The Internship Search for Graduate Students

University Career Services

Kamilah McCoy

Associate Director for Graduate Student Services

Presentation Objectives

• Why pursue an internship?

• Provide direction for a successful internship search

– How to begin your search

– Where to find internship opportunities

• Review special internship search considerations for

graduate students

• Identify internship search resources and support at

Northwestern

Types of Experiential Learning

Put your learning experiences into action!

• Internships

– A trial period with an employer that helps you gain insight

into a field that you are considering as a career. Typically

over the summer. Can be paid, unpaid or for course credit.

• Fellowships

– There are different types of fellowships, including some that

provide practical experience in your field of study

• Co-ops (primarily engineering)

– Structured training experience with the same employer

lasting multiple academic quarters

• Volunteering/Service Learning

– Develop and apply skills through community engagement or

structured service opportunities.

Trends in the Hiring Market

• Internship opportunities have increased over the last

decade

• Many employers are converting interns and co-ops

to full time hires after graduation

• Employers indicate that “relevant internships and

experience” are the most important qualification

when making hiring decisions.

Experience gained through internships now can

increase your marketability when searching for full-time

employment in the future.

Sources: Trends in Recruiting 2011-2012 Report and Internships.com

Benefits of an Internship

Internships allow you to…

• Explore careers and position types

• Develop and apply your skills

• Have direct involvement with your research subject

• Inform your understanding of your career options

• Build your professional contacts

• Expand your future professional and research

funding opportunities

Before You Apply

• Define your goals and determine what type of

experience you would like to gain

• What skills are needed for the long-term professional

positions that interest you?

• What skills do you already have that would make

you valuable to a potential employer?

The 3 Main Ways to Find an Internship

1. Internship Postings

– Using online databases to identify available opportunities

2. Employer Sourcing

– Identify and contact potential employers to generate

internship opportunities.

3. Networking

– Establishing connections with alumni and other connections

to tap into the “hidden job market.”

Many graduate students find internship opportunities

through employer sourcing and networking

1. Internship Postings

Formal Databases

• CareerCat and iNet

• NU school-specific databases:

– McCormick Connect, Medill Link, SoConnect

• Department emails/listservs

• Professional Society Websites

• Employer Websites

• Internships.com

• PhDs.org

• Idealist.org

• Indeed.com

For effective search

results, use a keyword

from your research or

field of study when using

formal job/internship

search databases

2. Employer Sourcing

Finding internship opportunities by researching

employers/work environments.

Involves:

• Researching Industries

– Learn the major players and identify employers of interest

• Researching Companies

– Visit employer websites for more information about their

mission and areas of focus

• Creating a list of those to contact

• Contacting employers directly through email or

phone

• Arranging for informational interviews

Vault is a comprehensive resource for

job search and career management

information, including insider information

on salaries, hiring, and company culture.

Wet Feet offers profiles on over 1000

companies , 30 major industries and

"day in the life" profiles of dozens of

career professionals

A database of company information that

can be used to find and discover

companies by location, name, size,

industry and keyword .

A business research company that

maintains a database of over 65 million

companies worldwide.

Employer Research Resources

Informational Interviewing

What is an Informational Interview?

A type of networking interview that allows you to

employer and/or industry research through a one-on-

one conversation with a professional in the field.

Informational Interviews allow you to

• Gather information that cannot be found online

• Learn about the career journey about your contact

• Obtain advice for making yourself marketable for the

field

• Leave a positive impression for future career

opportunities/leads

3. Networking

What is Networking?

• Developing relationships with professionals in your

chosen field

• An exchange of information and resources

• Sharing purposeful information about yourself and

your career interests

• A method to make yourself marketable for potential

job/internship opportunities

Networking is one of the top

methods used Northwestern

students to find internships.

Who’s In Your Network?

• Undergraduate

Institution Alumni

• Graduate Institution

Alumni (NU)

• High School Alumni

• Academic Program

Alumni

• Research Group

Alumni

• PI/Advisor

• Other Faculty

• Research

Collaborators

• Current Employers

• Previous Employers

• Family

• Friends

• Career Fairs

• Recruiters

• Professional

organizations

• Student organizations

• Fraternity/Sorority

Members

• Other organizational

members

• Athletic teammates

• Friends of friends

• Mentors

• Anyone missing?

YOU

Formal Networking Resources

• Northwestern Alumni Association

network of over 200,000 alumni

• CareerNet: online database of NU

alumni aimed at facilitating networking

and informational interviewing

• Professional networking site with over

100 million users

• Networking Groups

– Alumni Groups

– Northwestern School Groups

– Industry-specific Groups

– Subject Matter Groups

– Professional Organization Groups

Developing Your Own Internship

Make Contact with Employers of Interest

• Contact organizations directly to inquire about possible

opportunities

• Reach out to your network to inquire about opportunities

Make your Pitch!

