Finding an Internship

Finding an Internship

One of the best ways to learn about a prospective career is to do an internship. Most colleges will require at least one, paid, or unpaid. Regardless, it looks great on a resume. I had multiple internships being an education major, and they were essential to my maturing skills as a teacher. My internships also led the way to my first job teaching. Internships allow a student to decide if that is the actual career for them, as well as to make connections that are beyond valuable. So, how do you get an internship?

I’m not going to lie. If you know someone, now might be the time to put a word out, that your student is looking for. We tell our girls over and over: “It’s who you know.” My daughter is currently waiting on a confirmation for a position with a major sports team because a friend works there. It’s an unpaid internship but being able to use that team and position on her resume will be priceless.

Don’t know anyone on the inside that can help? Don’t worry, because USF has great resources. Career and Internship Fair Week is held in both Fall and Spring. The next Career & Internship Fair is Wednesday, February 5, 2020, from 10 am to 3 pm in the Yuengling Center (formally the Sun Dome). The Career Services office has a wealth of information offered. You must register through Handshake, which is basically Indeed for students. Remember to dress for business to all events and bring your resumes. More information on internships.

A LinkedIn Jobseeker account allows you to view profiles and send InMail messages starting from $29.95 per month. HaveUHeard that LinkedIn has a version specifically designed for students looking for their first jobs? The LinkedIn Students app is free, and lets you research jobs, view companies where alumni from your schoolwork, and connect with more people. You can create an account and get started right away without spending a dime.

We’ve got some great information on what to wear if you are attending one of the job fairs. Students may also sign up for an internship/practicum class offered in their major. These classes give you credits towards your degree while also connecting you with companies in the field.

There are also many websites that list potential internships. Internships.com, as most of the sites do, allows students to put in their city and field of choice and even whether or not they are looking for paid or unpaid internships. From there, a proper cover letter and resume would be the next step. Occasionally a Skype interview may be requested. Using sites like Indeed or SimplyHired may be worth a try, but spending a lot of time on these to simply hit the “apply” button and having their resume sent into a black hole generally doesn’t prove too successful as most of these positions get filled by students with a more personal connection.

Some websites, like Internmatch.com, allow students to sign up to get daily notifications for new postings about jobs that may be of interest to them. Glassdoor.com and YouTern.com are also useful websites to find an internship. FindSpark.com is better known for its more creative internships and entry-level jobs in NYC. LinkedIn can be an excellent resource. Perhaps your student saw a position at a company they are interested in on one of the above sites and then, by scouring LinkedIn, they can make a connection. To search for internship listings, be sure to have a detailed and updated LinkedIn page ready to go, then go to the jobs tab at the top of the page and put “internship” in the search box. Refine your search by filling in the boxes on the left side of the page.

HaveUHeard which companies were selected as the 100 best internship programs in the U.S.? WayUp presents its Top 100. Vault also has its list of the Top 20 Most Prestigious Internship Programs for 2020.

Some students are creating their own videos or websites to show off all they have done and are capable of. It can be better than a long portfolio that may exceed the amount of space for uploaded information. These are generally used for more majors like graphic design or advertising, and not finance. Should your internship take you out of state, learn about housing options.

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