• Learn first hand about a career field.
• Gain valuable work experience that employers are seeking for.
• Gain a balance of education, extracurricular work activities, and work experience.
• Develop professional competence and skills.
• Make decisions about your future.
• Gain confidence in yourself as a valued member of a work group.
• Expand your view of the world.
• Build your professional career network, and gain contacts and recommendations.
• Build your resume and improve after graduation job opportunities.
• Receive job offers.
• Earn academic credit.

In order for an internship to qualify for academic credit, the position must meet certain criteria determined by your major department. For specific information, you will need to contact the Internship Coordinator for your major.

• To explore a particular career field?
• To learn specific work skills?
• To prepare yourself for your next stage in a chosen career?
• To work closely with faculty on a scholarly research project?
• To gain access to "service learning" opportunities in the public interest or community service?
• To obtain hands-on experience valued by employers and graduate schools?

• Location. Where do you want to do your internship?
• Housing. Can you afford to pay rent? Do you have friends or relatives with whom you can stay while doing the internship?
• Finances. How much money will you need, what expenses will you have?
• Resume. Continue improving and developing your resume. Have many people read it and offer their suggestions.
• Cover letter. Develop a cover letter that is specific to the internship position.
• Interview. Prepare for the interview by researching the company. Have someone ask you questions, so you can practice your answers. Career Services can help you with a mock interview.

Finding an internship is often a challenging project. Many internships are highly competitive. You should begin your search process months before you plan on doing the internship. Sometimes the best opportunities are found in the least likely places. The following are some suggestions for finding an internship:

• Career Services. Your local Career Services office is a good resource for books and journals that list internship opportunities. The staff is also a good source of referral and networking.
• eRecruiting. This program contains information on dates employers are coming to campus, info sessions, and career fairs. It also allows you to upload your resume and cover letter, submit your resume to a Resume Book, and apply for jobs or internships and sign up for interviews. Contact NAU Career Services for more information at 523-4772.
• Internship Coordinator for Your Major. This person usually has much information on internships in your area of interest. If the coordinator does not have immediate information, he or she can point you in the right direction.
• Family/friends. Tell everyone you know what you are trying to do and where you would like to work. You never know when a friend's acquaintance might be able to help you.
• Professors. Many of your professors know people in your major field. They might be able to provide you with a contact name and a reference.
• Human Resources Websites. If you are included in a particular organization, check the Human Resources page on its website. Usually, companies will list open positions.
• Professional Associations or Societies Websites. Being a student of a professional association in your field gives you access to the internship listing of that association.
• Other College/University Career Offices Websites. Go to http://www.members.aol.com/criscito/colleges.htm to browse many sites.
• Internship Websites. Look under the Majors section on this website to begin your search.

By creating an internship you have the opportunity to tailor it to your interests and geographic requirements . Start by asking the question, "Where would I like to work?" Looking for organizations or agencies rather than listings open up a world of possibilities. While these may not be paid, they can be combined with a part-time job.

To help you find your own internship, you might start by utilizing many of the resources listed above in the "Resources for Finding an Internship" section.

Once you have decided on some organizations for which you would like to do an internship, follow up.

• E-mail. E-mail is fast and it is easy for employers to get back to you. An e-mail should introduce yourself, your skills, why you would like to do an internship, and how you can benefit the organization. You should paste your resume in the e-mail to prevent any problems with attachments.
• Telephone. Phone calls can be efficient if they don't lead to "phone tag." Rehearse what you are going to say before making the call. Introduce yourself, tell the listener about your interest in the organization and the fact that you are seeking an internship. The conversation will take off from there.
• Mail. Traditional mail takes too long, and often papers are misplaced or unanswered once they reach an organization.
• Whom to contact in an organization. In a small business, contact the executive director. In a larger organization, contact the head of the department where you would like to work. Looking at staff listings on the organization's website will give you a good starting point.

Before accepting a position, especially an unpaid position, carefully consider what you will be doing, and how it will benefit you.

