FSU Career Services - Frostburg State University

Internship Timeline

by Amy Marie Charland and Mary Ann Lawson

It's never too early to start planning for your internship. The total process-finding an internship and applying and interviewing for it-can take several weeks or even months. Here is a general timeline to assist you with the planning process:

Research internships

(Three semesters before you want to begin your internship)

Talk with your academic adviser and a career services counselor to find out what internship resources are available to you on campus.
Write your resume and cover letter.
Decide what you would like from your internship. Responsibilities? Compensation? Experience?
Attend job fairs to find out about internship opportunities.
Start networking with everyone you know.
Define where you would like to do your internship. City? Corporation? Industry?
Start researching internship opportunities. Obtain general information about the company, internship programs, contact people and deadlines.

Apply for internships

(Two semesters before you intern)

Apply online or by whatever method the company requires.
Practice your interviewing skills. Schedule a mock interview with your career services office.

Interview and accept an internship

(One semester before your internship)

Complete an application for each company where you would like to intern.
Interview with employers.
Send a thank-you letter to each employer who gives you an opportunity to interview.
Accept an internship offer.

Good luck!

Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers, copyright holder. www.naceweb.org.

Students: Internships (Experiential Education)

Experiential Education is an umbrella term which describes many different opportunities from which students may accumulate on-the-job skills through hands on experience. Following are descriptions of the types of experiential education.

To get started, register with the Career Services Office on the CollegeCentral site. This will allow us to know your interest and assist you in your career development needs.

Co-ops: A cooperative education experience is generally completed by a student over more than one semester. It includes work assignments related to the participant's academic and career interests. Co-op students are almost always paid, and their work is considered productive to the employer. Most co-op programs involve some sort of academic credit.

Internships: An internship is typically a one-time work or service experience done by a student who has attained at least some academic preparation in a professional field. The student who can be an advanced undergraduate or graduate student, works in a professional setting under the supervision of at least one practicing professional. Many internships offer pay, but quite a few do not. Most are done for academic credit.

Practicums: A practicum is generally a one-time work or service experience done by a student as part of an academic class. Some practicums offer pay, but many do not. Almost all are done for academic credit.

Externships/Job Shadowing Experiences: An externship or job shadowing experience allows a student to spend between a day and several weeks observing a professional on the job. Such experiences are unpaid and generally not done for academic credit.
(definitions courtesy of CareerPlanit)

Gaining career-related experience through experiencial education is considered one of the most important hiring criteria for employers seeking college graduates. Students are encouraged to complete at least one experience prior to graduation.

Many organizations offer such experiences. Sometimes all it takes is for you to inquire. An organization that does not offer these as standard practice, may consider it if they can be convinced that it will be mutually beneficial for the both of you.

Recruitment Schedule - Visit College Central/Frostburg and go to "General Announcements". Here you will find WHAT companies will be visiting our campus, DATE and TIME(s) for on-campus information tables and/or interviews.

Experiential Education Assistance at FSU:

Visit Career Services and talk with a career counselor about your goals for experiential education, preparing applications and your resume, and identifying sites.
Talk with your Academic Advisor or Internship Coordinator in your FSU academic department.
Internships by Major!
Visit College Central and register to view internship opportunities posted online.
Road Trip Nation: Today, Roadtrip Nation has become a movement of students from college campuses across the country and a generation of individuals who are setting out to define their own roads in life.
Stop looking for answers and start asking questions.
The Roadtrip Grant Program is for college students (or recent grads) who want to go on a roadtrip and interview people who have found their own road in life.
Get out of your everyday routine and explore different paths.

Find people who love what they do and ask them "How did you get to be where you are today?"

ROADTRIP NATION GRANTS
We're looking for students who have a strong interest in exploring the world, discovering new roads they didn't know existed, and who are passionate about sharing those observations and experiences with others. Funds are available to partner schools only and
Frostburg State University has partnered with Roadtrip Nation.

Sound interesting? Visit: http://www.roadtripnation.com/grant/

Other Hot Links:
Internships.com access exclusive content and contact information for internships.
The Shriver Center
The Washington Center
BioTechnology Internships
Walt Disney College program in Orlando, Florida
Government Careers
Women's Issues Internships
Internships in FSU majors

"Experience Career Services,
It's the Best Time You'll Ever Spend!"