Utah State University Career Guide - Flipbook - Page 6
Internships & Experiences
As you progress throughout your USU journey we recommend getting involved in your
industry/field early and often because employers value academic excellence and relevant
work experience. Experience can come in many forms such as part or full-time jobs, student
employment, job shadowing, volunteering, internships, and micro-internships.
Start with Handshake to apply for on-campus (including work-study) or off-campus student
jobs and internships. Internships can be posted as early as fall for the next summer and are
available year-round but most competitive in the summer. Another great tool is CareerShift to
search for jobs, find contacts, and discover companies that interest you. You can also look at
micro-internships at Parker Dewey to increase your skills.
Handshake
CareerShift
Parker Dewey
Internship Guidelines and Benefits
Internships are short-term work experiences that give you opportunities. You can gain valuable
applied experience and make connections in professional fields you are considering for career
paths. Employers have the opportunity to provide guidance and evaluate potential employees.
Internships usually last 12-14 weeks and run on the same timeline as academic semesters.
Internships should include elements of learning and reflection, goals and objectives,
supervision, feedback, and evaluation. Internships can provide you with many benefits such as:
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Gaining valuable experience for your resume.
Becoming more marketable for the job market or graduate school.
Building networking relationships/contacts for the future.
Increasing your chances by 70% of obtaining a job offer from your internship employer.
Potentially earning academic credit in a paid or un-paid environment.
How do I get Academic Credit for an Internship?
1.
Find and apply for internships through sites such as Handshake that align with your
career goals or interests.
2.
Check to see if your program has an internship course/coordinator and enroll in your
program-specific internship course. If your program doesn’t offer a for-credit internship
course option, you can enroll in either USU 2250 (Introductory Internship)
or USU 4250 (Advanced Internship).
3.
Once your internship proposal has been accepted, meet with your internship coordinator
to set up the internship for academic credit.
4.
Stay in close contact with your internship coordinator throughout the internship to
ensure you are meeting necessary criteria for credit.
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