Internships Rosemarie Sena Center Career Development Services

Presentation Agenda Reasons to Participate Reasons to Participate Internship Program at MBC Internship Program at MBC Ways to Find an Internship Ways to Find an Internship Strategies for Success Strategies for Success Maintaining the Connection Maintaining the Connection Remember to Say “THANKS” Remember to Say “THANKS”

Reasons to Participate in Internships “Test drive” a career choice (w/o permanent commitment). “Test drive” a career choice (w/o permanent commitment). Build your resume. Build your resume. Gain practical experience in a potential career field. Gain practical experience in a potential career field. Cultivate new skills. Cultivate new skills. Learn about all facets of an organization. Learn about all facets of an organization. Develop a professional network and cultivate references. Develop a professional network and cultivate references. Prepare for Grad School (requirement for entrance into some graduate school programs). Prepare for Grad School (requirement for entrance into some graduate school programs). Some MBC majors require the completion of a 387 internship. Some MBC majors require the completion of a 387 internship.

Internship Program at MBC 287 – Exploratory Internship 287 – Exploratory Internship 387 – More specific - career training 387 – More specific - career training Must have a professor willing to sponsor it to receive academic credit Must have a professor willing to sponsor it to receive academic credit Generally 50 hrs of work = 1 credit hour Generally 50 hrs of work = 1 credit hour May be paid or unpaid May be paid or unpaid May be completed in whatever location you want May be completed in whatever location you want May be completed in either the fall or spring semesters, May Term, or during the summer May be completed in either the fall or spring semesters, May Term, or during the summer May be done beginning the summer after your freshman year May be done beginning the summer after your freshman year

Ways to Find an Internship Networking Networking Internet Searches & Web Sites Internet Searches & Web Sites Career Fairs Career Fairs Job & Internship News Job & Internship News Library Resources Library Resources Contact companies or organizations you already know about Contact companies or organizations you already know about

Networking Personal Network (friends, family or anyone else you know) Personal Network (friends, family or anyone else you know) MBC Career Network Directory MBC Career Network Directory   Click on Alumnae  Click on Directory Icon  Click on Search Directory  Enter password (MaryJulia!)

Internet Searches & Web Sites Company web sites Company web sites Internet Yellow Pages Internet Yellow Pages   Mega searches Mega searches   Internship listings      (Go to Internship Job Board)  (Requires MBC password: gladys)

Career Fairs Diversity Career Day Diversity Career Day Career Premiere (job & internship fair) Career Premiere (job & internship fair)  Network with employers  Distribute resumes  Interview College web sites/Classifieds/Web College web sites/Classifieds/Web Actions without Borders Actions without Borders  (nonprofit orgs)

Job & Internship News  Monthly publication of the Sena Center; posted on the Career Development web page: erdev.asp erdev.asp erdev.asp  Lists all internships, jobs, events, and academic programs received by the Sena Center

Library Resources Internships 2007 The National Directory of Arts Internships Chamber of Commerce Directories Career specific publications

Approaching a Company or Organization If you have a contact (name), call or them: If you have a contact (name), call or them:  Be professional on the phone.  Use business letter format if you mail or . If you do not have a contact: If you do not have a contact:  Call the company that interests you and ask who you could talk to about internship opportunities. Prepare what you’d like to say before you call: Prepare what you’d like to say before you call:  Have a “30 second” introduction of yourself ready.  Tell them how many hours you’d like to intern and what kind of work you are interested in.  Ask if you can come by to meet with a supervisor and tour the facility/office.

Be A Good Intern Show up on time Show up on time Call if you are going to be absent (or late) Call if you are going to be absent (or late) Carry out work assignments in a conscientious manner Carry out work assignments in a conscientious manner Be aware of expectations & office culture Be aware of expectations & office culture Communicate and establish positive relationships with employees Communicate and establish positive relationships with employees Meet deadlines Be professional  Maintain confidentiality & code of ethics Adhere to the policies and procedures of the organization Dress appropriately Show initiative and interest in your work Treat it like a “real” job

Ask Questions, Clarify, and Learn... Treat your internship as an opportunity to learn. Treat your internship as an opportunity to learn. Think critically and ask questions as if you were in class. Think critically and ask questions as if you were in class. Clarify work assignments to know what is expected. Clarify work assignments to know what is expected. Pursue opportunities to learn more (i.e., informational interviews, special projects/events, committees, etc.). Pursue opportunities to learn more (i.e., informational interviews, special projects/events, committees, etc.).

Be Prepared Every Day Keep a “To Do ” list, consult it regularly Keep a “To Do ” list, consult it regularly Organize and prioritize your work Organize and prioritize your work Prepare in advance (be proactive not reactive) Prepare in advance (be proactive not reactive) Develop the ability to multi-task Develop the ability to multi-task

Focus on Your Goals Write them down  Specific  Realistic  Flexible  Time-oriented “Check-in” with yourself  Reflect on your progress Use your journal

Maintaining the Connection Staying connected with individuals in your career field will reap many future benefits such as: Staying connected with individuals in your career field will reap many future benefits such as:  References or letters of recommendation  Job opportunities  Graduate school connections  Additional contacts

Remember to Say “THANKS” Saying “Thank you” through a written note or an is a common courtesy that most fail to perform. Don’t be a statistic – Remember to say “Thanks”!