» What are the benefits to you?
» What are the School of Business requirements for participating in an internship?
» What are questions I should ask myself before doing an internship?
» How do I learn about internship opportunities?
» What is the internship process?
WHAT IS AN INTERNSHIP?
An internship is a supervised, career related, work experience eligible for college credit. Internships may be full or part-time, paid or unpaid, for a summer, a semester, or longer. Students must work 120 hours to earn 3 academic credits. Summer internships should also be 120 hours for 3 credits. The required number of hours changes proportionally with the number of credits.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO YOU?
Internship experience is consistently ranked as the number one item employers look for when considering college graduates for a full-time position.
Internships allow you to:
• explore and clarify your major and career goals
• develop knowledge, competencies, and experience
• gain practical employment experience
• establish a network of professional contacts
WHAT ARE THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATING IN AN INTERNSHIP?
• Undergraduate students with relevant coursework completed and a GPA of 2.75 or higher
• MBA students with relevant coursework completed and a GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Students must successfully complete the Internship and Career Practicum class
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF . . .
- Why do I want to do an internship? How does completing an internship fit into my short and long-term career goals?
- Do I have the time to commit to an internship? Can I commit to 10 hours a week? 20 hours a week? An internship is a commitment of your time and energy as well as an employer's time and energy. Make sure this is a commitment that you can keep!
- Do I need credit ? Do I meet the requirements (see above) to receive credit for an internship?
HOW DO I LEARN ABOUT INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES?
- The Career Resource Center. The Career Resource Center has hundreds of internship opportunities and receives new ones in almost every day! Check out Hawkhire to search for internship opportunities. Amanda Becker-Torre also sends out weekly emails to business students with internship and job opportunities.
- Ask your advisor or other professors in the School of Business - they may have internship contacts.
- Networking - "it's not always what you know but who you know". Tell everyone you know that you are looking for an internship, yes, that means family and friends. You never know who may have the internship contact you are looking for.
- Surf the Web - there are so many resources out there on the Internet and the best part is you can search from the privacy of your own residence hall or apartment.
WHAT IS THE INTERNSHIP PROCESS?
- Register for, and successfully complete, the Internship & Career Practicum (BUS301 and BUS502)
- Create a resume and draft a cover letter
- Go to the Career Resource Center to review your resume and discuss internship search strategies
- Find internship opportunities and research potential companies
- Send out cover letters, resumes, applications, etc.
- Interview with companies; receive and accept an offer for an internship
- Bring a description of the internship to Rendesia Scott, Director of Business Advising (undergraduates), or Aaron Hines, Director of MBA program (MBA students), for review
- Complete a field work form; register for the internship credits if the position meets the requirement and you are eligible
- During the internship, submit weekly and final report to Rendesia Scott (undergraduates) or Aaron Hines (MBA students) for review and approval. The employer must also submit a mid-term and final evaluation of the student
Internship contact information:
Rendesia Scott, Director of Business Advising
845-257-2930; scottr@newpaltz.edu
Aaron Hines, Director of MBA Program & International Projects
845-257-2930; mba@newpaltz.edu
Amanda Becker-Torres, Career Specialist
845-257-2381; beckerta@newpaltz.edu
