and Merchandising
Strengths (what are you good at?What are your values?)
Ex: likes fashion, knows latest trends, reads fashion magazines
Weaknesses (what do you need to improve in?)
Ex: No experience in retail, doesn’t have a car, no resume
Opportunities (what am I best suited for?)
Ex: local department stores, boutique shops, competitions
Threats (what stands in my way of success?)
Ex: Funds, geographic location, lack of experience
17. Checklist – Where to Start
Review your Academic Report (with an academic advisor), see where
your internship could fit into your class schedule
Meet with your faculty internship coordinator if you are trying to obtain
academic credit to express interest (at least 3 months before)
Schedule an appointment with the Career Center to brainstorm where to
look for internships (or faculty members)
Reach out to potential references about your interest in an internship
Follow up with site supervisor on start date, additional items, goal
forecasting
Once you have confirmed your internship, file paperwork with CC or FIC
18. What can I do now?
Develop a well crafted resume and cover letter
Identify and seek out your potential references before
you apply
Conduct a mock interview
Utilize personal network: National student organizations,
faculty, past employers, Greek chapter alumni groups,
family/friends, UniversityAlumni Groups
Familiarize yourself with internship app deadlines!
19. ThingsTo Consider
Consider your timeline (Fall, Spring, Summer)
Determine what industry you are interested in (narrow in on a few niche areas
to explore) *Occupational Outlook, O-Net
Define specific and well-thought out career objectives
Familiarize yourself with potential internship sites - location (region, cost of
living, resources)
Study similar internship job descriptions - Can you do what they are asking of
you?
20. Get Involved/Diversify Your Experiences
Join local student groups
Be active in professional organizations (national)
Subscribe to industry journals or research items of importance in your potential future field
Build a digital brand:
Network on the Linkedin Alumni Group
Create a professional facebook page apart from your social page
Develop a portfolio (academic projects and work-related assignments)
Volunteer or give time to complete community service
Consider your options of studying abroad (gaining a global understanding)
Seek out free professional development opportunities on campus (seminars, guest speakers, etc.).
21. Be Proactive
Ask to job shadow/visit a business for the day
Conduct informational interviews with dream employers
Do not just skim over company profiles, conduct thorough research and keep notes
Schedule a meeting with a Career Center staff member
Speak to faculty in your academic department
Keep an organized binder through your search
DIDYOU KNOW? … From the mid-1980s to the mid-2000s, the share of college graduates participating in at least one internship
rose from less than 10% to over 80%
*Wallstreet Journal
22. Where can I find an internship? - Recruitment
Career fairs and on-campus recruiting comprise more than half of employers’ recruiting budgets for both
interns and co-op students (NACE National Internship Survey)
Job listings on career services’ websites place third in effectiveness for recruiting both interns and co-op
students. Referrals from current or former interns was deemed fourth most effective for recruiting interns
(NACE National Internship Survey)
Career Connection
Job search engines (Internships.com, Idealist.org, experience.com, mediabistro.com)
National Organizations
LinkedIn
Personally reaching out to the individual employer if you have identified a specific company
DIDYOU KNOW? … 68.6% of participants used social media to find or research an internship.
*LookSharp’s 2015 State of College Hiring data publication (sample of 5,000 students).
23. CHALLENGE:
Sign up for
Career Connection
TODAY!
How to get to Career Connection:
Visit the Career Center homepage
(http://www.gcsu.edu/career)
Students tab (left side of page)
Click “Career Connection”
Register!
24. Increase your internship success
Have a positive attitude
Find a mentor
Communicate your challenges and successes
Go “above and beyond the call of duty”
Talk to current and previous interns
Step out of your comfort zone
Ask questions
26. Brainstorm Activity – Write down …
What field you are interested in?
Specific companies which interest you
When you plan to do your internship (Summer 3rd year, Fall 4th
year)
Three goals you want to achieve in your internship
91% of employers think that students should have between one and two internships before graduating, according to the survey.
Complete an internship project for the company – keep in your professional portfolio
Soft skills: communication, social
Conceptual learning (how we organize and make sense of things)
Master skills (industry-specific software, able to understand the market
Example: Print journalism positively transitioning to online readership
Look at your class schedule – academic advisor / reach out to faculty members who may coordinate internships within your department
Focus2 Career Connection, mynextmove.org, schedule an appointment with an internship coordinator
Example: Skills: Great at data collection/spreadsheets, terrible at organizing a meeting
(build leadership and team-working skills)
At least half of employers say leadership positions in on-campus organizations are important.
Professional organizations – shows you appreciate collaborative efforts and gathering new ideas outside your region
*Show employers your passion by doing things which are not mandatory
Boost – intern ready meet-up, linkedin meet-up, career fair
Via phone or in-person