How do I prepare for an internship?
Steps on obtaining an internship
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Do Career Research and seek career advising.
Start exploring your internship opportunities based on career interests, strengths, skills, personality and values. You may start your research by going through our "Find An Internship" resources section. Additional research can be done via informational interviews, books, Internet, and Vault.
To set up an appointment with an advisor contact us at: 631-632-6810
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Compose the first draft of your resume.
Attend a Resume Writing workshop at the Career Center and get resume writing guidelines.
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Find internship positions and contact organizations of interest.
Once you have identified possible sites of interest, obtain general information about their internship program, contact information, and deadlines. If you find an organization that interest you a great deal but it doesn’t have available internships, you should contact them directly and ask if you can volunteer or do anything to help to learn more about them...
"Why start early since the application process will not take long?"
There may be numerous steps to complete your application. You may need additional time to obtain reference letters. Besides, you may be asked to submit a writing sample as part of the application process. All this can take up to several weeks to complete. -
Get your resume, cover letter, and application ready.
Prepare your resume and cover letter, as well as any other material necessary for the application. There may be a couple of steps to complete your application. Some materials such as transcripts, reference letters and essays could take some time for you to obtain and write; so give yourself ample time to get everything organized. Also be sure to visit the Career Center during the Drop-In Times for resume and cover letter reviews.
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Apply!
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Follow up.
Many internship sites have an application process. Some may give very clear instructions on their timeline for making hiring decisions and others may not. If you are unclear about when you will hear back from a company/organization, after a 7-10 days you can inquire politely about your application and organization’s time frame for considering applications. Contact the Career Center for guidance on how to follow up.
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Prepare for the interview.
Research the company in depth. Read our interviews page. Attend the Interviewing Skills Workshop and schedule a mock interview. Contact the Career Center for upcoming dates.
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Send a Thank You Letter after the interview.
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Accept the offer.
When you receive the offer it is your chance to negotiate some details of your positions (starting date, schedule, etc). Be sure to report all of your offers, even the ones you choose to reject.
- If you wish to receive credit, contact an Internship Faculty Advisor to finalize your responsibilities in regards to obtaining academic credit for your internship. Pay close attention to academic deadlines.
- Report your placement using ZebraNet.
Final Steps
You never know how quickly the organization will be making a decision in choosing an intern! If you are not selected, do not fret! There are countless available opportunities out there for you to pursue. Use this time to improve your interview skills and become knowledgeable about the ins and outs of internships- this will improve your chances for next time.
If you are selected for the internship keep in mind the following tips:
- Maintain communication with your career/faculty advisor.
- Keep a journal of your experiences (This could come in handy if you have to write about it later!).
- Be sure to network with all of the professionals you meet.
- Complete the work that is required of you and always do it to the best of your ability (Employers are looking to give the interns hands-on professional experience and even sift through for potential employees!).
Don't Forget To...
- Thank your internship supervisor.
- Speak to your faculty sponsor of your experiences.
- Complete an evaluation of your internship at the Career Center.
Internship Study Survey (all participants will be entered for prizes)
http://www.TheInternshipStudy.com