• Work that feels meaningful and useful.
• Work that challenges you to grow.
• Supervisor/staff who make you feel a part of the work as a whole.
• Supervisor/staff who are accessible on-site and available, and willing to guide you and answer your questions.
• Opportunities to learn about the field through your day-to-day activities, informal conversations with staff, participation in meetings, site visits, or staff training.

Following are some questions you might want to ask to help clarify what your duties will be during the internship.

• What are some of the projects or assignmenst I would be involved in, and what would be my role?
• What type of supervision do interns receive?
• Could you describe the work culture?
• What are the most important qualities you are looking for in an intern?
• Could you give me an example of an intern whom you considered outstanding? What did he/she do that made him/her outstanding?
• Are interns included in staff programs such as staff meetings, seminars, or training sessions? Do interns observe site visits, or meetings with clients?

Reflect on the responses you receive. After talking with your future supervisor, do you feel excited about the internships, or doubtful? If you are offered the internship and are not sure you want to accept it, make an appointment to meet with your potential supervisor or speak with him/her over the phone to clarify points about which your are uncertain or have concern.

For your internship experience to be a success, you need to make the most out of every opportunity. Following are some areas to think about while doing the internship:

• Learning Goals
• New Skills
• Career Exploration
• Broadening Horizons
• Interpersonal Skills for the Workplace
• Learning from the Environment
• Taking on Responsibility
• Beginning a Professional Network

Even if you have had part-time jobs in the past, an internship is a new environment. You are hoping to gain skills, define your career goals, and earn some references. You should take your internship seriously, both in the quality of work you do and what you gain from the experience.

You should use the opportunity to:

• Observe your new environment. What is the atmosphere? How do people dress? How do they relate to each other? The more you observe and understand, the more able you will be to define a working environment and adapt to it.
• Ask questions. This is the time to learn as much as possible. Mistakes are more easily forgiven in an internship than a job. Never be afraid to clarify if you are unsure about something.
• Clarify your schedule. Make sure you and your supervisor clearly agree on daily hours, lunch times, and breaks. Arrange days off in advance. Your supervisor will expect you to be on time the days and times agreed upon. This is not time to create a flexible schedule for yourself.

Preparing a learning contract at the start of your internship is a good way to help your and your supervisor take your internship seriously. The contract should clearly define what you both expect to happen during the internship. It allows any misconceptions to be cleared up at the beginning. Discussing the contract with your supervisor is the perfect opportunity to let him/her know what you wish to learn. See the Sample Internship Learning Contract for an idea of what information to include.

Is your internship on course? Keep your learning goals in mind. Are they still realistic to you and your supervisor? (It is fine to readjust your goals during the course of your internship.) If you are making progress toward your goals, wonderful! If not, you and your supervisor should discuss your concerns and readjust where necessary.

When you think things are not working out. It is possible that your internship will not be what you hoped, despite all the planning you have put into the process.

If you are not happy with how your internship is working out, look at your learning goals. Even if you are not entirely happy in your position, if you are learning, you will have gained something from the experience.

If you need help achieving your learning goals, you should speak with your supervisor. Be sure you are diplomatic when speaking about your unhappiness. Your and your supervisor should work together to resolve the issue. You should not view your supervisor as an enemy.

Not enough to do? If you quickly finish your projects and are left with time on your hands, let your supervisor know that you are able and willing to do more work or take on more responsibility.

If your supervisor does not get back to you, or is too busy to address your needs, this would be a good time to take the initiative and come up with a project for yourself. If you can think of something useful to do that would help you enhance your learning, outline what you would do and approach your supervisor. Never start on a project with out getting permission, however.

Leaving. Make sure all your responsibilities are fulfilled. Tie up any loose ends. If you cannot finish a project, make sure someone else will take it over and brief him or her on what you did. Be sure to ask for a reference.

After you Leave.Always send a thank you letter after you have left. Be sure to evaluate what you have learned from the experience.

After your internship has ended, it is important to reflect on what you have learned from the experience. Following are some questions to ask yourself after your internship has ended:

• What have I learned?
• What is my preferred physical work setting?
• What is my preferred relationship to colleagues and clients?
• What is my preferred work pace?
• What is my preferred balance of tasks?
• What is my preferred way of being supervised?
• What have I learned about myself?