Experience Matters!
Students need experience and employers want experienced new hires. How
can you effectively get experience through co-ops and internships? First,
apply for positions listed on College
Central Network. However, research shows that only 20% of the available
jobs are ever advertised and the percentage for co-ops and internships
may be lower. So in addition to searching company websites and electronic
job boards, it is very important to conduct a self directed search.
You can create your own internship by reaching out to organizations
that interest you and asking for an opportunity to interview.
How?
First determine what type of experience you’d like and where you’d
ideally like to get the experience. Which industry? What location? How
many hours? What skills do you wish to use? These are all questions
that will eventually help you make an internship proposal to your target
organizations.
Reach out to employers and ask them for
an opportunity to intern, even when there isn’t a position being
advertised. “Propose” an internship and suggest duties
and tasks. This is an excellent tactic and probably the most effective
approach to looking for a position of any type. The
COD Library should be your first stop – ask a librarian to
direct you to print resources and Reference
USA, which is an online resource, so you can develop a list of
potential employers.
Getting started!
Click on your field of study below for ideas of what you can do
during an internship, as well as the types of employers that most likely
want COD interns. To get an idea of what COD interns have done in the
past, take a look at our
List of Selected Position Titles (PDF) and our List
of Selected Sites (PDF). For more ideas of possible sites, view Internship
Sites by Industry Sector. Be creative and be persistent… reach
out and create your own internship or co-op!
