California State University, Dominguez Hills Student Development Department

WHAT IS AN INTERNSHIP?

Supervised, practical training in a work situation that is related to the student’s academic major and/or career goals.
The term “internship” is often used in a general sense to describe many types of experiential learning, including “fieldwork”, “practicum” and “cooperative education” or “co-op.”
Internships may provide pay and/or academic credit.

WHY BE AN INTERN?

You may think you don’t have the time or need to do an internship, since you are working your way through school. But if your current job has no connection to your future career, think again. Employers prefer candidates with job related experience. Employers with internship programs often prefer hiring their interns, who have already proven themselves on a trial basis.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS OF INTERNSHIPS INCLUDE:

A competitive edge when applying for jobs and/or graduate school (especially in a slower economy)
Practical experience that integrates classroom learning
A chance to explore different careers
Clarification of career and educational goals
Possible networking opportunities and mentors within your chosen field
Possible pay and/or academic credit
Transferable skills to list on a resume
Potentially improve your starting salary potential as a new grad

PREPARING FOR AN INTERNSHIP

Focus on your Career Interests and Goals Think about the area(s) in which you would be interested in working. These fields may be directly related to your major or minor, or they may be different. Do some self-assessment. What are your strengths and weaknesses? What new skills would you like to learn? You can learn more about specific careers through the Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/oco).
Identify Internships
- View website links, including ToroJobs, feature internships listing. Research the Peterson’s Internship Guides.
- Check with your academic department to see if they know of any available internships.
- Network with faculty, family, co-workers, classmates, friends, and job fair employers. Join a professional association.
- Research internship books.
- Check company Web sites for postings, or contact companies directly.

Apply for Internships

· Check with your department to see what their internship policy is regarding academic credit. Are you required to enroll in a particular class, or can you take independent study?

· Based on your self-assessment, the internship description, and company research, create a resume and cover letter that are tailored to the internship.

· Create a timeline showing the company’s contact information, how and when you intend to contact them, and if there are any application deadlines. Follow this timeline when sending your resume and following up with employers.

Prepare to interview

· Research the organization online. Be knowledgeable about their mission statement, history, services, leadership, and recent developments.

· Be prepared to address anything in your resume and cover letter.

· Review the internship description, develop a list of potential questions, and practice your answers.

· To refine your skills, attend an Interview Skills workshop or practice with a career counselor.

CSUDH Departments offering internship courses for credit, are listed in the Catalog

These will be referred to as “practicum,” internship,” “fieldwork,” or “cooperative education” courses.

For students interested in learning more about preparing for and applying for internships,

California State University, Dominguez Hills • 1000 E. Victoria Street • Carson, California 90747 • (310) 243-3696
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Last updated Wed. July 22, 2009, 5:00 pm, by Webmanager