Internship? I can do that later...

Now is the time to start polishing your resume for a summer internship.  Employers are expecting all graduates to not only have the degree, but experience to go along with it!  Internships are no longer optional in an employers eyes, but REQUIRED!!

When to Start
As you start thinking about signing up for classes look to see if there is an internship course listed for your major.  You can arrange your own internship and also get academic credit for the experience.  This is especially helpful if you have some free electives available.

Even if you don't want to do it for academic credit, you should still consider setting up an internship about 2-3 months prior to your expected start date. This means start looking in March for a Summer internship!!

How to get Started
Your professors may have some leads, but definitely check with your campus Career Services office and/or Co-op department on campus.  IPFW's Career Services is located in KT 109 and can be found online at www.ipfw.edu/career.

Career Services may have a program to help you locate an internship, like our program called the Train-A-Don Internship Program.  Usually a safe bet would be to contact your Career Services office and request a resume critique, then use that time to also tell your career counselor about your intentions for an internship.

Other Options
If you have connections at a company and want to create your own internship, that's great!! GO FOR IT!  I do recommend reporting that internship to your Career Services office for 2 reasons:

1. Support if something should go wrong
2. Validating the experience and having it approved by your university

Alternatives to Internships
If you are a student athlete or just don't have time to do an internship because of working full time, consider these options to still get experience related to your career goals:

• Maybe turn your part-time job into an internship. Talk to your current work supervisor and see if you can get more experience in an area of interest.
• Volunteer - this is most appropriate for non-profit work and is great because of the flexibility of time with each organization
• Externship/Job Shadow - take 2-3 days and request a job shadow.  Your Career Services office can help you make connections.
• Student Organization involvement - get involved with committees and leadership roles
• Use spring break to do volunteering, service trips, or something other than partying.  You don't have classes to worry about so take this free time and use the most of it!

Bad Internship? Good Learning Experience!

Every once in a while I hear a horror story about a bad internship. My first response is always, I wish I would have known earlier so I could have helped. But, regardless if the internship was positive or not there are always lessons to take away from that experience.

Supervisor preferences

Think about how you were managed at the internship. What did you like? What didn’t you like? If you could describe your ideal supervisor, how would he/she work and manage? Supervisors can make or break an internship experience. Remember when you interview for any job, even an internship, that you take time to ask them questions also.

Where your interests really lie

Maybe you just didn’t like the work. Consider what parts of the job duties you enjoyed the most and what you enjoyed the least. For the duties you enjoyed the least, ask youself, “Why?” What about those duties made them less appealing to you as a worker? The more you know about your interests at work, the more focused your job search will be, and more likely you’ll find a job that you enjoy.

Co-workers and environment preferences

What was the company culture like at the internship site? How were the co-workers and their relationships with you? These are good qualities to assess for internships and potential new jobs. You can tell a lot about the company by observing interactions, nonverbals, and verbal remarks during an internship. Ask yourself if it’s the type of place where you would like to become involved in the future or not.

Negotiation tactics

All good intern supervisors have the understanding that interns are there to learn and should have frequent meetings with his/her intern(s) to discuss progress, goals, and needs. By having successful discussions with your supervisor you can practice how to positively negotiate. Some suggestions for positive interactions would be to come prepared, do your research and be aware of the supervisor's style and preference. Take feedback seriously and do something with it so you can show how important learning is to you.

Even if you didn’t have a great internship experience, you’ve still walked away with a learning experience. That’s what internships are all about, learning. Don’t forget to reflect, write logs and journals, and talk to counselors or advisors about your experience. By reporting a poor experience to a university representative you’ll have a better chance of improving it, and also be able to gain an objective perspective on the internship experience.

Get Off Facebook and Get an Internship!

A lot of articles are now stating that employers are going to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social media outlets to search for viable talent. So, does that mean that all you have to do is set a status message that you're looking for a job and then add your resume to your profile? NO! Believe it or not employers are not going to be banging down your door if you're a passive job hunter like that.

Internships are still the way to go if you want to get noticed. Internships not only help you to gain relevant experience, but also allow you to network in an industry that may be otherwise impenetrable. Check out this article on MSNBC that talks about a student success who gained employment right out of college but it had nothing to do with social media. Actually, she never had social media accounts until after college!

The article does go on to mention how social media sites are still viable ways to job search because many people use that as a networking tool to find good candidates. This is one way to get inside the "hidden job market" and learn about jobs that aren't otherwise posted. We usually recommend using LinkedIn and subscribing to some industry-specific groups. A lot of times the members of these groups will also post job openings!

Internships Resource List

I've seen the number of students interested in internships increase over the past year! These students know that by doing an internship they're gaining:

• career-related skills,
• networking opportunities,
• a connection between their academic coursework and potential careers, and
• experience that can help narrow their own professional goals.

Now that you're learning the benefits of completing an internship, how do you go about getting one?

