INTERNSHIP QUICK FACTS

An Intern ship o Is short-term work experience where you can earn academic credit thru the Foothill College Work Experience Program called Cooperative Education: o Call (650) 949-7205 or http://www.foothill.edu/programs/coop/ o May or may not be compensated. o Is typically 8-20 hours per week during the school year. o Should involve professional activities that ideally relate to the career field you are pursuing. Why are Intern ships Importan t? o Gain hands-on experience beyond the classroom in your field of study. o Develop and/or sharpen professional skills and work habits that employers look for in your field and gain transferable skills for other fields. o Professional work setting exposure. o Opportunity to do some reality testing and learn if this field is right for you. o Provide a view into a professional career without a long-term commitment. o Show future employers your commitment to and knowledge of the field. o Gain contacts through networking and access contacts in your field that will serve as mentors. o Get the inside edge on competition for full-time jobs. Surveyed employers extend full-time offers to over half of their interns. Why do an Intern ship? o You get hands-on practical experience in your field of interest. o You can add the work experience to your resume. o An internship can lead to a full-time job after graduation. o An internship gives you a competitive edge in the job market once you graduate. o You gain self-confidence and build skills. o You create opportunities for yourself in the world of work.

INTERNSHIP QUICK FACTS

Why do an Intern ship? (continu ed) o You gain knowledge that confirms or changes your career goals. o The success rate of those who intern is greater than those who do not gain experience. o You develop a mentor relationship with a professional in your field. o You develop professional relationships with people both inside and outside the organization where you intern. o The internship provides a catalyst for career growth and exploration. o Your strengths and weaknesses will be clarified so you can sharpen your weaker skills. Where to Find I ntern ship O ppo rtuniti es: o Search the internet for internship job postings by company, location, industry, etc (see INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES for suggested websites and search engines) o Americas Top Internships by Petersons (book in the Career Center). o Talk to teachers or check division offices for possible contacts. o Search the internet and check individual company web pages. o Develop your own internship at a company/organization. Develop Your Own Intern ship: o Define the type of position you want: What career areas do you want to know more about? (example: accounting, advertising) What skills do you enjoy and want to develop further? (example: writing, problem solving) What types of business interest you? (example: banking, high tech) o Identify employers who could provide you with the type of experience you want or check with the company where you are already working.

INTERNSHIP QUICK FACTS

How to Achieve Su ccess in Yo ur In ternship: o Have a positive attitude. Be enthusiastic! o Dress appropriately for the work site. o Exhibit a professional demeanor. o Master the tasks of your internship; if you need help, ask. o Be flexible to new situations and have confidence in your abilities. Ask for things to do! o Be reliable and dependable. Show up to work on time. Call if you are late or unable to work. o Take advantage of the opportunity to develop your networking skills. What to do wh en th e In ternship Ends: o Ask yourself what you learned about your career options during the internship. o Ask yourself what you learned about yourself during the internship. o Update your resume to include the skills and job responsibilities you learned. o Request letters of recommendation and send thank-you notes. o Build on the experience: Look for ways to continue gaining experience in the field. Find alternative areas in that field or meet with a counselor to choose a different major.

Research shows that 85% of companies use internships and similar experiential/education programs to recruit for their full-time workforces. Employers who hire people with internship experience can be more sure theyre hiring people who know they want to be in their particular profession. Usually, former interns have a better handle on what theyd really like to do.

HOW DO YOU APPLY FOR AN INTERNSHIP?

1. Research
When you are ready for an internship you should ask yourself the following questions to help clarify what company might be right for you: What kinds of projects would I like to work on? Do I want to be exposed to a large company, small private business, non-profit organization, etc? What kind of skills do I have and how can I apply them to a job?
What new skills do I want to learn?
Once youve figure out what you want in an internship, and what you can provide an employer, start to research whom the major players in the industry you want to get into.

Ways to research companies:

Check out websites to find available internships in your major (see INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES for a list of suggested websites). Attend Career Fairs and other college/community events. The Foothill College Career & Job Fair is the third Wednesday in May. Join Student Organizations & Clubs. Attend activities, presentations, forums, meetings, etc. This is a great way to meet guest speakers and learn about potential internship opportunities. Review company web pages to learn more about the company. Then, conduct an Informational Interview with a manager in the department or division where you might want to work. Read the San Jose Mercury News, Wired, and other industry publications to see which companies are doing well. Use online websites to research companies, such as LinkedIn.com and Jigsaw.com.

