“Internships 101”

1. “Internships 101” How to find, land, and make the most of your internship

2. How do employers find new hires? The Top 5 ways are: • Internships • Co-operative Ed Programs(“co-op” is another word for internship) • On-campus recruiting • Career/job fairs • Faculty contacts Source: NACE Job Outlook The 1st 2 of the top 5 ways to get anentry-level job areinternships!

3. So … What is an internship? • Project-based work experience • Part-time during academic year, can be full-time in summer term • One or more terms in length • Paid or unpaid; students can earn money and/or credit(Unpaid internships require academic credit in most cases.)

4. Why Do an Internship ? • Start your professional life • Experience for your resume • Define your career path • Earn money and/or credit for school • Develop a professional network • Mentoring, training • Apply classroom learning in the real world • Hone existing skills & develop new ones

5. Who is eligible ? • There are internships available to everyone from HS seniors through graduate students. • Special rules apply to international students (Contact IES for details) • Some internship positions require academic credit. For these, you will need to contact your academic department.

6. When should I get one ? Early and often is a good rule! • We recommend that you take at least the core 300-level course in your major before applying for most internships. • Each position has its own requirements. Read each position description carefully to see if you can apply.

7. Where do I go for info.? • PSU Career Centerwww.career.pdx.edu • AIESECwww.aiesecus.org(Alex Evans, Recruitment Coordinator, Evansa@pdx.edu ) • IE3 Global Internshipsie3global.oregonstate.edu/ • The Fulbright Program: Study Abroad & English Teaching us.fulbrightonline.org/ • Intern Abroad: www.internabroad.com • Education Abroad: East Hall 223 noon-1 every Thursday (Emily Minty minty@pdx.edu ) • Corporate web sites: Contact local HQs of multinational firms & also foreign offices

8. What are the next steps? • Locate opportunities for international study and/or employment, or local opportunities with multinational firms • Tailor your resume and cover letter to each position • Apply!

9. Your Resume • Create a resume that showcases your skills and experiences, noting in particular special skills, such as language, that differentiate you from the “pack.” * functional vs. chronological * keywords * white space * top 1/3rd rule * 30 second rule * one page for business, longer for CV * different styles for different countries • Utilize on-line resources for resume writing • Attend Resume Workshop

10. What about course credit? Do I have to earn credit ? • Students taking unpaid positions and international students generally must earn credit. • Credit is optional if you are a domestic student taking a paid position. • No credit is required for unpaid positions if the employer is a nonprofit organization or government agency. • Some internships and most study-abroad positions require credit.

11. How do I get credit ? • Identify a faculty person to be your sponsor. • Pick up “By Arrangement Credit” forms Neuberger Hall. • Bring forms & a description of the position or project with you when you meet with your faculty sponsor.

12. The Interview • Interviews are an opportunity for employers to assess candidates in two major areas • Your Skills, Abilities, and Experience • Soft - Communication, Prioritizing • Hard – Programming, Math, Spreadsheets • Your fit with the organization • Personality, Work style, Preferences, Goals • Practice behavioral interview Qs • Script answers to a few basic questions AUF DEUTSCH!

13. Follow-up: Thank you’s • Thank the interviewer for his or her time • Start with "Thank you" or "I would like to thank you " • Remember that German employers are typicall more formal than American ones (especially here in the PNW) • Emphasize your qualifications. • "With my strong communication skills, I believe that I would be an asset to your firm" • Integrate an opportunity for continuing communication with the interviewer and/or the employer. • "I would be pleased to discuss this in more depth with you at your convenience".

14. Make the Most of the Position • Remember that every interaction you have is an opportunity to make a positive impression. • Try to interact with as many people in the organization as possible. You never know who may be a key decision maker or have the ear of a decision maker in a hiring situation.