Five Steps Toward an Internship

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Five Steps Toward an Internship
2
Directions

• Please click Slide Show View Show to get
  started.
• Links in blue are hyperlinks leading you to Hiatt
  pages. Your questions may already be answered in
  our on-line literature.

3
Table of Contents

• Once you have viewed the entire presentation, use
  the links below to revisit sections as needed.
• 1 Assess Strengths and Interests
• 2 Understand Internship Variables
• 3 Prepare for the Search
• 4 Find or Create an Internship
• 5 Seal the Deal

4
Introduction

• This self-guided workshop will take you through
  the major steps of internship application.
• Please note that the information here is dense.
  You may need to come back a couple of times to
  absorb it all.
• After you are done viewing this workshop, please
  make an appointment with Hiatt to process your
  questions.

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Brandeis Definition

• Internships are supervised work experiences in
  which students combine critical thinking and
  intentional reflection with their liberal arts
  interests.
• By embarking on an internship, students will be
  able to sharpen their skills, develop career
  interests and employer contacts, assess their
  strengths, and connect classroom theories to
  practice in professional settings.

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A Brandeis Internship Is

• learning experience anchored by a Learning
  Agreement/Syllabus
• supervised by site supervisor and/or
  faculty member
• paid or unpaid
• intentional reflection on experiential and/or
  academic learning
• for-credit or not for-credit
• at least 100 hours
• at least 10 weeks during the semester OR
  at least 5 weeks during
  the summer

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Did You Know?

• Any substantive experience that fits above
  criteria can be an internship, including
• laboratory experiences
• on and off campus jobs
• summer jobs, etc.
• Work with your employer and with Hiatt counselors
  to create a Learning Agreement that recognizes
  your experiential learning.

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Five Steps Toward an Internship

• 1 Assess Strengths Interests
• 2 Understand Internship Variables
• 3 Prepare for the Search
• 4 Find or Create an Internship
• 5 Seal the Deal
• TIP Pause and take notes to absorb the
  dense information. Transitions are
  clearly marked so you can return to each section
  as needed.

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• Step 1
• Assess Strengths
• and Interests

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Not Sure of Your Interests?

• Explore our choosing a major or career web
  pages.
• Take TypeFocus and make an appointment with a
  Hiatt Counselor to debrief your
  self-assessment.
• Use major pages (above) for ideas on where your
  favorite classes might lead you.
• Shadow a Brandeis alumnus/a to learn more about
  potential career fields.

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Aware of Your Interests?

• Know the specific
• Skills needed in the field
• Keywords for resume and cover letter
• Interview questions
• Optimal application timeline
• TIP Applying without a firm knowledge of these
  concepts is a detrimental strategy.

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• Step 2
• Understand Internship Variables

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What is your motivation?

• Explore career and skills in a field.
• Would like to take an internship class.
• Internship is required by academic program.
• Want to develop an internship with an
  organization.
• Employer requires you to take a class credit.
• International student needing work authorization.
• Looking for an experience abroad.
• TIP Start with Hiatt. Educate yourself about
  options and come to a 1-1 appointment, prepared
  with specific questions.

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Academic Credit

• At Brandeis, you can connect your internship to
  an academic class through a variety of options.
• You receive credit not for the internship itself,
  but for the academic work analyzing your
  internship.
• 17 majors and minors offer internship classes.
• Some programs require an internship.
• Through our majors library, you can
• Brainstorm organizations by looking at previous
  placements in your major/minor.
• Learn about your programs requirements.
• Find faculty with connections in your field.
• TIP Faculty typically require approval of your
  site
• before you start interning.

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Funding

• Needing funding for your internship can affect
  your timeline and requirements.
• Internships can be paid or unpaid the decision
  is with the company.
• Can you afford an unpaid internship or do you
  have to take a paid summer job? Understand your
  needs before you start searching.
• Can your summer job be an internship? See
  Brandeis definition on Slide 4.
• Look through Funding pages for Brandeis outside
  scholarships pay close attention to timeline
  and requirements.

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• Step 3
• Prepare for the Search

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Important!

• This is the most important step in your process.
  Students who skip this step find it difficult to
  secure a satisfying internship.
• Before you start contacting organizations, you
  should be able to
• Identify your goals
• What will be the outcomes of your experience?

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Important!

• B) Confirm application process
• What are the skills your intended employers are
  expecting?
• Does your career field have an earlier timeline
  than general?
• Have you spoken with faculty about classes or
  leads on organizations?
• If youre an international student, have you
  contacted ISSO?

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Learn How to Network

• Learn networking know-how through the Shadowing
  Experience.
• You will get a step-by-step guide and be matched
  with alumni of interest.
• Then, start talking to other alumni, faculty,
  family and friends.
• Networking is not asking for a job this puts
  your contact in an awkward position.
• Instead, ask questions and advice that give you
  insider information and get you closer to your
  goal.

