Internships/Job Shadow

An opportunity for students to gain experience in a chosen field through college credit or work experience. Applicants should expect to be able to provide minimum qualifications to benefit from internships in many fields. The Internship Manager/Faculty will provide guidance and assistance but final application and acceptance is an agreement between the student and employer.

Step 1: Select the best option for you (credit or non-credit).

Internship Options

CAREER WORK EXPERIENCE (CWE 198) EARN COLLEGE CREDIT (Paid or Voluntary).
This course will help you evaluate your career goals, develop resume writing, interviewing, and job search skills.
	For students only. (Community members may qualify under special circumstances.)
	Includes assistance from a career counselor to help identify career interests, values, skills and careers that match.
	Perfect if you are unsure of career direction and need career counseling or career testing, or interested in exploring new work environments.
	In-depth assistance in creating a resume and cover letter.
	Assistance with interviewing skills.
	Provides college credit as a restricted elective for major, to maintain full time student status and/or to meet financial aid requirements.
	Become knowledgeable about different employment opportunities.
	Ready to enter the world of work but need experience to obtain employment.
	Want to apply what you are learning in the classroom to the real world.

CAREER RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE (Paid or Voluntary).
A work-experience internship is for students seeking to gain work experience without making a commitment to full time employment. This option may be for you if
	You are a currently enrolled student.
	Have definite career goals and have completed coursework in your field of study.
	Try a job situation to determine if a good "fit" (i.e. Business major trying to decide between Finance & Marketing)
	Have a resume and cover letter – need someone to review it
	Are confident on presenting self at an interview
	Don’t need college credits, only need experience.
	Want to develop contacts for future networking
	Improve job skills or learn new ones.
	Learn to communicate effectively in work situations.

Enroll in Career Work Experience course (CWE 198) for 1, 2, 3 credit option.

Visit Career Services in KSC-186 for assistance with a non-credit internship.

Contact:

Kamela Craig, MC
Counseling Department
(602) 787-6540
kamela.craig@pvmail.maricopa.edu

Norma I. Chandler, MBA
Career Services Manager
(602) 787-7073
career.services@pvmail.maricopa.edu

Step 2: Select a Career Related opportunity.

Student have many options for seeking career related internships and include the following:

Networking with friends and relatives in related career industry
Seeking career-related internship with present employer (e.g. a grocery cashier pursuing an accounting degree might ask employer for an internship in the accounting department)
Going to various employer websites and exploring internship opportunities
Browsing Career Services list of current employers offering internships or shadowing opportunities
Prospecting for an internship in an area of interest

Step 3: Prepare a Resume and Cover Letter

As a college student and workplace professional, all applicants must prepare a cover letter and resume.

Resume and Cover Letter Guidelines and Examples

Contact Career Services at 602-787-7073 to schedule an appointment to review your resume and cover letter.

To ensure the safety of our students at the Internship site, each student must fill out an Assumption of Risk form and submit to Career Services before the start of their Internship. If the internship is unpaid, the employer must also fill out a Certificate of Insurance.

Downloadable Forms:

Assumption of Risk (AOR)
Volunteer

Internship Materials

How to Land an Internship

Benefits of Internships

Internships provide an opportunity for students to apply what they have learned in the classroom to the workplace. The work experience students gain through an internship will make them more appealing to potential employers after graduation.

The benefits of internships are numerous; job opportunities, increased salary, growth and personal development summarize the major reasons why students should consider internships.

Let’s take a closer look:

Salary & Job Search

Employer’s prize relevant work experience in job candidates and many organizations are willing to reward candidates with internship experience with a higher starting salary – on average 6.8% more than the position’s entry level salary. (NACE, 2006)*
Employers say that internship programs are among the most effective method for helping them hire new college graduates. A study found that employers extended job offers to more than 70% of their interns. (NACE, 2006)
Internship experience makes graduates more attractive to most employers because of the value employers place on work-related experience along with education.
Internships expand student’s exposure to different job functions and departments. Also giving both student and employer the chance to see if the relationship “is a good fit”.
Students are able to network with professionals which can assist them with future job searches. In the job market, who you know can be just as crucial as what you know.
Internship experience allows students to document work in a portfolio to use as a job search tool to be shown to potential employers.

Personal Growth

Internships allow students to explore their interests in various career fields.
Students mentored by professionals in the organization can reduce their learning curve.
Internships introduce students to different job possibilities they didn’t know existed.
Helps students determine which type of work environment best fits their personality.
Internships help clarify interests, strengths, and areas needing improvement.
In addition to enhancing professional maturity and confidence, students will develop skills they can use on the job and in their personal life including critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and leadership skills.

*National Association of Colleges and Employers

Internship Timelines

Internship Timeline For Transfer Students
Semester 1 (4 semesters before transfer)	Career Exploration		Self Discovery Assessments (Career Counseling) Take a Career & Personal Development Class (CPD102AB, CPD104, CPD150) Attend Career Panels, Seminars, Job/Career Fairs Visit Career Services Center – KSC-186 Become familiar with career related resources online and in media center Meet with an Academic Advisor Join PEAK Leadership Institute Participate in Service Learning and Student Clubs
	Resume		Create your first resume
Semester 2 (3 semesters before transfer)	Intensive internship search		What’s available?
			What’s my goal?
			What will benefit me the most?
			Explore “What can I do with a major in . . . . . . .”
	Resume		Update your Resume (Include all new leadership experiences in school and at work)
	Interview Skills		Attend workshops/seminars Conduct informal interviews (career exploration) Practice interviewing (have it taped)
	Job/Career Fairs		Attend – practice meeting employers/inquire about opportunities with their organizations (Prepare and practice elevator speech)
Semester 3 (2 semesters before transfer)	Choose your Major!		Review what can I do with a Major in . . . . . Visit an Academic Advisor Make an appointment with a career counselor
	Apply for Internships, usually by the end of October i.e.,		State Department FBI, Attorney General’s Office etc. (require background check) Disney (Apply in Fall for following summer) (Many require 60 credit hours)
	Resume		Update and upload online (online should not contain personal info)
	Personal Statement May also be required on many internship applications		Write one – (an essay describing your background and goals) Letters of recommendation, transcripts, portfolio of your work
	Interview Skills		Practice panel interviews
	Job/Career Fairs		Attend – apply for opportunities/inquire about internships
Semester 4 (1 semesters before transfer)	Apply for internship programs (Many require 60 credit hours)		Most major corporations (Fortune 500) have formal summer training programs (Must apply in Spring) Competitive – many require out of state travel (Able to start 300 level courses after internship)
	Job/Career Fairs		Attend Job Fairs – apply for opportunities
	Resume		Update (Don’t forget to update online resumes also!)
Transfer students should have at least one internship experience before transferring to their college of choice Increases chances of other internship experiences (real life career exposure) Helps solidify that major is right fit- helps determine major focus
Informal internships may take place at any time and may are generally more flexible (do not recommend during first semester, especially without any experience)
Many majors have formal internship programs built-in to major		Will have too much invested if you determine this career is not for you		Education, Nursing, Medicine, etc.

Internships/Job Shadow

How to Land an Internship

Benefits of Internships

Internship Timeline For Transfer Students