1. The Importance of an Internship in
Relation to Job Marketability
Amanda Walker, Recruiting Coordinator

2. What is an Internship?
Work-integrated learning experience
(also can be called… a co-op,
internship, field work, practicum)
 Part-time or Full-time
 Short-term or Long-term
 Paid or Unpaid
 Intentional Learning Plan
 Promotes academic, personal and
professional development

3. What can you learn from
Internships?
Help you learn about a career field
from the inside
 Help you decide if this is the right
career field for you
 Enable you to work alongside a
professional in your chosen career area
 Give you new skills and add to your
knowledge base

4. What can you learn from
Internships?
 Give you confidence in your own
abilities
 Let you apply some of the ideas you've
learned in school
 Give you the opportunity to practice
your communication and teamwork
skills

5. Why are Internships are
important?
 Experiential education offers a chance
to learn by doing, in a setting where
you are supervised by a work-place
professional, and have the opportunity
to achieve your own learning goals,
without the responsibilities of being a
permanent employee.

6. Benefits to the Student
 Personal, Academic, Professional and
sometimes Financial
 45% of employers offer higher salaries
to incoming hires with internship/co-op
experience
2006 Experiential Education Survey
National Association of Colleges and Employers

7. Benefits to the Student
Gain Industry Knowledge
 Accumulate evidence of your abilities
 Make critical professional contacts
 Could possibly lead to full time
employment following graduation
 Research shows that 85 percent of companies use internships and similar
experiential education programs to recruit for their full-time workforces.
 -monster.com

8. Benefits to the Student
Allow you to meet new people and
practice your networking skills
 Make a valuable addition to your
resume
 Enhance your application to Graduate
School
 Open the door to a job offer or a
recommendation about the next steps
you should take on your career path

9. Benefits to the Employer
 provide a source of highly motivated pre-
professionals
 provide quality candidates for temporary
positions and projects
 allows for the freedom of professional staff
to pursue more creative projects
 provide a flexible, cost-effective work force
 provides a proven, cost-effective way to
recruit and evaluate potential employees

10. Internship Process
 The first step in the internship process
is finding internships to apply for.
 Where to find internships:
 Internships.com
 EmployUM and faculty referrals
 The Internet / Google Searches
 Feeler Resumes

11. Internships.com
 The Career Center has access to an
internship database, internships.com
 Allows students to search by field and
area of interest
 Provides information about internships
throughout the country

12. The Internet and Feeler
Resumes
 Students can search the web for
internships.
 However, they should be careful because
some opportunities could be a scam.
 For feeler resumes, students should
first get information about businesses
in the location they would like to intern.
 Send resumes and cover letters requesting
internship opportunity.

13. Applying to an Internship
 Your cover letter and resume should be
specific to the internship you are
applying for.
 In your cover letter: highlight specific
qualities that match those in the job
description.
 In your resume: Highlight work
experienced relevant to that job
combined with your education.

14. Guidelines
 Develop a different cover letter for
each opportunity.
 Employers will know if it is generic so
be specific to their position and
company.
 All cover letters and resumes can be
critiqued by the Career Center.
 Just allow 48 hours for us to complete it.

15. Resume Tips
 Do not include any high school
information.
 Make sure you have three
responsibilities for each job listed.
 You do not have to put periods after
the responsibilities.
 Keep your resume to one page as an
undergraduate.

16. Summary
 What is an internship?
 What are some ways you can find an
internship?
 Why are internships a win-win for both
students and employers?
 Why are internships important?