Treat this process just like you would a professional job search. You're looking for experience that will make you competitive in the workforce, so you need to start with the same professional mindset. Set aside time to just work on your internship search, talk to people in your networks (family, friends, coworkers, fellow students, faculty, advisors, career counselors, etc.), and write goals that are attainable. Set up goals like the following.

1. Update resume by ________ (insert date here)
2. Have resume critiqued by a career counselor at my school by ________
3. Attend campus job & internship fairs on _______ (date)
4. Search on local and national internship sites every week
5. Apply for internships every week (how many per week?)
6. I will contact ___ (number) employers each week

CRITICAL ADVICE!

Apply for anything that is relevant to your major, even if you think you might not like it. What's the worst that could happen? The company could call you in for an interview, and -heaven forbid- offer you the internship. Now you're in a good position to negotiate a salary or stipend. Even if a your top choice company doesn't offer you an internship, you still have this option that could provide you with relevant work experience. Besides, you're only in an internship for 3 months and if it's something you don't want to do for the rest of your life... YOU DON'T HAVE TO!

INTERNSHIP DATABASES TO CHECK OUT:

JobZone: Access given only to students & alumni from IPFW, and other IU or PU schools. Find internships, full-time jobs, part-time jobs, work-study, and even volunteer opportunities at this site.

Indiana iNTERNnet: Access given only to college students in the state of Indiana, all internships posted here are available in the state of Indiana. Organized through the Indiana Chamber of Commerce to reduce "brain drain."

Internships 4 America: Access given to international students at universities/colleges in the United States.

InternshipPrograms: Internships all over the USA, plus some international posts. Many opportunities for various majors.

InternWeb: Not just internships, but career advice too!

Pre-med Internships: Don't let this name fool you, there are internships & co-ops for anyone interested in biomedical research and for pre-medical studies students.

Intern Queen Inc.: Lots of postings, tips of the day, and success stories.

IPFW Externship Program: From a students perspective!

My externship at the United Way of Fort Wayne was quite a unique experience. What made the experience first rate was the insight that I received from a member of the United Way team. I was able to get a behind the scenes and view the ways in which the United Way is woven into the variety of fabrics which represent various Non-For-Profit organizations within the Fort Wayne community.

The person that I was shadowing was Jamie Garwood, the Director of Education Initiatives and Strategies at United Way. She was the head of improving the quality of learning that children received within the context of a child's initial learning stages. She worked with Fort Wayne Study Connection and while working with her, I learned many tips on how to not only create ideas but to incorporate the ideas of an array of persons to a common goal which made all persons involved feel a sense of accomplishment.

Lastly, I was able to talk one on one with the CEO of the Fort Wayne United Way. He was able to better direct many of my energies as well as summarize the way in which my thought patterns could become a reality. I found the conversation enlightening and I took what he said to heart.

I would do an externship again and I would recommend this program to anyone who has an interest in learning more about careers, how a company /program runs or if you just want to gain some more work experience or network with employers.

Xavier Qadar

____________________________________________________________________

In August of 2009, IPFW had 11 students participate in the externship program. This program allowed the students to explore a specific career path, gain marketable job experience, and make professional connections by working with alumni and local employers for 2-5 days from August 10-21, 2009.

If you are interested in hearing how you can be an extern, contact Career Services at 260-481-0689. We are offering this program again over Spring Break - mark your calendar!

Internships: Reality vs. Expectations

A BusinessWeek.com writer, Julie Gordon, pens about how internships have changed over the years and it's largely due to the interns' expectations and demands. She also discusses about how the success of the internship depends largely on the role of the supervisor, challenging tasks, and the connection to a role model. Read the full article here.

Some companies and supervisors are still "old school" and expect the intern to run errands, make coffee & copies until they're blue in the face, and of course don't forget data entry. These are all tasks that should NOT make up the majority of work for an intern. Interns are there to learn and perform relevant tasks to aid in future professional employment. Meaning that whatever the students' career goals are and/or major is there should be tasks assigned that will prepare him/her to attain these goals and/or connect the major content knowledge to tangible work.

If you're an employer reading this: Re-evaluate your internship program with a local college Career Counselor and/or the academic department(s) you work with to determine if the tasks you offer are relevant for students. Why, you ask? If you design a relevant/career-related internship it will be more appealing to students and you'll have more "top applicants."

If you're a student reading this: Be careful and read the internship job description fully. Ask questions about the specific tasks the employer will be assigning you BEFORE accepting the position. ALWAYS connect with an internship coordinator on your campus so you can have an internship advocate that will assist with looking out for your best interests. This way if you do find yourself in a bad position there will be a professional backing you up and ensuring that a positive experience is had by all.

Summer Internships

Want an internship for summer? DON'T WAIT! Start now to increase chances of your top internship choice. Indiana INTERNnet published some simple steps in their December 2008 Newsletter on how to get an internship by summer. Click here for the complete article.

