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 What is an internship?
Why would I want to do an internship?
Where do I find an internship?
When should I start looking for internships?
How do I get credit for an internship?
When should I do an internship?
Can I do an internship after I graduate?
Are internships paid? How long do internships last?
Do I have to do an internship?
I can’t afford to do an internship—I have to work. What should I do?
What is an internship?
An internship provides practical work experience, and helps you connect your classroom learning to the world outside MSU. Most undergraduate research experiences are just internships under a different name. The important element that distinguishes an internship from a short-term job or community service is the intentional "learning plan" that you bring to the experience. You not only plan to learn, but you have a plan for evaluating what you learned and how.
Internships can take place in any work or service setting. They may be part of an educational program and evaluated for academic credit, or no credit may be granted.
Why would I want to do an internship?
The first reason to do an internship is a selfish one: research has found that students who had completed internships found employment more quickly following graduation, were more likely to be employed within their fields of study, and were more satisfied in their jobs. Employers actively seek students with career-related work experience. Your odds of getting a job in today's competitive marketplace are much greater if you have relevant experience. In fact, large corporate employers recruit over 50% of their new full-time employees from “in house” internship programs.
The best reason to do an internship, though, is to gain practical career experience before graduation. This can help you either confirm a career choice or make a decision to choose a different path. You can make an informed decision about whether you are interested in a particular career—a good thing to know before you graduate!
Where do I find an internship?
Unfortunately, there is no one single place to find an internship. Many different resources exist at MSU. You can find resources for internship hunting here. However, don’t just look at this list and quit. Your most important resource for internship hunting will be your network of contacts. You might also be able to arrange an informal internship between a place you work and your MSU academic department. Create your own internship!
When should I start looking for internships?
Now! It's never too early to gain "hands-on" experience. As soon as you identify what sort of career path you are interested in, start keeping an eye out for internships and research experiences. Sometimes it is possible to arrange an internship locally while attending school during the semester.
It’s important to plan ahead. Typically, for summer internships, the deadlines are in December and January. Some of the most popular internships have very strict rules – they will not accept late applications, and you must fill out certain forms properly. Read the instructions carefully.
How do I get credit for an internship?
Your academic department determines the requirements for receiving academic credit. Just because something is called an “internship” doesn’t mean you will get credit through MSU for the experience. You must consult with your department’s internship coordinator to clearly determine that you will learn from the experience—and create a plan to document that learning.
Some internships will give you academic credit at other institutions. Some internships don’t count for credit at all---but will look wonderful on your resume and help you determine your future career path.
When should I do an internship?
It’s never too early or too late to do an internship. Internships are for all students, from high school to graduate (MS, PhD) students.
Can I do an internship after I graduate?
An increasing trend is for short-term positions after graduation to be called internships. For example, if you look at “student jobs” on the Federal Jobs website, a variety of short-term positions for new graduates are included.
Internships after graduation can help you increase your employability with new skills. Don't rule out a temporary move if a really great internship comes along. A great internship can move you years ahead in your climb up the career ladder.
Are interns paid? How long do internships last?
Internships can be part-time or full-time, paid or unpaid. They can last from a month to two years. Internships can take place in any work or service setting. They may be part of an educational program and evaluated for academic credit. The important element that distinguishes an internship from a short-term job or community service is the intentional "learning plan" that the intern brings to the experience. In other words, it’s not about the money.
Do I have to do an internship? What will happen if I don’t do one?
You don’t have to have an internship. However, seek out career-related work experience, even if it doesn’t have the title of “Intern.” Your odds of getting a job in today's competitive marketplace are much greater if you have relevant experience. You'll expand your education and get contacts in your field. Even time spent volunteering can help you meet people and become more knowledgeable about future career paths.
I can’t afford to do an unpaid internship—I have to work to stay in school. What should I do?
Unfortunately, it’s expensive to go to school, and an unpaid internship just isn’t realistic for lots of students. To get a paid internship, you need to plan ahead—make sure you apply early. Target a few internships and try to establish contact with the people offering them. Make sure they know you as a person, to increase your chances of acceptance.
If you have a job related to your career field, you may be able to arrange credit and create your own internship with your academic department. If you can’t find any work related to your field, try volunteering in a research laboratory on campus a few hours a week. Even if you are just washing glassware, you can observe how people work in your field, and make networking contacts.
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