GAIN RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE
What is an Internship?
A work opportunity relevant to a student’s major allowing them to gain experience in their industry.
Why are Internships Beneficial?
- Internships enable students to learn more precisely what they want or don’t want to do.
- A study of 2017 by the University of South Carolina found students who complete an internship earn on average $7441 more each year after graduation.
- It may lead to a full-time offer. 59% of employers make full-time job offers to interns according to the (NACE) 2018 Internship & Co-op Survey Report.
- Internships allow students to interact with professionals in a given field enabling them to grow their professional networks.
- Students may be able to take an internship for academic credit in place of another class.
How to Get an Internship
- Clean up your social media and start your professional brand.
- Prepare your resume and cover letter.
- Search and Apply
- Know someone with an organization of interest? Ask if they can give you contact info for one of their recruiters or share your resume with the appropriate department.
- Don’t have a friend? Make one! Participate in Career Development Events, relevant industry organizations, and/or informational interviews.
- Use job search platforms (below) to search and apply. Suggestion: Set up job alerts so you’re emailed when a position matching the key word “intern” is posted.
- Email us at careers@uscupstate.edu to let us know what you’re searching for, and we’ll be on the lookout for you!
- Ace the Interview
- Evaluate offers and decide.
Where to Look for Internships:
Note: Looking in the “Careers” section of major employers can be a great idea.
Note: Looking for an On-Campus Job? Search Here
Other Helpful Sites: Search other sites and resources
When to Look for Internships:
Ideally, students looking for summer internships should start their search during September of the previous year, with opportunities existing up until around early April.
Students seeking a spring or fall internship should begin their search 3-6 months in advance.
Internships for Academic Credit
Most departments allow students to receive academic credit for completing an internship relevant to their major. Students who wish to enroll in an internship for credit should discuss this option with their Academic Advisor. We recommend completing the forms to do an internship for credit (obtained in your academic department) prior to the start of your internship to ensure you will be eligible for credit.
Credits earned, internship requirements, mandatory projects, and class meetings vary by department. Please remember that if a student plans on completing an internship for academic credit, he or she is responsible for meeting the financial responsibilities related to enrolling for the internship course. Speak to your Academic Department to verify any internship requirements for your major.