Internship experiences are not for everyone.  Because internships are learning experiences where skills and knowledge are applied and further developed, it is critical that a student be academically, intellectually and socially ready to embark on such a hands-on experience.  Students should consider the following areas prior to exploring internship opportunities.

• Level of maturity

• Type and quality of academic work completed (upper level courses, research methods, etc.)

• Length and depth of experience - i.e. full-time, part-time, field experience & practicum

• Demonstrated skills such as research, analysis, communication, ability to work independently

• Best time for the internship to occur in relationship to graduation and academic requirements

• Level of energy and commitment willing to put forth during the internship

Is an internship for you?  If the answer is "yes", then carefully consider the type of internship experience you want and begin to discuss the issue with faculty at UW-Green Bay and the staff in Career Services.

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Types of Internships

There are various types of internships that exist.  Academic, paid and non-paid/volunteer internships are all possible.  The organization, location of the internships and how many interns may be present help to determine the type of internship offered.  Remember the key to an internship is the learning experience, not necessarily the type of compensation you will receive in return. Please give careful consideration to the type of internship you pursue as well as to the time of year you wish to secure the experience.

Paid internships allow you to gain experience with different types of compensation received.  Internships may be fully paid (a lump sum for the entire semester such as a stipend) or paid hourly.  A small stipend may be available for commuting and/or living expenses.  The summer is an optimal time for organizations to offer paid internships.  The organization will most likely state in the internship description if it is paid or unpaid.

Non-paid/volunteer internships provide you with similar responsibilities as paid internships, but may be limited in the total number of hours the experience will last.  If other opportunities are not possible, do not initially discount an internship just because it is non-paid/volunteer.  Having a non-paid internship could convey to a potential employer that you possess a certain level of commitment and/or dedication to the field, plus you will have had related experience. If money is an issue, you can compensate for a non-paid internship by working part-time.

Academic internships allow a student to receive academic credit for the work accomplished in the internship.  Academic internships are supervised by a faculty member and are approved by individual academic units.  The coordination of internships for academic credit resides with the various academic departments, and in some disciplines, a practical component is a required element of the curriculum.  An internship involves faculty - student interaction in the establishment of internship requirements, faculty assessment of achievement and possible work-site visits by the student's intern coordinator.

Most academic units at UW-Green Bay will only sponsor their majors for internships.  The types of experiences and the amount of credit that may be earned varies from department to department. Full-time undergraduate internships are for 9-12 credit hours and part-time internships are for 3-6 credit hours.  To earn credit for your internship, additional work (research paper, project, journal, evaluations) is often required for you to complete.  This academic component of the internship is pre-arranged with your faculty and on-site supervisors.   Refer to the college catalogue for your major regarding the course numbers and descriptions pertaining to internships.  To review a list of internship coordinators by major – refer to this link on the Career Services website - http://www.uwgb.edu/careers/Internships_AcademicDepts.htm.

In order to complete an internship for academic credit, students must officially enroll for internship credit.  Please see the sample form in this packet that needs to be completed, signed by both your supervising faculty member and internship site supervisor and then returned to the Registrar’s Office to receive credit.  A copy of the internship form can be obtained at the Registrar’s Office, Career Services, Academic Advising or from the Internship Coordinator in your unit.  You can also obtain the form online here - http://www.uwgb.edu/careers/PDF%20Files/Internship_Proposal_Form.pdf.

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Role of Career Services

Securing an internship requires effort and hard work.  Career Services is available to assist students in obtaining paid and non-paid/volunteer internships and to answer questions and make referrals regarding internships for academic credit.  Our staff can assist in identifying possible sites and in preparation of application materials:  writing a resume, developing a letter of application and sharpening interviewing skills.  Career Services sponsors a Job and Internship Fair twice each year – in early October and early March.  These events are great opportunities to meet with organizations and ask questions about internships. 

You Would Like to Obtain an Internship - What Next?

First, you should decide on your level of commitment to an internship and whether you would like to receive academic credit for the experience.  Your level of commitment will determine the length of time you are willing to serve as an intern per week and the ideas you can generate about what you would like to accomplish during the internship.

Pursuing an Internship for Academic Credit

Make an appointment to speak with the Academic Internship Coordinator for the unit where your major is located.  Coordinators for each department are listed on the Career Services’ website at http://www.uwgb.edu/careers/Internships_AcademicDepts.htm.

Develop an intern goal statement.  Answer these questions.

1. What is it you want to do?

2. What are the skills you would like to use and the interests you would like to incorporate?

3. What type of employer would you like to work for as an intern?  Identify the type of organization, i.e. large corporation, school, non-profit organization, etc.

Consider the opportunities available before your meeting.  Review a listing of past internships completed by UW-Green Bay students that is available for review in Career Services as well as review the current internships that are posted and available.  All internships are posted in Phoenix Recruitment On-line/PRO – be sure to login to check availability here - https://www.myinterfase.com/uwgb/student/.  Some academic units list internships on their academic unit website. 

Be honest with the coordinator.  She/he will need information contained in the goal statement including the courses you have taken.  The more information you share with the internship coordinator, the more productive your first meeting will be.

Review the application procedure with the coordinator.  Be clear on your role and what the coordinator will do for you.

Prepare a resume and a possible letter of application at the direction of the coordinator.  Have staff in Career Services review the resume and letter of application you developed.  Continue/pursue the process as advised.

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Identifying Your Own Internship Sites

Review the list of internships in Phoenix Recruitment On-line with Career Services.  Give consideration to the time of year, geographic location, and weekly time commitment desired.

Develop an intern goal statement.  Answer these questions:

1. What is it you want to do?

2. What are the skills you would like to use and the interests you would like to incorporate?

3. What type of employer would you like to work for as an intern?  Identify the type of organization, i.e. large corporation, school, non-profit organization, etc.

Based on geographic location and field, develop a list of prospective employers.  Review directories, employer/organization websites, telephone books, Chamber of Commerce listings and other publications.                    

Write a resume and letter of application.  Pick up copies of guidebooks on resume writing and high impact letters from Career Services.  Have staff in Career Services review both your resume and letter of application.        

You can begin by contacting organizations by email or phone to see if any internship is available.  Be ready to follow-up in response to interest in your intern candidacy by sending your resume and a follow-up letter.  Wait for 5-7 business days before performing any follow-up calls.  It is important for you to follow-up your letters.  Remember that you have initiated the correspondence.  If you wait for the organization(s) to respond to you, you might be missing out on several opportunities.

Summary

Included in this guidebook is a sample internship resume developed by a UW-Green Bay student.  This resume was used to obtain an internship.  The sample may be used as a guide in developing your own resume.

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