STUDENTS Internships
Benefits of an Internship
One of the recurring themes in any entry level job search is the lack of experience factor. "Where do I get experience if no one is willing to hire me?" The answer is simple: Get an internship!
Students planning to enter the permanent work force should complement their academic preparation with a range of other experiences, such as study abroad, community service, undergraduate research experiences, participation in sports and other student organizations, membership of pre-professional organizations, and internships.
An internship offers you the chance to learn by doing in a setting where you are supervised by a work-place professional, and have the opportunity to achieve your own learning goals, without the responsibilities of being a permanent employee.
Students say internships can:
- Help you learn about a career field from the inside
- Help you decide if this is the right career field for you
- Enable you to work alongside a professional in your chosen career area
- Allow you to observe the work place and see if it matches your expectations
- Give you new skills and add to your knowledge base
- Give you confidence in your own abilities
- Let you apply some of the ideas you've learned in school
- Give you the opportunity to practice your communication and teamwork skills
- Allow you to meet new people and practice your networking skills
- Provide evidence that you have initiative, are reliable and have a sense of responsibility
- Provide a bridge between school and the professional world
- Make a valuable addition to your resume
- Enhance your application to Graduate School
- Open the door to a job offer or a recommendation about steps to take next on your career path
- Help you gain an advantage over other applicants
- Be fun and rewarding experiences
- The more semesters graduates spend interning, the less time they spend looking for employment. Internships typically predict higher starting salaries. (Horowitz, 1999; Donovan, Garnett, 2001)
- That internships have the ability to stimulate a student's involvement in the educational learning process. (Medoff, 1993)
- Undergraduates who receive credit for internships are shown to have a stronger preference for active experimentation, while those who do not receive credit prefer a more reflective observation learning style. (Johnson, 1991)
Find an Internship, Summer or Part-Time Job
There are a variety of ways to locate internships, summer and part-time jobs in your area of interest. The more extensive your research, the more likely you are the find the opportunity that best fits your needs.
Consider using as many of these resources as you can:
Internship Resources
- Attend one of our Career Fairs! The Spring Job & Internship Fair will take place on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 from 11am-4pm, Main Lounge, Iowa Memorial Union. We will also sponsor some smaller, targeted fairs in the spring including an: Arts, Entertainment and Media Fair, a Health, Science and Biotech Fair and a Marketing, Sales and Management Fair.
- Get registered with UI Employment Expo.This online system contains internship and job listings posted by employers interested in hiring UI students. You can also upload your resume for employers to view and can submit your resume for an opportunity to interview on campus.
- Visit the Pomerantz Library. The library houses over 500 books on various career topics. The Internship Bible and The Best 106 Internships are a few resources that provide internship listings and contact information.
- Schedule an appointment with a Career Advisor to update your resume, polish your interviewing skills, and explore other ways to find or develop your own internship opportunity.
Summer and Part-Time Job Resources
Nationwide Listings
- Vault
- Get That Gig
- Back Door Jobs
- Cool Works
- Camp Channel
- Seasonal Employment
- Summer Jobs
- 4 International Careers & Jobs
Local Summer and Part-time Jobs
Click here for Jobnet , the Financial Aid Office's list of jobs (on and off campus).
International Experiences
Internship Programs
- Chicago Center
- Des Moines Center
- Experience Iowa Internship Program
- ICRU Scholar Assistant Program (USA Replacement Program)
- Washington Center
- Walt Disney World College Program
Internship Requirements and Policies
Internship Requirements
- Professional experience which relates to student's major field or area of career interest
- At least 80% professional work
- Occupies at least one academic term (fall, spring or summer)
- At least 10 weeks during spring or fall term, or 8 weeks in summer
- Full or part-time intern must work a minimum of 10 hours per week
- Requires continuous supervision by a professional in the field (not a student)
- Must be at least a sophomore or above (must have completed at least 12 semester hours of UI coursework)
Internship Agreement
Professional conduct: I understand that I am to act in a professional manner at all times. I understand that it is my responsibility to find out from my internship site the specific details of my duties, work schedule, compensation, and benefits. I understand that I will be subject to the rules and regulations of the internship site.
Health/accident insurance: I understand that it is my own responsibility to carry appropriate health and accident insurance during my internship.
Unemployment compensation: I understand that as a student enrolled in an internship or cooperative education experience, I will not be eligible to file for unemployment compensation from the University of Iowa and may not be eligible to file for unemployment compensation from my internship site.
As an intern/cooperative education student, I agree to register my experiential learning experience with the Pomerantz Career Center; fulfill my responsibilities to the Pomerantz Career Center, appropriate faculty, and internship site; and notify the Pomerantz Career Center if my internship status changes after the start of my assignment.
I understand that continued use of career center resources is contingent upon my adherence to this agreement.