All internships are NOT created equal. Just because a position is titled an
"internship" doesn't guarantee you a productive educational work experience.
Here are some characteristics to look for in an internship. Be an educated shopper/employee
and find (or create) the best opportunity for yourself!
An Internship should be:
Relevant to your studies and career direction to help you gain skills and
determine if it is the right career path for you.
A planned experience: Goals and expectations of intern and employer should
be clearly articulated and documented BEFORE an internship begin.
Supervised by a knowledgeable person in the field and include training to
increase you skill set.
Reflective: continuously reflect on your work experience and how it corresponds
with knowledge gained from course work; practice articulating the skills you
have developed.
Benefits of Internships: What's In It for You?
"Internship" on your resume simply isn't enough. To get the most
out of the experience, you have to know what you want. Listed here are some
of the benefits you might get from participating in an internship.
Relevant Experience: Two of the main objectives for doing an internship:
(1) Gain insight about careers and the world of work (2) Use skills and gain
experience in a professional setting.
Wages: While it would be great to get paid while you're gaining
experience, it's a secondary benefit in an internship. If your ideal
internship is unpaid, determine if the experience it offers is valuable enough
to your professional development.
Academic Credit: Getting academic credit may help you move toward
your graduation requirement, but it is not the primary goal of an internship.
See an advisor in the Undergraduate Program office to discuss the option of
earning credit in the LCB.
Here are a few resources to help you find an internship:
Internship Postings. This database stores opportunities sent to the
UO by employers. To apply, you will submit your materials directly to
the employer.
Campus Interview Program. Employers visiting campus to interview students
will submit postings and request that you send your materials via the
JobLink system.
Internships.com
IE3 International Internship
opportunities hosted by the Oregon University System
Career
Fairs Held every fall, winter and spring term, Career Fairs bring a variety
of employers to campus.
Seek out companies of interest to you. Check their Human Resources/ Jobs
website for established internships. If there is not an established program,
consider creating your own and proposing it to the organization. If you need
help identifying employers, make an appointment with a Career
Services Advisor.
Deadlines for Internships vary depending on type, location and company.
Some deadlines for summer internships are during the spring while others can occur as early as the first few weeks of fall term! Do you research ahead of time so you don’t miss out. Questions? Stop by Lillis 240 or make an appointment with an advisor.
