INTERNSHIP WORKSHOP

HOW TO FIND and APPLY FOR INTERNSHIPS IN GERMANY

Prof. Kit Belgum

Internships in Germany - Topics:

• Contacting internship providers (Type 1)

• Creating your own internship (Type 2)

1. Defining your interests & researching

2. Drafting your cv, resumé, Lebenslauf

3. Composing cover/application letter

• Applying for Germanic Studies scholarship

Type 1: Internship providers

• International Cooperative Education (ICE)

• Carl-Duisberg-Society (CDS)

• German-American Chamber (GACC)

• AIESEC (through UT)

• Bosch Foundation

• Congress-Bundestag Internship

• Steuben-Schurz-Society

Type 2: Create an internship

1) Define your interests and begin search

• identify at least 20-30 potential firms/agencies/offices

• refer to contacts when possible

2) Develop Lebenslauf

3) Write application letter(s)

4) Send out a lot of inquiries (e-mail)

Step 1: Define your interests

• Prior experience

• Language/computer skills

• Other professional skills/expertise/major(s)

• Avocations and hobbies

• Future career interests

five-minute activity:

Brainstorm about your “ideal” internship

Step 1: Internet Search

• Ideas: www.praktika.de/praktikumsliste.html

www.studserv.de/praktika • Examples:

www.bmw-welt.com/

www.worldcoffee.de/html/jobs.html

www.strandhotel-ruegen.de/

www.kallinich-media.de/113.html

Step 2: Der Lebenslauf

kurz (1-2 Seiten), faktisch, übersichtlich

• Persönliche Daten

• Schulausbilding/Studium

• Arbeitserfahrung/Berufspraxis

• Nebenberufliche Tätigkeiten

• Sonstiges

Step 2: Recommendations

• Steuben-Schurz-Society:

www.usa-interns.org/Resume Recommendations for US Applicants 2006.pdf

• iAgora - iWork:

www.iagora.com/iwork/resumes/cv_germany.html

Step 2: Draft your Lebenslauf

ten-minute activity:

1) create template

2) begin inserting your information

Step 3: Application letter

• Introduce yourself and your qualifications

• State interest in internship

• Explain your interest in company/agency

• Mention dates you are available

• Describe how you can be reached

Step 3: Recommendations

• Suggestions and sample letter (Deutsch)www.iagora.com/iwork/resumes/

letter_germany.htmlwww.iagora.com/iwork/resumes/letter_model_germany.html• Sample job letters (English) www.job-interview.net/coverlettersamples.

htm

Step 3: Draft a letter

ten-minute activity:

1) create format: salutations/closings

2) draft your introduction

3) begin inserting specific information

Van Dusen Scholarship

Supports “participation in departmental activities and organizations, research projects, internships, study abroad”

Application form: www.utexas.edu/depts/german/main.html

Include confirmation of internship with your application!