The Importance of an Internship in Relation to Job Marketability

The Importance of an Internship in Relation to Job Marketability

Amanda Walker, Recruiting Coordinator

Amanda Walker, Recruiting Coordinator

What is an Internship?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

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

What can you learn from Internships?

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

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

What can you learn from Internships?

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

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

Why are Internships are important?

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.

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.

Benefits to the StudentBenefits 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 SurveyNational Association of Colleges and Employers

Personal, Academic, Professional and sometimes Financial

45% of employers offer higher salaries to incoming hires with internship/co-op experience

2006 Experiential Education SurveyNational Association of Colleges and Employers

Benefits to the StudentBenefits 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

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

Benefits to the StudentBenefits 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

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

Benefits to the EmployerBenefits 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

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

Internship ProcessInternship Process

The first step in the internship process is finding internships to apply for.

Where to find internships:Internships.comEmployUM and faculty referralsThe Internet / Google SearchesFeeler Resumes

The first step in the internship process is finding internships to apply for.

Where to find internships:Internships.comEmployUM and faculty referralsThe Internet / Google SearchesFeeler Resumes

Internships.comInternships.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

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

The Internet and Feeler Resumes

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.

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.

Applying to an InternshipApplying 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.

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.

GuidelinesGuidelines

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.

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.

Resume TipsResume 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.

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.

SummarySummary

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?

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?