Many organizations do not have formal internship programs, while others have simply not considered hiring an intern, or had the resources to, before. Not to worry! Many students who participate in an internship have done so through their willingness to approach a potential site and offer themselves as a possible intern. If you know the type of experience you are seeking and the type of organization in which you would like to get this experience, simply approaching them may be a viable and fruitful option.
Step 1: Clarify Your Objectives. Be clear about what you hope to accomplish in your internship. Your main task when creating an internship is to convince a potential sponsor that it would be beneficial for him/her to offer you an educational experience. Be prepared to explain your basic goals for the experience in a few sentences. Some questions to consider are: Why do you want an internship?
What will you bring to an internship? What kinds of tasks do you want to be doing? What skills would you like to use? What skills would you like to learn? What do you hope to accomplish by the end of the internship?
Decide what you want to learn in return for your services. You may simply want a chance to have an inside look at the real world of work or the internal workings of a specific organization. You may want a chance to further develop a skill you already possess by using it in a new way or by working with experts. Consider the fact that you may have some specific skills which you can offer in exchange for the experience, skills such as computer programming, research, laboratory work, writing, video-experience, swimming, clerical, accounting, photography, etc. Obviously, your swimming skills are not appropriate for an accounting firm, but they are to a parks and recreation department or fitness organization. Be selective about which skills you propose to an organization.
Step 2: Develop a list of potential internship sponsors. Once you have decided what you want to accomplish with an internship, begin identifying organizations which might meet your purpose(s) and think creatively! One way to make your search for organizations easier is to decide on a specific location where you want or must be. Some students find they have to be in or near their home town or a place where they can live without high expenses. Once you have established a location(s), you can begin your research to develop a list of potential internship sponsors. Check out Internships 101, a resource full of ideas on where to begin your search. Here’s an example of creative thinking: you’re interested in helping people, possibly some form of counseling. Organizations which might be potential sponsors are: A youth drop-in center A local hospital Planned Parenthood A substance abuse agency Social services agencies (public and private) Local churches A Girl Scout/Boy Scout Troop
Rusk Building, 3rd Floor 936.468.3305 careerservices@sfasu.edu www.sfasu.edu/careerservices
Step 3: Identify the Person to Contact. After determining several organizations where you would possibly like to intern, make contact with those organizations. The person with whom you communicate should also be in a position to make a decision about your proposal. If you do not know who to contact, do some research. Names of appropriate personnel can be secured through a number of sources: Standard and Poors A comprehensive listing of publicly held corporations Placement directories (CPC Annuals) Chamber of commerce Publicity from organizations (annual reports, house organs) Visit to offices Call to switchboards Word of mouth Organizational charts Websites Company literature Telephone receptionists Department secretaries In small businesses or small non-profit organizations, contact the director, manager or coordinator of programs. In larger organizations, contact the Human Resources department or head of the department/unit where you wish to work.
Step 4: The Proposal. Now that you have done all the background work, you are ready to begin communicating with the person or organization with which you would like to intern. First, either email or mail the contact your proposal, then follow up after 1-2 weeks with a phone call. Your internship proposal should: Include a clear and concise description of what it is you are offering to do for the organization Emphasize the advantages to the organization of having you as an intern Be specific about the project you want to work on or position you wish to fill Highlight why you are the right person for the organization by giving specific examples of your skills Showcase what you hope to accomplish from the experience Include your dates of availability and whether you are looking for a full-time or part-time position Indicate that you are seeking a paid or non-paid position Indicate that you would like to meet to discuss the possibility of doing an internship with her/him Include a resume that illustrates the strengths you are offering The letter should be an outline of what you would like to discuss in person. Indicate that you will be calling to set up an appointment to talk in more detail about your proposal.
Step 5: Secure the Internship. Follow up with a phone call or an email within one to two weeks after submitting your proposal. Being assertive in your internship search requires you to follow up, as this is expected and it reinforces your interest and commitment. You just need to project confidence and be concise in your communications. Once you have secured an appointment to discuss your proposal, you will need to confidently sell your idea to the organization. This means doing your homework. Be able to discuss clearly your objectives, why you chose their organization, how you can help them, what they can do for you. If the company or organization is interested, but they would like more information on how to set up an internship, they will find useful resources on the Employer section of the Career Services website. Whatever the outcome of the meeting, write to the people with whom you spoke, thanking them for their time and help.
Rusk Building, 3rd Floor 936.468.3305 careerservices@sfasu.edu www.sfasu.edu/careerservices