Gaining Experience Through Internships

What is an internship?

An internship is usually described as a professional work experience at a company or organization during the summer or other appropriate time prior to graduation.

Internships offer many advantages for both student and employer. It helps a company identify and assess a potential candidate for employment suitability before a permanent offer is made, and students greatly benefit from the “hands-on” work experience and professional interactions these opportunities provide.

Other Work Experience

Summer jobs
A summer job is normally a position in your hometown (or other geographic area) that may or may not be related to your major. You should start this search early in the spring rather than waiting until May to seek a position. Summer jobs do not qualify for academic credit.

Volunteer Work
Volunteer work is an excellent way to gain experience in certain career fields. Some organizations are not able to hire interns or part-time staff, and use volunteers to perform many functions. Volunteer positions are especially prevalent in the social work, non-profit, and health care industries. Call or stop by organizations and ask if they offer volunteer opportunities or if they would consider having you volunteer. Make sure that you obtain adequate information about the duties you will perform.

How to Begin Your Internship Search

• Due to academic schedules and faculty sponsor commitments, most credit internships are scheduled during the summer. If you are interested in receiving academic credit, you should always contact a faculty sponsor within your emphasis area prior to starting an internship commitment.
• Decide on some parameters for your search.
  
  1. What are your skills and abilities? Think of skills you have used in the classroom, special projects, extracurricular activities, or volunteer work (writing, researching, analyzing, coordinating, managing, etc.). This list will help you sell yourself to an employer.
  2. Why have you chosen your major? What type of internship experience would complement or enhance your academic studies?
  3. List five of your personal interests. What do you like to do in your free time? What are some of your favorite experiences?
  4. In what industry or industries do you have an interest (sales, government, nonprofit, retail, etc.)? What size company would you choose?
  5. How much time per week are you willing to commit to your internship?
     
     
• Determine what you want to gain from your internship; establish some objectives.
• Understand the importance of interviewing and resume-writing skills. Attend the Internship Fair (in late January) and workshops offered through the College of Business Career Services Office, or the MU Career Center located in the Student Success Center.
• You should begin by targeting several organizations.
• Research the organization
  
  • Look at the company web site to determine if the organization has an internship program.
  • You may also need to write or phone the company to obtain information about the internship program the company offers (or to find out if the company would be interested in an intern even if they do not publicize an established program.)
  • Make sure your letter is addressed to the manager of the department in which you want to work or to the contact specified in the internship literature.
  • You may want to inquire about company requirements for academic credit.
    
    
• “Pare down” the firms to which you will apply, according to how their programs coincide with your goals and objectives. Your list of potential sites should now include around 10 companies.

When to Begin Your Internship Search

Ideally, you should begin no later than the start of the semester before the term you would like to intern. If you plan to search for a position through on-campus interviews, you must first register with the College of Business Career Services Office.

Utilizing All Resources

• Discuss opportunities with advisors and professors within your major department.
• See employers at the numerous career fairs on campus each year. Attend career fairs both inside and outside of your college.
• Contact your network of friends, family, and professors, etc. Let them know you are looking for an internship. Try to give them the pertinent information for your search so they have a clear picture of the type of position for which you are searching.
• Look for companies in your chosen industry by using resources in the College of Business Career Services Resource Library and website.
• Obtain company lists from the Chambers of Commerce in the regions you are considering.
• Utilize the newspaper. You can use classified ads and business pages to determine companies that might interest you.
• Become active in campus chapters of professional organizations.
• Look in publications of professional associations that relate to your field. Internships may be advertised, but more likely you will obtain company information and possible contacts.
• Look at the staffing or employment section of a company web site for internship offerings.
• Personally contact employers that interest you.

Applying for an Internship

• Develop a system to track your search.
• Contact each company on your revised list.

Send a cover letter and resume. (Have multiple people critique your resume for you. The Business Career Services Office has samples and tip sheets in the office and on the web site, and can critique and help you revise your resume.)

Internship & Summer Job Websites

Students interested in gaining practical, career-related experience prior to graduating will be interested in this list of sites which identify internship and summer job opportunities: