Getting Started

Before you begin your internship search, you should first register with the Career Center using our Vandal CareerConnection database. Once you are registered, you will be using the following steps to finding an internship.

Steps to Finding an Internship

Step 1: Develop your Internship Profile

Identify what you want from an internship experience:

• What do you want to do? 
• What interests you? 
• What are your career goals? 
• What skills and experiences do you hope to gain?

Identify your internship needs: 

• Time frame - When do you want an internship? 
• Compensation needs - Do you need to be paid or can you afford a volunteer experience? 
• Location preferred - Can you relocate for an internship? 
• Academic Credit - Do you want/need to earn credit for your experience?

Step 2: Develop your required materials

• Resume 
• List of References 
• Cover Letters

Step 3: Start Searching & Identify Opportunities
You will need to use a variety of resources when searching for an internship. Like tools in a toolbox, you may need to use every tool! Here are a few tools you can add to your toolbox:

• Career Center and our Vandal CareerConnection database 
• Internet (check out our links!) 
• Your Network (professors, family, friends, supervisors, etc.) 
• Newspapers 
• Phonebooks

Step 4: Narrow Down Your Search 

• Research Companies 
• Be sure that the company & the internship match your Internship Profile (step 1) 
• Select the top five that interest you

 Step 5: Make Contact / Apply

Contact by mail/phone/email. 

• Find out who you should address your cover letter to. 
• Learn about opportunities, deadlines, requirements, application process.
  

Apply 

• ALWAYS follow the application instructions!!! 
• Prepare and collect all application materials (resume, cover letter, transcripts, references, etc.) 
• Send application materials to employer before the deadline. 
• Call to verify that your application materials have been received and ask about the status of their search (i.e. when can you expect to hear back from them). Do this about two weeks after they receive your materials. 
• Wait! If you don't hear from them in 4-6 weeks, contact them to restate your interest in the internship and ask about the status of their search.

 
Step 6: Interviews 

• When contacted for an interview, write down the important details (place, time, person you are interviewing with, driving directions, etc.) 
• Research the company!!! 
• Identify the skills and experience that YOU would bring to the company during your internship. 
• Practice! Check out our interview tips page. 
• Send a thank-you letter or email! Don't just thank them for their time and consideration; use this as an opportunity to restate your interest in the position and highlight the strengths you want them to remember about you.

Step 7: Offers / Final Decision 

• What Internship is the best for YOU? Review step #1 to see which internship best meets your internship profile. 
• Offered the position? Get all of the details (start date, work schedule, salary, job duties, etc.) before you make your decision. 
• Didn't get the position? If you didn't get the position, you should still send them a note thanking them for their consideration and asking that they consider you for future openings.