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Create Your Own Internship

Students need experience and employers want experienced new hires. Start by applying for positions listed on College Central Network. Research shows that only 20 percent of the available jobs are ever advertised and the percentage for internships may be lower.

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.

Finding an Internship

First determine what type of experience you'd like and where you'd ideally like to get the experience. These are all questions that will eventually help you make an internship proposal to your target organizations:

  • Which industry?
  • What location?
  • How many hours?
  • What skills do you wish to use? 

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 so you can develop a list of potential employers.

Get 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 the list of selected position titles and our list of selected sites. For more ideas of possible sites, visit Career Services.

Advertising Design

  • Advertising Design Intern
  • TW Metals Design Intern
  • Web Intern

Air-Conditioning/HVAC

  • HVAC Apprentice
  • HVAC Technician
  • Maintenance Intern

Architectural Design

  • Architecture Assistant to Operations Manager
  • Virtual Architectural Model Builder Intern

Auto Service Technology

  • Auto Technician
  • Maintenance Mechanic

Behavioral and Social Science

  • Behavioral and Social Science Intern
  • Walt Disney World Intern

Business

  • Accounting Intern
  • Assistant Manager – Retail Associate
  • Underwriter Benefits
  • Eligibility Clerk
  • Bookkeeper Branch Manager
  • Financial Business Analyst
  • Business Intern
  • Financial Planning Intern
  • Inventory Control Coordinator
  • National Accounts Intern
  • Personal Banking Intern
  • Realty Specialist Sales
  • Associate Sales
  • Staffing
  • Consultant Underwriting Technician
  • Walt Disney World Intern

Communications

  • Customer Service Specialist
  • Library Assistant
  • Peer Leader Intern
  • Student Organization Adviser
  • Television Communications Intern
  • UPS Trainer
  • Volunteer Service Supervisor
  • Walt Disney World Intern
  • Abercrombie & Kent
  • Access Living
  • AFLAC
  • Air Dynamics
  • Allied Benefits Systems
  • Allstate Insurance
  • American Fidelity Mortgage Services, Inc.
  • Americorps NCCC
  • AMETEK
  • Andy Frain Services
  • Anita James Printing
  • Argonne Nat’l Laboratory
  • Ball Seed
  • Berthold’s Flower
  • Barn
  • Blooming Babies
  • Buona Sera
  • CAI Designs
  • Cantigny
  • Central DuPage Hospital
  • Claim Jumper Restaurants
  • College of DuPage
  • Colorburst Studios
  • Column Technologies, Inc.
  • Comcast SportsNet
  • Crowe, Chizek & Co
  • Cucina Roma Design Travel, Inc.
  • DuPage Children’s Museum
  • DuPage Convalescent Center Towers Productions, Inc.
  • Electronic Displays, Inc.
  • Elmhurst School Dist. 205
  • ESPN Radio AM 1000
  • Forming America, LTD
  • Finish Strong Indoor Sportsplex LLC
  • Fountaindale Public Library
  • Gottlieb Memorial Hospital – Child Care Development Center
  • Heger Travel Bureau
  • Hilton Lisle/Naperville
  • H.P. Schmaltz & Company
  • Hyatt Regency Woodfield Illinois
  • Lady Lightning Illinois Nurserymen’s Association
  • HOPE
  • Indian Lake Resorts
  • Jerusalem Post
  • Kraft Foods, Inc.
  • Leadertech Systems of Chicago, Inc.
  • Le Francais
  • Marriott International
  • Merrill Lynch
  • MetLife West Suburban Financial Group
  • Monitor Liability Managers, Inc.
  • Morton Arboretum
  • National Safety Council
  • New Beginnings Tours
  • Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association, (NEDSRA)
  • Office of Senator Durbin
  • Parkview Elementary School-Glen Ellyn
  • Pearl Design Group, Inc.
  • People Educating People
  • Pheasant Run Resort
  • Portillo’s Restaurant Group
  • Project Amigo Quest Food Management Services, Inc.
  • Santo Maria Ristorante Italiano
  • Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers
  • Solberg Manufacturing, Inc.
  • Springbrook Nature Center
  • SRI Physical Therapy
  • Starmen Galleries and Design Sterling Works S
  • tern Cassello & Associates, LLP
  • Sunny Ridge Family Center
  • Susan Kezon Photography 
  • Swiss Financial Services
  • Talcott Communications and Publishing
  • Total Living Network
  • TW Metals
  • The Heartland Institute
  • Total Living Network
  • UNIGLOBE Lawrence
  • Travel
  • Unilever UBF
  • Foodsolutions
  • United Community Bank
  • UPS
  • Village of Bensenville
  • Walt Disney World
  • Waterdog Records
  • Weber Grill Restaurant
  • West Chicago Park District
  • Wheaton-Warrenville South High School
  • Willowbrook High School
  • Wilton Homewares
  • Winfield Chamber of Commerce
  • WTTW11
  • Wyndham Lisle-Chicago Hotel & Executive Meeting Center

