One crucial part of college that most students find intimidating is finding an internship. Internships are not only required for most degree plans but they also provide a great leg up in the job market. They provide you with valuable experience in your field of study before you begin searching for a job.
Contrary to popular belief, finding an internship does not mean getting coffee for the entire office or making copies of important documents. Internships give you the chance to gain valuable hands-on experience.
Tarleton offers a variety of internships both paid and unpaid (I will dive into the difference later in the blog).
Getting an internship was one of the best things I ever did for myself. During the second semester of my freshman year, I applied for an internship in the Division of Enrollment Communications here on campus. This internship taught me how to communicate in the workplace, manage office settings, and how to do a variety of things associated with my major. These skills led me to get two social media manager jobs for small businesses.
I would not have had any of these doors opened if I had not stepped out of my comfort zone and applied for an internship. Below are some tips and tricks for finding both on and off-campus internships as well as the breakdown of paid vs unpaid internships.
On-Campus Internships
- Check your school email frequently. Many department heads may be sending out opportunities based on your major.
- Download Handshake and check for opportunities regularly.
- Have a job-ready resume prepared.
- If you have any previous work have it compiled into a portfolio. (This is more for creative-focused fields!)
- As a Tarleton student, you have access to the application Quincia. This will look over your resume, give you tips to edit it, and help you practice for an interview.
- Make sure you have a nice outfit prepared for interviews.
- Do research on the department and position beforehand!
- Make sure you are work-study eligible. (Visit https://www.tarleton.edu/finaid/typesofaid/employment/ to check your eligibility!)
- On-campus internships are more flexible with your school schedule often offering time off for finals week, big tests, etc.
Off-Campus Internships
- Check websites such as Indeed and Handshake as well as talk with your professors to see if there are any off-campus internships open.
- You can also check the websites of companies you want to work for and see if they are hiring!
- ALWAYS APPLY DIRECTLY FROM THEIR WEBSITE NOT A THIRD-PARTY SITE!
- Applying directly from their website instead of LinkedIn or Indeed shows more initiative.
- Ensure you have multiple people look over your resume and portfolio before applying.
- Letting different professionals look over these items will help you see what you may be missing or what you can improve.
- Make sure you have a business professional outfit to interview in.
- Some places may not require you to dress business professionally but for the interview, you should. This will let employers know how professional you can be in the workplace.
- Go in with printed copies of your resume, a notepad and pen, and confidence in yourself.
- Make sure you research the company beforehand. Look over their website, their services, and their mission statement.
- It is important to make sure your values align with the company and they will offer you an experience that will help to improve your resume and skills.
Both on and off-campus internships have their pros and cons. It’s all about figuring out what is right for you. What is going to best expand your resume while still allowing you to focus on your education?
Paid vs Unpaid
Deciding between an unpaid versus paid internship may seem like an easy choice. Of course you want to be paid for your time. However, unpaid internships have their fair share of advantages.
In a paid internship, you are considered an employee, so you may be asked to do extra tasks such as filing paperwork or working on something outside your field. However, with an unpaid internship, you have the luxury of focusing specifically on the aspect of work you want from said internship. For example, if you are unpaid, you can focus solely on working with the marketing department on their new campaigns. However, if you are paid, your boss can make you help another department if they need help or do extra tasks. Additionally, unpaid internships show future employers your dedication to learning and working.
If you do get offered an unpaid internship that you want to take but finances are an issue, Tarleton offers a RELIEF grant that can help supplement funds. For more information how how to apply and if you qualify see the link below.
How to Prepare
- PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
- Before you go into your interview, look up common interview questions and practice how you would answer them. You can also schedule a meeting with Career Services to do a mock interview or use Quinncia (available for free through Tarleton).
- Read through your resume
- Make sure you know what is on your resume in case they ask you questions. It is good to print a copy for yourself to reference during the interview, as well as copies for your interviewer
- Prepare your outfit
- Make sure you have tried on your outfit and broken in your shoes. You do not want to walk into your job interview limping due to blisters (trust me on that one)
While going for an internship may seem scary, it is something that will benefit you and your career. My hope is that these tips and tricks ease your anxiety about internships and inspire you to take the next steps. Te learn more about Tarleton State’s internship program click the link below.
