Internships

Ask yourself these grounding questions

• What do I want to do?
• What type of organization do I want to work for? 
• What skills do I want to gain? 

• What quarter do I want to do an internship? 
• How many hours a week can I commit? 
• Do I have any geographical or transportation limitations?
• Am I looking for a paid or an unpaid experience? 
• Am I eligible to earn academic credit? 

Meet with advisors in the Career Engagement Office to 

• assess your interests, skills, values and goals
• explore possible career industries
• investigate opportunities aligned with your interests 

Start a list places you might want to intern. If you are not sure of what's possible, 

• talk with faculty, mentors, friends, and family about organizations that suit you 
• meet with an advisor in the Career Engagement Office
• LinkedIn's Companies shows organizational information. You can also view your connections
• Glassdoor's Company Reviews provides an overview of organizations and positions currently listed

When researching, ask yourself what you already know about organizations you are interested. Does the organizational mission, values, and culture match with your own?

Cast a wide net when starting to look for internships. Online applications may be easy, but there is another way to search. Most interns are hired because of a personal connection within the organization. Utilize your network! 

• Talk with faculty, mentors, family, friends, advisors, previous supervisors, and network connections (church, community, previous volunteer sites, etc.)
• Read emails from your academic departments
• Connect with people via LinkedIn, including Seattle U and your academic departments  
• Conduct informational interviews with people in the field or at companies of interest
• Attend an off-campus or on-campus internship fair
• Participation in Student Clubs may lead to an internship

Online resources include

• Handshake
• Indeed
• LinkedIn
• Idealist
• Internships.com
• Glassdoor
• LinkUp
• Specific websites of organizations

Application materials may be your first impression with an organization. Show off your skills by 

• tailoring your resume and cover letter to the internship description 
• highlight related or transferable experience at the start of your resume
• address your cover letter to the hiring manager 
• triple check the spelling and grammar on all materials
• ask someone who works or teaches in a similar field to review your materials

The Career Engagement Office is here to help you!

Organizations receive many applications for internships. Increase the chances your name makes it in the "yes" pile by

• carefully reading the application instructions and following all guidelines
• formatting your materials exactly as specified
• asking for referrals/recommendations from people you know that are connected to the organization  
• following up as needed with hiring managers
• sending thank you notes or emails to people with whom you speak and meet

Review your social media pages: hiring managers will likely review your Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn 

Develop a way to keep track of your applications. Consider what is best for you - a paper and pen, a spreadsheet, or use one of the many online tools. Include:

• where you applied
• position title
• what version of your resume and cover letter you submitted 
• when you submitted the application
• where you submitted application materials (online, in person, etc.)
• application deadline
• names and contact information for the hiring manager, recruiter, and/or HR staff member
• people in your network that are affiliated with the organization 
• any other relevant information 

Preparation is key to acing an interview: 

• review the organization's website and web presence
• write down questions you want to ask during the interview
• brainstorm answers to commonly asked interview questions  
• practice, practice, practice 
• send a thank you note or email to everyone you talk to and meet with 

Schedule an appointment with Career Engagement to practice your interview skills!