Why Do An Internship?: The College at Brockport

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Internships provide students with the opportunity to develop marketable skills along with professional contacts while increasing their confidence and self-awareness. Internships also help further define career interests and goals. Students that obtain internships are provided with career related experience that distinguishes them from other applicants.

Initial factors to consider.....

Determine the field/function in which you wish to pursue an internship. Internships occur in marketing, finance, accounting, etc.
Where geographically do you want to do the internship? Which semester?
Determine your priorities. Some, not all, internships are paid experiences. Can you plan to take an unpaid internship for ten hours a week? A short-term sacrifice of an unpaid internship will have long lasting dividends when applying for the first permanent job upon graduation.
How much time can you commit to an internship? 10 hours? 20 hours? Full-time? Often the hours on site are worked out between you and the sponsoring organization.
Ask yourself "What do I want to get out of this experience?" The actual projects and duties are only part of the skills to be acquired.
Create a targeted resume and cover letter. Be aware of application deadlines.
Determine if you want or need academic credit and your eligibility. See the Internship Overview page for details on obtaining BUS 498 credit.
Identify a company. (Think of a company that needs extra help vs. a company that could offer you an internship.) See list of resources on "How to Find an Internship." Have the company complete an application for an internship if they do not already have one on file in the Business Department Career Services Office.