Internships are said to be the single best way to learn what it’s like to work in an industry, and for students to “test drive” a career. Employers, as well as graduate schools, also look for internships in a student’s background for hiring and selection decisions.

What is the first step to prepare for an internship?
If you’re ready to start looking for an internship, the best thing to do is get your resume ready. Make sure it’s up to date with your latest jobs, courses you’ve taken, and your GPA. The Career Center at Philadelphia University offers both online and in-person assistance to help you with your resume.

When is the best time to do an internship?
We typically recommend students intern in their junior or senior years, with the summer between junior and senior year being the most popular time. Most employers are looking for interns who have taken two or more years worth of courses so that the student has some knowledge of the major and career field. In our experience as well, students report that they had much better experiences as interns in the junior or senior year, because they knew more and could make contributions.

How do I find an internship?
There are many resources available to find an internship, and it really depends on what you want to do. The Internship Program office is a great place to start; we maintain connections with many companies and have listings employers have sent us specifically for Philadelphia University students. We maintain internship and other job listings in the CareerLink system - all current students are welcome to create an account and view postings. If we don’t have an active internship listing that matches your interest, we’ll help you to research and make connections with other employers that may be a good fit. Additional resources exist outside the University, typically through a company’s own website or through more general websites like www.wetfeet.com. Some students also speak to their professors and make connections through their families that lead to great internship opportunities. Students are welcome to speak to the Internship Program staff to learn which approaches may be best for their field.

What qualities make a good internship?
A good internship, especially one that may be counted for academic credit, should offer: a career-related experience, supervision by a professional in the field and the opportunity for hands-on responsibility for the student. The Internship Program also requires for students earning credit that the position offer 12 or more hours per week of work for at least 12 weeks/one semester.

What if I want an internship outside of the Philadelphia area?
The Internship Program office at Philadelphia University as well as the Career Center has resources available for students to research companies in other cities. The Internship Program has worked with students in finding internships all over the United States, from Los Angeles to Miami, Arkansas to Texas, in addition to the many connections we already have established in the greater Philadelphia region and New York City.

Does it matter if the internship is paid or not?
There are excellent internships available that are both paid and unpaid, and employers typically determine whether or not to pay their interns. In some cases, a company offering an unpaid internship may require you to register for academic credit; students with further questions about that should speak to the Internship Program office staff.

What are the requirements to receive credit?
To receive credit for an internship, the student must meet certain academic requirements. For students in four-year Bachelor of Science programs, students must have completed 60 credits and have a GPA of 2.5 or higher before starting the internship. Students in five year programs, such as Architecture and Landscape Architecture, should have 90 credits completed and a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Graduate students are encouraged to check with their academic advisors to determine eligibility.

How do internship credits count towards my degree?
Most academic programs at Philadelphia University count internship courses as Free Electives in the student’s requirements for graduation.

What school work is involved with the internship program?
When students enroll in the Internship Program with a job offer, the student is assigned to a faculty internship advisor from his/her major and will complete assignments from that school's internship syllabus over the course of the experience. Typical assignments include a goal-setting assignment written in consultation with the employer, short research papers on the student's company, a journal, and readings and essays related to the student's career field. At the conclusion of the semester, employers will be asked to evaluate the student, and students are also asked to evaluate their internship site.

Can I do an internship abroad, or while studying abroad?
International internships for academic credit are currently only available to students who are already studying abroad through a Philadelphia University program at a foreign school that offers an internship option. An example is American Continental University’s program in London.

However, other options do exist. One way to find an international internship is by contacting the company directly yourself; most multinational corporations offer summer as well as winter internships and are fairly easy to locate on the internet. Agencies also exist that will assist students in learning about or securing international experiences.

Examples include:

• http://www.frenchculture.org/
• http://www.internabroad.com/search.cfm
• http://www.geponline.org/support_gep/index.shtml
• http://www.idealist.org/
• http://intern.studyabroad.com/
• http://www.europeaninternships.com/
• http://rtpnet.org/~intintl/
• http://www.cdsintl.org/
• http://www.agls.uidaho.edu/airforce/index.htm
• http://www.aipt.org/iaeste.html
• http://www.cicdgo.com/
• Monster.com - International Internships
• http://www.campusaccess.com/campus_web/intern/i2int.htm

What is the value of doing an internship for credit, rather than just on my own?
Interning for academic credit has several advantages. First, the Internship Program office will be your partner in your search, helping you to identify companies and professional opportunities wherever you want to work. Second, you’ll have access to a greater number of quality internship opportunities, for some employers really prefer students who are taking an internship for credit. Third, you’ll be able to use one or two of your free electives to get real hands-on experience in your field, build your professional network and lay the foundation for your career. And lastly, by working directly with a faculty internship advisor and completing the assignments of the course(s), you’ll be able to make a very clear connection between what you’ve been learning in the classroom and what it takes to be successful in your profession.

Is housing available if I don’t live near my internship?
For students working away from home, the Internship Program office is glad to assist in identifying contacts for intern housing (where available) and to help the student identify the best sites. Many student-intern housing programs exist in larger cities, such as New York, and in some cases, the employer may be able to recommend housing or, in rarer cases, would provide accommodations as part of the internship.