• Know what you can offer: knowledge, strengths, skills and

abilities and what the industry values in potential employees.

• Be prepared to communicate your interest in the opportunity

and your potential value.

Follow up!

• Provide appropriate application materials (resumes, cover

letters, etc.)

• Send thank you notes to all who assisted you in your search.

Start Your Internship Search NOW!

Summer internships are often posted in late

December and January

Winter Quarter

• Review websites for internship postings

• Contact employers that may consider creating an internship for

you

• Keep track of deadlines

• Attend career fairs on and off campus

• Network!

• Prepare for interviews

Spring Quarter

• Continue to apply and network if you have not yet secured an

internship

• Expand your list of potential employers

Application

Materials

Applying to Opportunities

• Most positions will require a resume and cover letter,

some will require additional materials (transcripts,

writing samples, personal statement/essay, etc.)

• Tailor application materials to the employer, industry

and/or position.

• Inform your networking contacts of your application

plans

CV vs. Resume

Curriculum Vitae Resume

•No page limit

•Detailed overview

•Used when applying to

academic teaching and research

positions

•Used when applying to grants,

fellowships, and some

administrative positions in

colleges and universities

•Also used when applying to

positions abroad

•1-2 pages in length: Concise

•Summary of skills, education

and experience

•Marketing tool to obtain

interviews

•Communicate your potential

value

•Content is tailored to the

audience

•Used when applying for

positions in industry, government

and non-profit

Cover Letters

An Introduction to potential employers that

accompanies a resume, highlighting the strengths

of your candidacy.

Opening Paragraph

• State your reason for writing and how you learned

about the position

Middle Paragraph(s)

• Emphasize and elaborate on your strongest

qualifications for the position.

Closing Paragraph

• Thank the reader for his/her consideration and

indicate how the employer can reach you.

Sample Job Posting

Better Government Association: Investigative Intern

The BGA's Investigative Unit hires unpaid interns in the summer and

throughout the year to assist in news projects.

Some of the duties might include:

- Going to courthouses to pull documents

- Making phone calls to sources

- Attending news conferences

- Contributing to select stories and blogs

- Coming up with ideas for articles and investigations

- Researching

- Filing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

Requirements for the position:

- Upperclassmen, Graduate Student

- Journalism or related major in college

- Previous experience writing and reporting

- A nose for news, and an ability to learn new skills quickly

- An understanding of local government (particularly in Chicago and

Illinois) and current events

- A solid work ethic, attention to detail and a sense of humor

Highlight the skills

needed for the

position and

connect them to

related skills and

experiences from

your own

background when

writing your resume

and cover letter

Graduate Student Considerations

• Secure the necessary permissions from

department/advisor

• Funding restrictions

• International Students (CPT)

• Paid vs. Unpaid

– Course Credit

• “All of the posted opportunities are for

Undergraduates!”

UCS Internship Services

Meet with a Career Counselor:

• How do I explore/research career options?

• How do I know what kind of internship I want?

• How do I assess my interests/skills/values and how

do they relate to potential internships?

Meet with an Internship Specialist:

• When and how do I begin my internship search?

• How do I research companies/industries?

• How do I write an internship resume/cover letter?

• How do I prepare for interviewing?

Additional Resources at Northwestern

• School-specific Career Offices

– McCormick Office of Career Development, EPICS, SESP

Advising, Medill Career Services

• Office of Fellowships

• Center for Civic Engagement

• Programs

– GEO Community Practicum-Center for Civic Engagement

– Crown Family Internship-McCormick Doctoral Students

Questions?

Upcoming UCS Events

Workshops

• Finding Your Fit: Career Exploration for Graduate Students

Thursday, 2/2 12:00-1:00 PM Grad Student Commons

• Social Media Tools for Graduate Students

Thursday, 2/23 12:00-1:00 PM Grad Student Commons

Drop-In Hours

• Mondays 11:00-1:00 PM The Graduate School

Speakers

• The International Student Job Search with Dan Beaudry

Thursday 1/26 4:00-5:30 PM Norris, Wildcat Room

Stay Connected to UCS!

Listserv:

• Send an email to listserv@listserv.it.northwestern.edu.

• Leave the subject line blank.

• In the body of the message type

SUBSCRIBE UCSGradStudents firstname lastname

Twitter:

• @UCSGradStudents: www.twitter.com/ucsgradstudents

University Career Services

Main Office

620 Lincoln Street

847-491-3700

Career Lab (Walk-ins Thursdays & Fridays Only)

Core Reserve

Main Library, 2nd Floor North

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