Internships
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Internships: Your Bridge to a Successful Career
- Internships help you gain real-world experience and connect your classroom learning to potential career paths.
- They are short-term, supervised work opportunities(usually one or two semesters) with set learning goals.
- Internships can be paid or unpaid.
- They help you build skills, grow your network, and improve your chances of landing a job after graduation.
Tip: Start early—contact your department’s Internship Coordinator when you begin thinking about internships!
Internship Details
- Can be part-time (as few as 10 hours/week) or full-time
- Offered during fall, spring, or summer
- May be eligible for academic credit (ask your Internship Coordinator)
Even if you don’t receive course credit, the experience itself is what counts most.
Consider a Part-Time job as an opportunity to gain skills!
Part-Time Jobs vs. Internships
Not sure if a part-time job or internship is right for you?
Both offer valuable experience, but they serve slightly different purposes.
Here’s How They Compare:
- Both can build important skills like communication, time management, teamwork, and customer service— skills employers value regardless of the role.
- Internships are designed with learning goals in mind and often relate directly to your major or career interests.
- Part-time jobs may qualify for internship credit if they align with your field of study and meet academic program requirements—check with your Internship Coordinator!
- Internships are often short-term and structured, while part-time jobs can be longer-term and more flexible with scheduling.
- Internships typically provide mentorship and career exposure, while part-time jobs may focus more on operational or service-based tasks.
Both can play a key role in helping you prepare for your future—what matters most is how you make the most of the opportunity!
How to Find Internships
- Talk to Your Internship Coordinator: Each department has a faculty member who helps students find and navigate internship options—start here!
- Use Handshake: Log in to Handshake to search for internships and apply. If you need help accessing your account, contact Career Services.
- Meet with Career Services to help:
- Review your resume/cover letter
- Help you prepare for interviews
- Guide your job/internship search strategy