Graduate > Finding an Internship

Graduate Students

Finding an Internship

There are really just two steps in finding the right internship for you. First, decide what sort of internship you want, and then search for listing sites and employers that will meet your needs. Once you have identified possibilities, you can develop a resume, polish your letter writing and interviewing skills and begin to make your applications.

1. Deciding what you want

Spend some time thinking about your possible internship. Ask yourself why you want one, and when you want to take it. Consult with a CCS advisor to gain clarification or new ideas. The clearer you are about what you want to gain from an internship, the more likely you are to have a successful internship experience. Useful questions are:

Why do I want an internship?
What do I want to learn from an internship?
What sort of company or organization would enable me to learn those things?
Where do I want the internship to be situated?
How much time do I want to spend at the internship?

2. Identifying and pursuing your internship

Once you have an idea of the sort of internship you want, use every method you can to explore internship possibilities:

Network - Tell as many people as you can and enlist the help of other people in your search. Discuss your wishes with anyone and everyone who might be able to help, including

• CCS Internship Coordinators
• Faculty
• Parents, other relatives and family friends
• Former teachers, work acquaintances, members of professional associations
• Roommates, class mates and other fellow SU student acquaintances
• CCS Staff/Counselors

Watch a video on networking. Click this link to view a 60-minute program on networking with a special emphasis on the Mentor@SU program which was produced as part of a career development series for the iSchool in the Spring of 2008.

Consult online postings and directories - CCS has a number of print and online directories, including

• OrangeLink, the university's web based recruiting system. Use keywords such as accounting, finance, advertising, marketing, radio/television, education, to help you find internships that have what you are looking for.
• Internship sites on the Web (don't overlook Interning abroad)
• Diversity resources on this site
• Published directories of internships (e.g. Petersen's, Priceton Review, Vault)
• Special internship directories focused on media, communications industries, politics, sports, history, law and government, etc. See Internships USA in our online guide to internship sites.

Watch a video focused on finding an internship. For students seeking an IT internship, this program focused on exploring and winning opportunities at Diamond, Deloitte, KPMG, Creditex Inc. or Goldman Sachs. It was part of a career development series in the iSchool in the spring of 2008.

 

Search company/employer sites.

When you know what you want, you can use directories and databases to identify potential employers. Having targeted employers, you will be able to go directly to their sites and you will be able to give your network clearer information on organizations you wish to penetrate. CCS advisors can help you research companies.

When you are on an employer's site, look for headings such as "Employment", "Careers", "Jobs" or "Human Resources" to find information about internships and application processes.

When should you begin looking for an internship?

It is a good idea to visit CCS early in your time at SU so that you know what resources exist to help you find an internship, and are able to access them. This will also give you time to develop your resume and craft a cover letter to the sites that interest you., and to complete the forms necessary for a credit bearing internship.

For Syracuse area internships during the academic year, you should begin your internship search early, preferably in the semester before you plan to take the internship, as applications for some popular internships, or those that need security clearances, close months before the internship is actually to be taken.

As far as summer internships, start early! Many highly competitve corporate, non-profit or government internships have application deadlines in the Fall. Employer participants in the Fall Career Fair have begun to use this event for intern recruitment as well. Whitman, Maxwell, Newhouse and other specific schools may also host employer events that allow students to gain access to employers. Check OrangeLink and CCS event calendar to stay on top of these events.