Why intern?
Students are strongly encouraged to seek out an internship. Work experience provides practical knowledge and can advance career prospects. Benefits include:
- Practical hands-on experience that is valued by employers and graduate schools.
- Insights about your chosen career path, including job skills and work environment.
- Networking opportunities.
- Many employers bring back some of their interns as regular full-time hires after graduation.
When to Intern
Many students find that the summer between their junior and senior years is an opportune time, but it is never too early.
The Internship Search
We recommend that you start your internship search early. For a summer internship, start your search at the beginning of the preceding fall semester.
- Why so early? Some employers will make offers for summer internships in the fall.
- Competition for the better internships is keen. To improve your chances for success, you will need to
- polish your resume,
- sharpen your interviewing skills (many employers conduct interviews), and
- reach out to contacts you might have.
Consider making a list of potential employers with whom you might like to intern and then check Handshake and the organizations' websites to determine when they will begin accepting internship applications.
- Keep in mind that not all internships are paid, though many are.
- Obtaining an internship can take quite a bit of time and effort.
- Some employers have very structured internship programs, but many do not. Structured programs are usually better but not necessarily so.
- Non-internship summer work can be very beneficial also, if it relates to your career path of choice. E.g., summer teller work at a bank is good experience.
- If your search is not initially successful, you might expand your search to include part-time, unpaid internships or interning/volunteering with a non-profit.
- The main objectives of an internship are to gain some hands-on experience and to build your network. These objectives can be at least partially fulfilled through a part-time position.
Internship Search Resources
- The Business Career Services site provides important search tips and suggestions.
- Handshake is where employers seeking Appalachian interns will post positions.
- Your professors. Consider using our faculty as a sounding board.
- Your Network of Contacts - - Reach out to professionals that you might know or have a contact with. Many students locate internships through their network of family, friends, and acquaintances.
- Websites of companies that interest you.
- LinkedIn: has a job/internship search engine. In Advanced Search mode, you can specify entry level or internship under Experience.
- Indeed.com: internships and jobs
- InternJobs.com: internships and jobs
- Idealist.org: opportunities at non-profit organizations
- Internships.com
- Internship for Academic Credit (if you plan to intern for academic credit)