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Develop Career Toolbox

• Before you start, you will need a resume and
  cover letter.
• These are an advertisement you send to your
  employer or networking contact.
• These materials pique their interests, so you get
  an interview.
• They should be a tailored summary of your
  accomplishments, which you can explain in your
  interview.
• Your materials should address employers needs,
  not necessarily your interests.
• Make sure you have worked with Hiatt to
  understand all the nuances.

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Develop Career Toolbox

• Find resources for
• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Online portfolio

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• Step 4
• Find or Create an Internship

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Two Strategies

• There are two strategies (though many channels
  and resources) to find or develop an internship
• Reactive
• Proactive
• Your search should be a balance of the two
  approaches.
• Keep yourself aware of options, and try various
  approaches.

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Strategy 1 Reactive

• In this strategy, you respond to already posted
  job listings.
• You can find position listings through these
  resources
• Hiatts NACELink
• Hiatts Library Resources by major, geographic
  area, affinity group, etc.
• Career/Job Fairs or Info sessions
  on and off campus
• Recommendations from network
  (family, faculty, etc.)

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Strategy 1 Reactive

• You can and should network to personalize
  your application! See Step 3.
• Keep an eye on Hiatts calendar and attend info
  sessions a personal introduction to a company
  rep will take you a long way.
• Learn whether there are Brandeis alumni or other
  contacts working in that company.
• Remember, you cannot ask your contacts to get you
  the internship this puts them into an awkward
  situation. Instead, ask for advice and
  information.
• Speak of your connection to the company in your
  cover letter.

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Strategy 2 Proactive

• This strategy lets you tap into the hidden job
  market positions not yet posted, or that you
  want to create tailored to your interests.
• Utilize networking resources and initiate
  contact. Optimal Letter Builder gives you a range
  of letters you can choose from.
• Do not ask for an internship, but advice on how
  you would go about getting one in that
  organization.
• If you impress your contact with your poise,
  resume, and cover letter, chances are he/she will
  offer you a spot.

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Create an Internship

• Creating an internship is a great way to meet
  your specific goals.
• Research organizations of interest and determine
  if they already have established programs.
• Approach them well in advance to speak of your
  plans (e.g. winter break for summer internship).
• Use the Broadcast Letter in Optimal software as a
  model for communication.
• Let them know of Brandeis funding sources and use
  that as a conversation starter they may not need
  to pay you if you secure University funds.
• Share these ideas on starting a program. Make
  sure they know they can speak with Hiatt staff.

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How to Apply

• Tailor resume and cover letter to organization,
  opportunity, or job description (see Career
  Toolbox).
• Send documents in PDFs or create an online
  portfolio.
• Follow up by phone within 2 weeks.
• TIP Keep a spreadsheet of applications to track
  progress and contacts.

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The Interview

• May or may not be required.
• Can be in form of phone interview, 1-1
  interview, group process, or all of the above.
• Learn about preparing for an interview through
  these pages.
• Research typical questions and rehearse with
  peers (See Steps 1 3).
• You can schedule a mock interview practice with a
  counselor.

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Follow Up

• Send a thank you note.
• Email is fine, but hand-written note on nice
  stationery is preferred.
• Call after 2 weeks if you did not hear back Im
  calling to inquire about the status of my
  application
• Enter outcome on your application spreadsheet.
• Notify Hiatt of your success.

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• Step 5
• Seal the Deal

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When You Get an Offer

• Make sure that this is a position you want. The
  internship could lead to a full-time job.
• Let Hiatt know of your success.
• Withdraw from any other searches, in a respectful
  way that doesnt close any future doors.
• If youre an international student, you must work
  with ISSO around visa requirements.

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Transcript Options

• Some Reasons to connect internship to Brandeis
  via transcript
• Protect yourself from surprises by utilizing
  formal Brandeis channels.
• Learning Agreement solidifies your
  responsibilities puts this in a larger context.
• Letter of Offer (which you should expect for
  full-time jobs) confirms your hours,
  compensation, supervision details.
• Other assignments help you analyze your work in
  more detail and connect theory practice.

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Transcript Options

• Transcript Notation (non-credit)
• Fill out Learning Agreement within two weeks of
  your start date
• Academic credit
• You must get faculty approval before you start
  working.
• Register for class.
• Intl Students confirm your details with ISSO.

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• Conclusion

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Congratulations!

• You have just absorbed a lot of dense
  information!
• Our tools should enable you to network, conduct a
  successful search, or create a tailored
  experience for yourself.
• Start with Hiatt research our resources and come
  prepared with specific questions.
• Help us customize your appointment by being as
  prepared as possible.
• You have many options, we can help you choose the
  right one.

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Next Steps

• Internship search is like a class where you write
  the syllabus and determine personal success.
• Dont try to cram all the steps into a shortened
  timeline, but instead be disciplined and
  systematic.
• Call the Hiatt Front Desk for an appointment at
  781.736.3618.
• Were here to help you navigate your options!