Steps to a Successful Internship For Credit

Stage I: Preparation

Start Early! If you wait too long to get the ball rolling, you'll have to settle for what you can get instead of what you want. This means starting this process 6 to 9 months before the actual experience and as much as 12 months prior for Criminal Justice majors due to necessary background checks.

Clarify your goals and objectives. Ask yourself, why do I want an internship? What kinds of things do I want to be doing? What skills do I want to use or learn? What skills do I already have that may be helpful in a particular type of internship? What do I hope to accomplish by the end of the internship? Create your internship learning objectives.

Meet with your BVU Internship Supervisor. (BVU Internship Supervisors are faculty members within the major of your internship focus OR Professional & Online Studies location Director.) Discuss all the various options in regarding summer versus semester internships, receiving credit and seeking sites. Discussion with these individuals can provide valuable insight for establishing connections with potential employers, including alumni. The role your BVU Internship Supervisor plays is one of guidance in developing learning objectives, answering field specific career questions and providing academic supervision for credit.

Research the Possibilities.

a. Ask your BVU Internship Supervisor, BVU's Internship Coordinator and Professors for ideas, suggestions or contacts.

b. Network, network, network. Utilize your connections with people to assist you in your search. Your network includes your parents, your peers, faculty, friends, alumni, organizations you belong to and ACES speakers. Your network is virtually everyone you come in contact with.

c. Check out internet sources like:

College Central Network www.collegecentral.com/bvu. Career Services posts all full-time and internship positions they know about and all you need to do is register.
Company/organization websites. Many larger employers advertise internship opportunities on their own web sites.
Professional organization websites. (i.e. Society of Professional Journalists or National Science Foundation)

d. Develop your own custom internship! Don't write off a company just because it doesn't have a formal program or advertisement. Where an organization exists, the possibility of an internship exists. Many employers will work with an intern if they can be persuaded that they will get something valuable out of it. It's your task to convince them they can. Remember, almost any organization can benefit from an intern! Brainstorm about your "dream placement"-- it can become a reality!

e. Look at the reference books in the Career Library. (Really! You can borrow them!)

Create a Resume and Cover Letter. Most employers require a resume and cover letter. There are a number of excellent resources in the Career Library. Ask a Career Peer or faculty member to critique your resume and cover letter before submission. Ask three professional people to be listed as references for you. Note deadline dates and special instructions in the application process. You may want to telephone a contact person ahead of time to express your interest and to get specific instructions before submitting your resume and cover letter. Some employers prefer that you submit your resume online, and will instruct you accordingly.

Use "Guide to the Job Search" and other hard copy resources available at BVU's Career Services Center.
Attend a resume writing workshop held on campus through Career Services.
Review Career Services website links for additional resume help.

Ask a Career Services or your BVU Internship Supervisor to critique your resume and cover letter before you send them to potential sites. Note deadline dates and special instructions in the application process. We suggest that you contact the site ahead of time to express your interest and to get specific instructions before submitting your resume and cover letter. Some employers prefer that you submit your resume online, and will instruct you accordingly.

_____ Choose the employer/organization you would like to intern for. Once you have identified your preferred opportunities discuss them with your BVU Internship Supervisor to identify which ones best meet your objectives. Remember, this also means those opportunities that you have found that were not advertised.

_____Apply. Once you are confident with your cover letter and resume mail or e-mail them to the potential employer(s) you want to intern for. A follow-up phone call to confirm that your materials were received is important to ensure your consideration for the position. Don't assume they have received your materials.

_____Get Ready to Interview. Some employers WILL want an interview so be ready just in case.

Practice, practice, practice. The resume may have gotten you the interview but the interview will get you the internship. Practice with anyone who will help you even if it makes you uncomfortable so that you can work out your jitters ahead of time.
Be sure that you are ready and able to discuss your objectives and expectations, why you chose their organization, how you can help them and what they can do for you.
Use the BVU Career Services Center resources such as interviewing workshops, mock interviews, interviewing guides and online tools.
Get there on time and use good manners with everyone you come in contact with.
And finally, always send a (legible!) hand-written thank-you note following interviews because it will set you apart from the others.