Here are some basic steps to get you started:
January

1. Visit the Career Services office (KT 109 at IPFW)
2. Write down some goals/objectives for a positive internship experience
3. Update your resume
4. Research companies and internship directories (like JobZone and Indiana INTERNnet)

February

1. Attend workshops and practice your interviewing & networking skills
2. Request a mock interview with Career Services
3. Attend any career fairs in the area
   

March

1. Attend career fairs
2. Continue to apply for positions found on company websites and internship directories
3. Begin interviewing (don't forget to send thank you notes after interviews)
4. Continue networking with faculty, alumni, and employers
5. Attend the Mock Interview Day on March 25th (call 260-481-0689 for more info)

April

1. Attend Summer Job & Internship Fair (April 2nd in Walb Ballroom 10am-2pm)
2. Attend NICE Expo (April 16th in Walb Ballroom 2-6pm)
3. Continue researching companies, applying and interviewing

May

1. Accept offered position via letter of acceptance
2. Contact the Office of Career Services or your major department (which ever applies) to inform them of internship and ensure all proper paperwork is completed for the school
3. Start your internship (some internships won't start until June, though)

For more information about which office you should contact at IPFW when doing an internship, please review the slide presentation below. Good Luck Internship Hunting!

Internships on a Time-Budget

I don't want to hear the excuses of: "I don't have time to do an internship" or "I need to keep my current job because I have bills to pay" or "My degree will guarantee me a job, I don't need an internship." All of these thoughts are either outdated, false, or just an excuse to not leave the comfortable job you have now. It's scary to embark on a new experience and take a risk, but that's exactly what you need to do if you want to be successful upon graduation. I'm not saying you should quit your current job before you even start looking for an internship, but just because you have certain needs doesn't mean you can't have the same opportunities as other students.

Employers are now expecting students to graduate and already have experience. Most students will then say, "How can I get experience if you won't hire me?" The answer to this Catch-22 is INTERNSHIPS!! An internship, or two, while in college shows not only that you're interested in your career path by going the extra mile to gain relevant experience, but it also demonstrates to employers that you are committed to your career, a hard worker, and a multi-tasker. Plus, when employers see candidates with experience versus candidates without experience, who do you think they will pick?

It's a competitive job market right now with national unemployment reaching 6.5% and Indiana unemployment reaching 6.4%, the highest rates in 16 years! Schmitt & Baker (1), researched recession periods in America and predict that it will only get worse before it gets better. According to their assessments we fall in the Severe Projected Recession category with a prediction of national unemployment reaching 8.4% in 2011. "What are you saying Karen?!" I'm saying that you need to do everything you can now, to prevent yourself from falling in that unemployment statistic in the future.

Now that I have your attention and your heart is racing with anxiety, let me put it at ease with some comforting options and truths about gaining relevant experience before you graduate.

• TRUTH: Co-ops (Cooperative Education experiences) are always paid and are renewable. They are also one way to gain relevant experience within your major. Check with your academic department if this is an option for your major.

• TRUTH: A lot of internships are already paid. Employers base the pay for interns on their budget and most will offer some type of compensation for students. If the internship description does not specifically mention that it's paid, you can always inquire about your options AFTER the company offers you the internship. Check out ways to negotiate your salary for some good tips. You can find books on these and there is a section in our career guide about it as well.

• TRUTH: You can turn your current volunteer experience into a great internship. Many places that work with volunteers are in a constant need for help and if you only ask what more you can do, then more could be granted. I highly suggest preparing your "pitch" with examples of what you can do to help that also matches your major. Remind the organization that you are being trained in this particular major and if you could keep your current hours, or add a couple on to sweeten the deal, then they can only gain from this opportunity.
  

• TRUTH: Ask for more responsibilities at your current part-time job and gain relevant experience. If applicable... Some jobs may not have this option for you but if you are working a part-time job now and are interested in gaining more experience, then ask your supervisor for more responsibilities and turn this job into something more.
  

• TRUTH: Job Shadowing is another viable option. You have the opportunity to learn about the company and know if you would be a good fit within the certain position you shadow. This is also a great way to network and "get your foot in the door" at an organization/company in which you're interested. You only have to give up a couple hours out of one day to do job shadowing, a great option for busy students.
  

Employers are still looking for interns for this coming spring 2009 semester and are beginning to look for summer 2009 interns. Check out JobZone at www.ipfw.edu/jobzone and Indiana INTERNnet at www.indianaintern.net for current internship opportunities. Utilize your networks like professors, family members, friends, and the friendly counselors in the Office of Career Services, when looking for internships. Good luck and don't get caught in the Catch-22... INTERN NOW!


1. Schmitt, J. and Baker, D., What We’re In For: Projected Economic Impact of the Next Recession, Center for Economic and Policy Research, January 2008.