Your Internship Search!

Presented by:

What is an Internship?• Internships provide the opportunity for students to apply

what they have learned in the classroom to practical work experiences related to their academic and/or career goals. The primary focus of internships is EDUCATIONAL in nature.

Reasons for Internships

• For Students– For Credit/Required– Explore/Clarify/Confirm Career Goals– Gain Experience/Build Resume– Share your knowledge/talents– Build professional network

• For Employers– Train college students– Need assistance with projects– Need current knowledge/trends – Need your enthusiasm and creativity – Method for selecting permanent hires

Ask Yourself:• What type of career do you

want?• What type of organization?• What skills have you

developed?• Where would you like to

work?• Do you have relationships

with professionals in your field?

• Are you a member of any professional organizations?

What is a Quality Internship Assignment?• Related to your major and level in

school• Is located in a commercial office space,

not a home office and not a virtual/remote working environment

• Provides ongoing supervision, guidance, and feedback

• Incorporates an intentional "learning agenda"

• Requires only the "usual amount" of "grunt work" or repetitive tasks similar to a professional in the field

• Offers meaningful opportunities to build/improve skills

Preparation for an Internship Search

Research• Learn about industry specific

companies of interest, types of jobs available, requirements.

Resume• It must be PROOFED and

CRITIQUED! This is your first impression to the employer.

• Attend a resume seminar and visit a RESUME EDITOR.

Interviewing Skills• Know how to sell yourself in an

interview.• Attend an interview seminar and

participate in a MOCK INTERVIEW.

How do you find an internship?

• Hilltop Careers – Jobs and Internships; Jobs with Interview Schedules

• Stay in touch with Career and Professional Development

• Network – talk to friends, family, faculty, etc.

• Internet Research (Indeed.com, Idealist.com, InternMatch.com, Greenlights.org, etc)

• Facebook,Twitter & LinkedIn feeds! @seucareer

• Informational Interviews• Career Expos and Forums

Sarah Dawson, Texas Music Office Intern

Where Hilltoppers Have Interned

So Far• Spiceworks• National Instruments• ERCOT• Enviromedia• South By Southwest• Texas Commission on

Environmental Quality• Chick-Fil-A - Ben White• Fastenal• H-E-B Corporate Offices• Red Fan Communications• UNT Health Science Center

SMART/STARS Program• National Science

Foundation • STARRY, Inc.• BazaarVoice• Environmental Defense

Fund• Texas Legislature

• T3• Texas Civil Rights Project• Gerson Lehrman Group• Austin Asian Chamber of

Commerce• Annie’s List• Giant Noise• C3Presents• TicketCity• Chaotic Mood Studios• Breakthrough Austin• Office of the Governor• Office of the Attorney

General• Teegardin & Associates• Federal Deposit Insurance

Corporation• Dallas Federal Reserve• HACU

• CHCI• CHLI• HomeAway• Uship, Inc. • RazorFish• Retail Me Not• Refugee Services of Texas• Round Top Festival Institute• Teacher Retirement System• Zachary Scott Theater• US Department of Energy• Deloitte• Rockfish• Kinnser Softwar• Wexel Art• Communities in Schools• Side By Side Kids• GSD&M• Tocquiny

Internship Eligibility• Currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program with a

declared major.• Have completed at least one semester at SEU• Good academic standing

o Undergrads - at least 2.0 overall GPA; Grads - at least 3.0 overall GPA

• Meet any additional requirements or conditions required by your academic department or school.

• These requirements can be found on the individual handouts of your department located in the Resource Library of your Hilltop Careers account.

Academic Credit• Involves class registration and assignments, occasionally

class meetings, and end-of-semester evaluation formso Must meet course registration deadlineso Most courses have both full-semester and 2nd 8-week options

• Options vary from major to major• May be upper-level or general elective credit• Note: When registering for academic credit, you pay

tuition and fees as you would for any other class. You are responsible for reading your syllabus and completing assignments.

First Impressions • Arrive alert • Dress professionally• Practice punctuality • LISTEN and OBSERVE • Display a POSTIVE attitude • Manage anger and frustrations • Understand your role as intern • Avoid office “drama” • Remember you represent St. Edward’s University

Your Work• Complete every task well • Complete every task on time• Follow directions • Offer help often (i.e. take on

additional projects)• Ask Questions • Establish clear communication

with supervisor – Learning Agreement, Evaluations

Build Your Network• Begin building your professional network1. Supervisors, co-workers, fellow interns

• Develop professional relationships • Source of future internships and jobs• Source of recommendations• Can aid/hinder your professional development

2. Take advantage of social invitations***• Lunch with supervisor and co-workers • Professional association meetings• Special dinners, receptions & company gatherings• Happy Hours****• Use caution

– Not a time to PARTY!– Keep conversation PG

3. Stay in touch! • Linked In, Facebook

Dealing with Problems at your Internship Site

• Types of problems: sexual harassment; lack of training, direction, or supervision; ethical dilemmas; duties do not match job description/expectations; etc.

• TELL SOMEONE!o If possible, discuss concerns with your immediate supervisor or someone else at the

organization.o Talk to your Internship Coordinator here at SEU.

• Remember, we want you to be successful and are here to help.

Conclusion of Internship

• Thank supervisor, co-workers • Reflect on experience

– What did you learn?– What did you like? Dislike?– What skills did you develop or improve?– What skills do you still lack?

• Update your resume & LinkedIn profile with your new skills

• Visit Career & Professional Development to start your E-Portfolio

• Practice speaking about your internship

• Start searching for the next opportunity

Don’t Forget!• Update your Hilltop Careers account every semester – or

anytime your information changes – especially with your non-SEU email!

• Keeping your information up-to-date will impact what positions you can view and/or which employers view your resume.

• REPORT YOUR INTERNSHIP when you accept a position!• We are responsible for tracking this information and count on

you to follow up.

Need More Info?

Questions?

Araceli “Sally” Perez-Ramos, Internship Coordinator

Career & Professional Development aracelip@stedwards.edu

Moody Hall 134 – 448.8530