HOW DO YOU APPLY FOR AN INTERNSHIP?

Ways to research companies (continued):

Join professional organizations in your major to review newsletters, journals, job announcements, conference updates, etc. to stay current with trends. Join groups on Meetup.com and network at Professional Socials/Mixers. Develop relationships with professionals who have shared interests. Often joining as a student is more cost effective and puts you in touch with hot industry topics as well as leaders in the field. Ask teachers about what companies they might have connections with. Faculty are often tied into a network of professionals both within and outside their realm of academia. Family & Friends. Find out if your parents, siblings or other relatives know anyone working in the industry or organization you are considering interning for. Ask friends if they or their parents could provide some contacts. See out fellow students who have had successful internship experiences and ask them for advice on how they did it and who they know. Be sure to tap into their collective knowledge, especially as it relates to people you should contact. Be proactive and talk to your classmates. Use Career Counselors as a resource to assist you in exploring additional ideas and brainstorming a sound strategy that will work for you! Apply to College Internship Programs (FH-DA Internship Program, DEEP/UCSC Internship Program). If you are planning to transfer to a 4-year university, visit college representatives to learn if the college will offer internships for juniors and seniors. This may help you pick your college if you know that internships are available in your major. If you dont need to be paid, visit the Volunteer Center to research any unpaid opportunities, especially with non-profit organizations. Volunteer Center: (650) 949-7635, Room 2014

HOW DO YOU APPLY FOR AN INTERNSHIP?

2. Prepare your Cover Letter & R esu me

After you have narrowed down your search (or even before), you should prepare your cover letter and resume. You can attend a workshop in the Career Center or meet 1:1 with the Career Center Coordinator or Career Planning Counselor.

Each cover letter needs to be:

Customized to a specific internship opening and company. Dont make one resume and one cover letter to be sent to a dozen companies. Tailor fit each cover letter to make it specific as to why you want to work for a particular firm. Sent to a specific contact name within the firm. Never say: To Whom It May Concern or Dear Sir/Madame. You need to research the name and address of the appropriate hiring manager or human resources assistant who will be reviewing your materials. Proof-read and edited for spelling and grammatical errors. Your resume and cover letter are constructed to get you an interview. It is the interview that will determine whether or not you get the position.

3. Once you get th e position, you need to:

Arrive to work on time. Dress appropriately (ask employer for dress code before your first day). o You can sometimes get an idea when you observe other people during the job interview. Be respectful, attentive, and professional. Keep your scheduled hours. Call your employer if you are sick, have car problems, or are unable to come into work. Complete your work in a timely fashion. If you sign up for Co-Operative Education/Work Experience, make sure you complete your learning objectives. Have fun! This is your chance to learn all about your career field, make new contacts, gain references, and potentially land a permanent job.

INT ERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Ongoing Programs:
1. The De Anza and Foothill Internship Program offers 6 to 12 month positions. Available internships and application deadlines change quarterly. http://internships.fhda.edu/index.php 2. Google Internship opportunities are now available year-round in a variety of different fields. Duration: 3-months, full time http://www.google.com/support/jobs/bin/static.py?page=students.html&si d=intern http://www.google.com/support/jobs/bin/static.py?page=students.html&si d=internships 3. Center for Adaptive Optics (CFAO) offers an 8 week research internship at places like Cal Tech, Lawrence Livermore Labs, and most of the UC schools. The internship includes a $3,000 stipend, housing and roundtrip travel to the worksite. (depending upon budget) http://cfao.ucolick.org/EO/internshipsnew/mainland 4. Abbott Labs offers a variety of different opportunities through their internship programs. Interns are paid based on experience and discipline. http://www.abbott.com/global/url/content/en_US/50.60.10:10/general_con tent/General_Content_00166.htm 5. Visa offers a 10 12 week intensive internship program during the summer. Limited information is available on-line, including a campus recruiting calendar and a job search engine to look for current internship opportunities. http://corporate.visa.com/ca/undergrad_mba_opportunities.jsp 6. Franklin Templeton has a competitive summer internship program. Recruitment generally takes place between September and April. For information on the program and how to apply, visit: https://www.franklintempleton.com/retail/jsp_cm/careers/campus/interns hips.jsp

