Transcript Exploring Careers Through Experiential Learning

Internships
Rosemarie Sena Center
Career Development Services
Presentation Agenda
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Reasons to Participate
Internship Program at
MBC
Ways to Find an
Internship
Strategies for Success
Maintaining the
Connection
Remember to Say
“THANKS”
Reasons to Participate in
Internships
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“Test drive” a career choice (w/o permanent commitment).
Build your resume.
Gain practical experience in a potential career field.
Cultivate new skills.
Learn about all facets of an organization.
Develop a professional network and cultivate references.
Prepare for Grad School (requirement for entrance into
some graduate school programs).
Some MBC majors require the completion of a 387
internship.
Internship Program at MBC
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287 – Exploratory Internship
387 – More specific - career training
Must have a professor willing to sponsor it to
receive academic credit
Generally 50 hrs of work = 1 credit hour
May be paid or unpaid
May be completed in whatever location you want
May be completed in either the fall or spring
semesters, May Term, or during the summer
May be done beginning the summer after your
freshman year
Ways to Find an Internship
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Networking
Internet Searches & Web
Sites
Career Fairs
Job & Internship News
Library Resources
Contact companies or
organizations you already
know about
Networking
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Personal Network (friends,
family or anyone else you
know)
MBC Career Network
Directory
 www.mbc.edu
 Click on Alumnae
 Click on Directory Icon
 Click on Search Directory
 Enter password
(MaryJulia!)
Internet Searches & Web Sites
Company web sites
 Internet Yellow
Pages
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www.areaguides.net
www.switchboard.com
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Internship listings
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Mega searches
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www.mamma.com
www.google.com
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www.internships.com
www.internweb.com
www.internjobs.com
www.rsinternships.com
www.vault.com (Go to
Internship Job Board)
www.monstertrak.com
(Requires MBC password:
gladys)
Career Fairs
Diversity Career Day
 Career Premiere (job & internship fair)
 Network with employers
 Distribute resumes
 Interview
 College web sites/Classifieds/Web
 Actions without Borders
 www.idealist.org (nonprofit orgs)
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Job & Internship News
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Monthly publication of the
Sena Center; posted on the
Career Development web
page:
www.mbc.edu/student/care
erdev.asp
Lists all internships, jobs,
events, and academic
programs received by the
Sena Center
Library Resources
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Internships 2007
The National Directory of
Arts Internships
Chamber of Commerce
Directories
Career specific publications
Approaching a Company or
Organization
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If you have a contact (name), call or email them:
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If you do not have a contact:
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Be professional on the phone.
Use business letter format if you mail or email.
Call the company that interests you and ask who you
could talk to about internship opportunities.
Prepare what you’d like to say before you call:
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Have a “30 second” introduction of yourself ready.
Tell them how many hours you’d like to intern and
what kind of work you are interested in.
Ask if you can come by to meet with a supervisor and
tour the facility/office.
Be A Good Intern
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Show up on time
Call if you are going to be
absent (or late)
Carry out work
assignments in a
conscientious manner
Be aware of expectations
& office culture
Communicate and
establish positive
relationships with
employees
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Meet deadlines
Be professional
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Maintain confidentiality &
code of ethics
Adhere to the policies and
procedures of the
organization
Dress appropriately
Show initiative and
interest in your work
Treat it like a “real” job
Ask Questions, Clarify, and
Learn . . .
Treat your internship as an opportunity to
learn.
 Think critically and ask questions as if you
were in class.
 Clarify work assignments to know what is
expected.
 Pursue opportunities to learn more (i.e.,
informational interviews, special
projects/events, committees, etc.).
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Be Prepared Every Day
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Keep a “To Do ” list,
consult it regularly
Organize and
prioritize your work
Prepare in advance (be
proactive not reactive)
Develop the ability to
multi-task
Focus on Your Goals
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Write them down
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“Check-in” with
yourself
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Specific
Realistic
Flexible
Time-oriented
Reflect on your
progress
Use your journal
Maintaining the Connection
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Staying connected with
individuals in your career
field will reap many
future benefits such as:
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References or letters of
recommendation
Job opportunities
Graduate school
connections
Additional contacts
Remember to Say “THANKS”
Saying “Thank you” through a
written note or an email is a common
courtesy that most fail to perform.
Don’t be a statistic – Remember to
say “Thanks”!