Career Internship
Internships
Internships provide an opportunity to facilitate student learning outside of the classroom, allowing students to apply academic theories to "real world" situations, explore career options and gain a competitive edge in the labor market. Employers benefit from additional labor, fresh ideas and the opportunity to create a pipeline for future employment.
- A supervised work experience that is designed to provide structured learning opportunities
- Generally, minimum of one semester; however, can be project based
- May be paid or unpaid
- May offer academic credit upon completion
An Internship is:
- Is related to the student's field of study
- Provides on-the-job training & an opportunity to learn additional skills
- Is designed to meet specific learning objectives
- May be required to graduate
- May be supplemented with additional academic assignments
- Has a defined end date
Internships provide an opportunity to:
- “Test-drive” a career field of interest without committing yourself long-term
- Explore career options related to one's interests, values, skills & personality
- Gain career-related work experience and skills for your resume
- Gather insight into a particular industry or organizational culture
- Establish connections & build a network of contacts
- Integrate what you’ve learned in the classroom into the “real world” professional environment
- Introduce you to workplace situations not typically found in classroom experiences
Steps to Obtaining an Internship:
- Consider the skills you may want to develop
- What skills do you lack? Or require improvement?
- What environment will provide you with the opportunity to develop these skills?
- What fields do you want to explore?
- Develop a specific goal
- Schedule an appointment with a Career Counselor to update your resume
Check out our Resource Guide for resume samples
- Obtain recommendation letters & prepare your references
- Research industries and companies of interest
- Begin your search 3-6 months prior
- Tell everyone you know (including faculty) that you are looking for an internship
- Attend Career Fairs
- Join professional organizations
- Attend professional mixers & meetings
- Utilize our online internship search engines
- Utilize your social network and resources
- Apply!
- Once you know all your options and you have narrowed down the opportunities that interest you, you need to begin the application process!
Unpaid Internships:
The U.S. Department of Labor established the following 6 criteria in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to determine if an internship or training program can be excluded from the minimum wage requirement.
- The internship, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to training which would be given in an educational environment;
- The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern;
- The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of existing staff;
- The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern; and on occasion its operations may actually be impeded;
- The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship;
- The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship.
(Note: The FLSA makes a special exemption for individuals who volunteer for a state or local government agency and for individuals who volunteer for humanitarian, religious, charitable, civic purposes to non-profit organizations.)
If you have any questions regarding unpaid internships, please contact the Career and Job Services Center at 323-415-4126.
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