INT ERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Internship Search Engines:

1. http://www.internshipprograms.com a. Browse available paid and unpaid internships by field, employer, location, and start date b. Read descriptions of internships c. Provides links to apply d. Create a personal profile and upload your resume http://www.internjobs.com a. Search internships posted internships b. Read descriptions of Internships c. Read employer profiles http://www.internweb.com a. Articles and tips for students about the job/internship search b. Free resource for employers to post internships and jobs c. Get Notified When Internships Are Added http://www.campuscareercenter.com a. Research companies b. Search jobs and internships c. Informative articles about internships, careers, applying, etc d. Create an account and post your resume http://monstertrak.com (http://www.monster.com) a. Internship and entry-level job postings b. Create an account and post your resume c. Set up search parameters to receive updated postings sent directly to your e-mail d. Good articles about job search, interview prep and more http://www.getthatgig.com a. Search for internships by industry or featured employers b. Connect directly to the corporate website http://www.internships4you.com a. Register to search for internships b. Submit your resume to internship postings for free

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INT ERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Internship Search Engines (continued):

8. http://www.hotjobs.yahoo.com a. Read articles about job searching, resumes, interviewing, etc b. Search listings by category, keywords or location c. Create a profile and post your resume http://www.dice.com a. Search opportunities y skills you possess b. Search jobs by industry, company, location, etc c. Post your resume http://www.collegegrad.com a. Read internship and job descriptions b. Apply online http://www.rsinternships.com a. Search for internships by industry b. Search for entry-level positions by industry http://www.careerbuilder.com a. Search by position type (internship, part-time, entry-level, etc) b. Search listings by industry, location or company http://www.bayarea.computernetwork.com a. Search targeted listings in your area

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Other Resources:
1. http://www.foothill.edu/career/jobs Foothill Colleges job board http://www.deanza.edu/careercenter Provides links and information to aid in your search

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TOP 10 TIPS FOR INTERNS

1. Dont be afraid to talk with peo ple. NETWORK

Dont be intimidated because you are a student. People are sometimes too busy to roll out the red carpet so you have to make the first move to talk with coworkers and supervisors. The fact is that 95% of people find their dream job through someone they know. Get to know managers and workers in other departments in case full-time positions become available. Stay in touch and contact these coworkers after you graduate to see if a job is available or if someone may have leads with other companies.

2.

Ask fo r things to do .
Dont wait to be told what to do. Dont wait to be trained on certain tasks, jump in and stay busy doing other projects until you are trained. Solving problems and taking initiative are the best ways to stand out from the crowd.

3.

Learn all you can abou t the industry.

Talk with people in different departments as well as clients and vendors.

4.

Read everything you can get your h ands on.

You wont find everything you need to know in the training manual. Reading contracts, letters, memos, press releases and trade publications will help you become informed on all elements of the business.

5.

Dont gripe abou t the gru nt wo rk.

There is always something to learn. How long you do grunt work depends on what you make of it. Everything has a purpose, so learn how the small tasks fit into the big picture. Also think about the job duties you will add to your resume once the position is over.

6.

Take advan tage of the fact that you are a STUDEN T.

As a student, you arent threatening and can have more access and opportunities than a full-time employee. Everyone wants to help a student learn. If you have free time or a lunch break, go conduct an Informational Interview with people in other areas you might be interested in. For example, if you are a business major interning in human resources, go talk to those working in accounting or finance to see what it is like its the same major just a different career area.

TOP 10 TIPS FOR INTERNS

7. Hitch you r w agon to a star employee.

Learn from the people who are the superstar performers and most respected individuals in the office.

8.

Get in th e information loop.

Decisions arent always made in a conference room. Stay interested in office politics without the gossip. Find out as much as you can about hiring practices, how often positions come open, do they hire or promote within, are there hiring freezes, etc. Go to lunch with coworkers and listen to the conversations.

9.

Ask to atten d meetings and events.

You will learn how things really get done. The more involved you are, the more impressed the boss will be = potential job in the future or excellent references.

10. Dont burn an y bridges.

You never know when you will see someone later in your career. Never say negative comments about past employers. If you do get terminated, move on.