Computer Information Systems

  • Computer Engineering Intern
  • Web Developer
  • Website Content Specialist Intern
  • Web Technical Writer

Computer & Internetworking Technology

  • CISCO Lab Technician
  • INET Intern
  • IT Technician System Support Specialist

Criminal Justice

  • Community Service Officer
  • Public Police Intern
  • Security Personnel
  • Walt Disney World Intern

Economics

  • Business Analyst Internship at Washington DC
  • Financial Assistant

Education/Early Childhood

  • Education Assistant Day Care Provider
  • Child Care Center Lead Teacher
  • Day Camp Assistant Head Counselor
  • Early Childhood Center Intern
  • Instructional Design Intern
  • Junior High School Tutor
  • Junior Varsity Coach – Hockey K-5
  • After-School Program Supervisor
  • Kindergarten Tutor
  • Sea Life Education Intern
  • Special Education Aide – Middle School
  • Special Education Program Assistant
  • Teacher Assistant
  • Teaching Intern
  • Youth and Education Intern
  • Youth Group Intern
  • Walt Disney World Intern

Engineering

  • Civil Engineering Intern
  • Drafter
  • Engineering Technician/Drafter

Food Service

  • Assistant Chef
  • Baker’s Assistant
  • Banquet Server
  • Catering Manager
  • Head Chef Assistant
  • Culinary Chef II
  • Culinary Intern
  • Line/Pre-Cook
  • Pastry Chef
  • Pastry Chef Assistant
  • Senior Food Scientist
  • Restaurant Server
  • Restaurant Manager
  • Walt Disney World Intern

Graphic Design

  • Graphic Arts Pressman
  • Graphic Design Intern

Horticulture

  • Greenhouse Production Assistant
  • Assistant Grower
  • Breeding Technician
  • Intern
  • Horticulturist
  • Landscape Design Assistant
  • Landscaping Crew Leader
  • Plant Production Intern - Horticulture
  • Retail Nursery Sales Associate

Hotel Lodging

  • Front Desk Agent
  • Guest Services Agent
  • Wedding Event Coordinator
  • Walt Disney World Intern

Interior Design

  • Design Consultant
  • Furniture Sales Associate
  • Interior Design Consultant
  • Interior Design Intern
  • Junior Designer Intern
  • Kithen & Bath Designer Intern
  • Kitchen Studio Design Intern
  • Sales Design Associate
  • Showroom Assistant

Journalism/English

  • International Newspaper Staff Writer
  • News Editor
  • Newsroom Intern
  • Peer Reading/Writing Coach Intern
  • Senior Editor/Chef Magazine
  • Sports Editor

Liberal Arts

  • Hospital Service Support Technician
  • UPS Intern
  • Walt Disney World Intern

Marketing

  • Assistant Technical Director
  • Audio Visual Assistant
  • Marketing Intern

MPTV

  • Media Production Assistant
  • Production Specialist - Cable Television
  • Video and Drama Director
  • Television Production and Studio Intern

Natural Sciences

  • Chemistry Lab Intern

Nursing

  • Hospital Special Care Technician
  • Nursing Intern

Office Technology Information

  • Administrative Assistant
  • Intermediate Staff Assistant
  • Receptionist

Photography

  • Photography Assistant
  • Photo Editor
  • Photograph Intern
  • Photo Lab Intern

Physical Education

  • Assistant Head Coach
  • Athletic Training Assistant
  • Camp Team Leader 
  • Fitness Specialist
  • Football Coach - High School
  • Personal Fitness Trainer
  • Physical Therapy Technician
  • Team Leader - Retail
  • Volleyball Head Coach
  • Walt Disney World Intern

Political Science

  • Political Campaign Volunteer Coordinator
  • U.S. Senate Intern

Pre-Pharmacy

  • Pharmacy Technician

Psychology

  • Sales Staffing Consultant
  • Team Leader
  • Walt Disney World Intern
  • Theater
  • Walt Disney World Intern

Travel/Tourism

  • International Travel Intern
  • Meeting and Convention Intern
  • Tour Director
  • Travel Agency Intern
  • Travel Reservation Agent
  • Travel/Tourism Intern
  • Walt Disney World Intern

Contact Information

Career Services
Student Resource Center (SRC), Room 1140
Email: csc@cod.edu
Phone: (630) 942-2230
Fax: (630) 942-4596

Regular Hours:
Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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