2. CAREER SERVICES INTERNSHIP GUIDE Table of Contents Internship Benefits Timeline Contacting Employers Interview Skills Thank you cards Before you accept an internship How to accept/decline an internship What to do if no offer comes Professional Guidelines Internship report form Make the Connection to Internships!

3. Internship Benefits Gain professional experience and work skills in a particular field or industry Determine a career path or test compatibility of your chosen major by engaging in hands-on experience Increased opportunity for securing full-time employment after graduation: about 60% of employers will offer full time positions to students who have had internships with them previously Network with industry professionals  Career Services only services non-academic credit seeking students. If you are looking to receive academic credit for your internship please see the Office of Academic Internships, Cooperative Education and Service Learning (OACS), located in Neff 337. Make the Connection to Internships!

4. Timeline 4 to 5 Months prior to internship start date Complete Internship Program: Interest Form (ipfw.edu/offices/career/students/internships.html)ipfw.edu/offices/career/students/internships.html Write out goals & objectives for your internship experience Prepare a list of companies with whom you would like to intern Create/Update your resume Meet with a career counselor (bring goals, companies, & resume) 3 to 4 Months prior to internship start date Attend career and internship fairs Research companies and internship opportunities, and compare to FLSA guidelines Complete a resume critique with a career counselor and submit a finalized resume to internship coordinator Apply for any open internship positions through JobZone (Click here to go to JobZone), Indiana INTERNnet (Click here to go to Indiana INTERNnet), or by creating an original opportunity with the assistance of Career ServicesClick here to go to JobZoneClick here to go to Indiana INTERNnet 2 to 3 Months prior to internship start date Complete a mock interview with a career counselor Call companies to inquire about internships and interviews Begin interviewing and follow up with thank you notes Make the Connection to Internships!

5. Timeline 1 to 2 Months prior to internship start date Continue interviewing and contacting employers Write acceptance/rejection letter(s) based upon your decisions 1 Month prior or within the 1 st week of internship Complete an Internship Report Form and submit it to Career Services (ipfw.edu/offices/career/students/internships.html)ipfw.edu/offices/career/students/internships.html Throughout Internship Semester Maintain appropriate work hours & performance as agreed upon by site supervisor Connect with Career Services via a student appointment at least once during your internship Participate in at least one site visit coordinated by IPFW internship coordinator Complete an end-of-semester evaluation and submit it to Career Services with logged work hours (ipfw.edu/offices/career/students/internships.html)ipfw.edu/offices/career/students/internships.html Make the Connection to Internships!

6. Contacting Employers Develop a list of companies or organizations that could best fulfill your goals. You can review a list of current internship openings through JobZone and Indiana INTERNnet. JobZoneIndiana INTERNnet If you're unsure of what other companies are in the area, here are a few resources to use when doing your research: Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce Better Business Bureau United Way of Allen County Leadership Fort Wayne Phone Book - Yellow PagesYellow Pages Make the Connection to Internships!

7. To best equip yourself for an interview you should prepare before, during, and after the interview: Before: 1.Research the company and the position 2.Prepare for the actual interview (use the Career Guide, section 8) 3.Practice and relax After: 1.Follow-up with a “thank-you” letter 2.Thank-you letters can be handwritten, typed, or emailed 3.Use the Career Guide, Cover Letter Section, for an example During: 1.Greet the interviewer with a firm handshake, make eye contact and smile 2.Be confident, alert, and enthusiastic 3.Take time to reflect before answering a difficult question 4.Be prepared to ask questions at the end of the interview 5.Be conscious of your body language Make the Connection to Internships! Interview Skills

8. Thank You Cards This is one of the most important yet least used tools in a job search. The purpose is to establish good will, express appreciation, and/or to strengthen your candidacy. The basic rule of thumb is to send a letter to everyone who helps you in any way. Thank-you letters should be sent within 24 hours to each contact. Thank-you letters may be typed, handwritten, or e-mailed. Make the Connection to Internships!

9. Deciding on an Internship Does this internship match my interests and values? Does this internship help me achieve my career goals? Would this qualify as relevant experience? Should I wait to hear back from other companies? Does this internship meet the FLSA guidelines? FLSA Guidelines: Click here for the full document on Fair Labor Standards ActClick here for the full document on Fair Labor Standards Act Quick Facts about FLSA: Department of Labor produced this reference to the FLSA NY Times article with additional information: Click here for the article from the New York TimesDepartment of Labor produced this reference to the FLSAClick here for the article from the New York Times Make the Connection to Internships!

10. Before You Accept an Internship If you choose to quit an internship before the semester is over, then you risk the following: A negative perception of you & IPFW students Companies network with each other and share good & bad experiences Bad business etiquette Career Services requests: An official resignation letter to the employer to regain access to JobZone Discuss reasons for quitting with a career counselor Want another internship? Career Services will request additional work, like: Professional goals Pro and Con lists of other companies you’re considering Mock interview appointment Other careers/industries you would want to pursue Practice networking *Note- You can still utilize services (other than internships) through Career Services, including: resume critiques, networking, grad school prep, job searching advice, etc. Make the Connection to Internships!

11. How to Accept or Decline an Internship Offer Please refer to the Cover Letter section in our Career Guide (Click here to view an electronic copy of the IPFW Career Guide or it’s available in KT 109) or contact Career Services for help with writing your acceptance or rejection letterClick here to view an electronic copy of the IPFW Career Guide Make the Connection to Internships!

12. What to Do if No Offer Comes Ask companies if you may follow up with them within the next week If you do not hear from companies within a week call/email to inquire about the status of their decision Continue researching other internship opportunities Continue preparing for interviews Make the Connection to Internships!

13. Professional Guidelines M A I N T A I N P R O F E S S I O N A L I S M Arrive on time everyday Know and follow company dress codes Do not get on Facebook or other social networking sites while at work Put your cell phone on silent; don’t text message during work hours Don’t use company resources for personal use No matter how bad of a day you had at your internship, DO NOT post negative comments about the company or its employees on the internet Make the Connection to Internships!

14. Internship Report Form Please complete the Internship Report Form and submit it to Career Services ipfw.edu/offices/career/students/internships.html Make the Connection to Internships!

15. Congratulations! TAKE THE QUIZ Click here for the Quiz, or copy and paste the url address https://purdue.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_exnC2Z49bGGOtOQ Make the Connection to Internships!