_____Accept the/an Offer to Intern. When you decide which internship is for you, send that organization an acceptance. Email is usually acceptable. Thank them and show your appreciation. You may have to make a decision between two or more offers and you must be careful in your acceptance or rejection. Once you say "yes," you have made a commitment, and a lot of people depend on you to follow through. Pulling out later because a "better" internship came along can have a negative impact on your reputation and the college's reputation. So be careful, thoughtful, sensitive, and diplomatic.

_____ Complete the Paperwork.

Get your Student Internship Agreement form signed. A FAXED SIGNED COPY IS ACCEPTABLE if you are not within close proximity to your internship site.
Register for Credit at the Registrar's Office or with your POLS Director by completing the Application for Internship. (Storm Lake) (Centers) Students may not receive academic credit for work completed "before-the-fact" so you must register for internships prior to the start of work. Note: 40 Hours of Work equals one credit hour.

Prepare for your Internship. It is necessary to prepare for transitioning into a professional setting. You can accomplish this through:

Researching background information on the company/employer you will be interning for including their mission and philosophy.
Attending Career Services and ACES events geared towards career development including the Career Symposium, Internship Symposium or Etiquette Dinner.

Stage II: Intern and Learn

Arrive on Time! Many times internships lead to full-time permanent job offers after graduation so treat it as the "real deal". Get to work on time and ready to work. Don't mix business with pleasure and always use good work etiquette. BVU's Career Services Center has proper workplace etiquette resources on hand and offers several etiquette activities on campus throughout the year.

_____ Contact your BVU Internship Supervisor As Needed. E-mailing your advisor often to keep them informed of your progress is professional courtesy.

_____ Journal Don't forget to journal as often as possible. Your BVU Internship Supervisor will tell you how much and how often you are expected to journal for the academic requirement. Journaling will also prove to be very helpful when you write your required paper.

_____Photos? Creating a Power Point presentation is the third academic requirement for credit. If you are able to take photos during your internship you may find that they make your presentation even better.

_____Take the Initiative. Keep an open mind and volunteer to help with projects or tasks that need to be completed. Be helpful whenever you can and look for ways to benefit the company/organization.

_____Evaluate Your Work Performance. When the internship concludes ask your site supervisor to complete the Buena Vista University Internship Evaluation Form for an honest appraisal of your work. This form is to be sent directly back to your BVU Internship Supervisor. The feedback from this evaluation will be helpful for determining areas of improvement for your next internship experience or permanent position after graduation.

_____Be Appreciative. You should also give your Site Supervisor a (LEGIBLE!) handwritten thank you for their generosity. This step is important as it is also an opportune time to ask for a Letter of Recommendation while the experience is still fresh in their mind. You will be grateful to have this letter in your career portfolio for future professional endeavors. Also remember to record contact names and information of people you have met for future professional networking.

Stage III: Reflection

_____Reflect and Share Your Story.

Complete and submit all necessary academic requirements to your BVU Internship Supervisor. Take this opportunity to thank your BVU Internship Supervisor for their time and effort in the supervision of your internship experience.
Participate in opportunities on campus to share your story. An "Internship Showcase" that is held every year is one event as well as School sponsored events like internship socials that allow you to inspire your undergraduate peers who are starting to think about an internship of their own.

Update your Resume. Add your internship experience to your resume right away. Make sure it is "above the fold". It should receive top billing in a prominent place on the page since it may be the only field-specific experience you will have after graduation. For more help with resume development refer to the BVU Career Services "Guide to the Job Search".

Required Forms

Internship Agreement
Internship Evaluation
Internship Application for Credit (Storm Lake)
Internship Application for Credit (Professional & Online Studies)