Search Strategies
Choosing an Internship:
Evaluate Your Goals:
There are a wide variety of internships available these days, and getting hired is easier than you think. It is important to evaluate your goals and be thoughtful about what you expect from a position. Clarifying your expectations will increase your chances of having a valuable experience.
Ask yourself some of the following questions during your internship search:
What career field am I interested in?
What is the overall mission of the organizations to which I am applying?
Is this mission consistent with my goals and personal values?
Does it matter if the internship is paid or unpaid?
What geographic region do I wish to work in?
Am I looking to work in a small or large organization?
Since internships are so widely available, you have a great deal of options for career exploration. Many students put in the time and effort of applying and then accept the first position that is offered to them. An internship experience will take up a substantial amount of your time, so it is important that you thoroughly evaluate positions. Knowing what your goals are from the outset will streamline the search process.
Take advantage of the Career Services Office:
• Schedule a one-on-one appointment with a Career Coach.
• Come to CPA drop-in hours to receive help revising your resume and cover letter(s).
• Log into FandMConnect to search our database of internship opportunities.
• Arrange for a mock interview with a Career Coach.
Searching for an Internship:
Log into www.fandmconnect.com and browse the online internship database.
• Internship listings
• Links to subscription services including:
- Internship Database – Provides essential information and the inside details for 750+ internship programs in numerous fields
- Internships USA - This web site gives you access to 14 directories that provide up-to-date information on over 2,800 organizations offering internships and summer jobs for students. Fields include: Sports, Human Rights, Congressional, History, Environmental, and many more.
Other Internship Search Websites
• www.idealist.org - Has 1500+ internship listings for non-profits, charities, and NGOs both in the U.S. and abroad; also has a directory of 64,000+ organizations
• www.internzoo.com - An internship search engine with listings in many fields, especially media/entertainment
Company and Organization Websites
• If you have a specific industry and/or geographic location in mind, search for organizations (the Chamber of Commerce for that city is a good resource) and then find out more about their internship program and application procedures
• If they do not appear to have an internship program, call or email to inquire about the possibility of creating an internship
National & Regional Professional Associations
• Almost every industry has a professional association and many feature a job/internship section of their website
• Browse the Directory of Professional Associations (link in FandMConnect)
• When visiting a specific association’s website, look at their postings but also view their other resources and directories (example: American Marketing Association - www.marketingpower.com)
Network - Networking is a great way to enhance your internship search.
• Set up an informational interview with an alumnus who has experience in your prospective field can give you a sense of what the domain is like and which organizations fit your goals.
• The FandMConnect website has an extensive listing of alumni. You can use FandMConnect to send messages to alumni inquiring about prospective careers.
• Talking about your career goals with personal contacts, Professors, and Franklin & Marshall Staff may open up unforeseen opportunities. Career Services organizes events throughout the year that bring potential employers to campus to recruit students for jobs and internships. These events are posted on the FandMConnect website.
Developing Your Own Internship
• If you locate an organization and find they do not have an internship program, you can contact them to discuss creating an internship.
• Networking is critical in this situation.
• Be prepared to show what value you can add to the organization and why you want to work specifically for them.
Franklin & Marshall's Public Interest Project (PIP)
• This program is an alumni-based public interest organization that strives to expose F&M students to the non-profit sector and its influence on national life.
• Students can apply for summer internships or year-long fellowships.
• Students are interviewed and recommended by alumni coordinators.
• Interns and fellows are often paid a stipend and supervised by sponsoring non-profits.
Franklin & Marshall Internship-for-Credit
• Available to seniors, juniors, and sophomores with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above.
• Students are responsible for arranging internships with off-campus organizations during the academic year or the summer.
• Go to the Internship for Credit page or FandMConnect to learn about the guidelines and to download an application.
Study Abroad Programs with Internship Components
• Some study abroad programs have internship components built into the program or as an optional component.
• Go to FandMConnect to access a list of international programs that have a possible internship component.
• Speak with International Programs at the International Center to learn more about internship options abroad.
