Internships
How to Do Them
Students should start strategizing internships early and plan to apply for several internships for the same semester to assure at least one internship will be secured. Below are several tips for securing internships.
- Start researching internships six months before the internship semester.
- Keep up with your majors listserv mailings, which list internships periodically.
- Contact your Academic Advisor for procedures for setting up internships with your major.
- Search the Ivan Allen College online internship database, the ivan.
- Consider interning during fall or spring semesters when there is less competition for internships.
- Meet with a career counselor from Career Services, to clarify career interests and to help narrow down career areas.
- Keep a file of interesting internships for future semesters.
- Follow the GT career center's strategies for getting an internship.
- Search the, Internship and Job Web Resources page under this website.
Why Do Them
We can't think of a good reason why you shouldn't! An internship helps you gain valuable experience to increase your marketability after graduation, helps you narrow down major and career choice, helps you command a higher starting salary, looks impressive to graduate schools, and assures you have meaningful experiences to discuss during job and graduate school interviews.
70% of employers require new hires to have had internships or other on-the-job training
60-90% of jobs are found through personal contacts and direct application
More than 87% of U.S. college seniors graduating in spring 2003 had completed at least 1 internship by graduation, and over 70% had done 2 or more.
The Purpose & Benefits of an Internship
- Possible academic credit
- Hands-on career exploration
- Test possible career choices
- Reinforcement of classroom learning
- Gain relevant work experience & develop job skills
- Increase employment marketability
- Possible step toward full-time employment
- Potential to earn money
- Build network
- Secure references
