Find an Internship

Companies hiring recent graduates look for those who took the initiative to complete internships while a student. You drive the process for finding and applying for your internships. Applying for internships also gives you the experience of applying for professional opportunities in a field you are interested in exploring.

Career Development is a resource for you throughout your internship experience. We can assist you with internship listings, resources, the application process and the registration process to receive academic credit.

internship application timeline

 

Prepare Application Materials

• Internship Application Timeline (PDF)
• Resume & Cover Letter (webpage)
• Samples of work (webpage)
• Schedule a resume critique through Handshake  (webpage)
• We recommend you prepare for your internship search in the fall semester of your sophomore year

Search

• Login to your Handshake account and search internship opportunities
• Make an appointment for help with your search
• Sign up for email alerts to get notified when new internships are posted
• Utilize faculty, family and friends to help you identify internship leads

Apply

• Apply to 5 or more different internships
• Be sure to follow application instructions precisely
• ALWAYS include a cover letter (an email of interest) introducing yourself, what you are applying for, and why you are interested in that that specific opportunity
• Write an effective cover letter for each application (Cover Letter Guide & Templates)
• If applying by email, your cover letter will be the email and you will attach your resume as a .pdf file. If applying online, you may upload a .pdf or paste your cover letter in a form field. It is recommended you always draft your cover letter in a Word document first so you can spell-check, refine, and save your letter without accidentally hitting “send” early
• Remember: Application times vary & many employers hire months in advance. Apply early to be in the running for your preferred internships. You may miss out if you wait to the last minute

Follow Up

• ALWAYS follow up by email or phone 1-2 weeks after you apply (download sample of what to say in a follow-up email/call)
• Employers pay attention to applicants who take the initiative to follow up

Interview

• They've seen your resume, now they want to meet you!
• View our interview resources