Internships & Career Explorations

What is an Internship?

Internships are wonderful occasions for learning new skills while applying academic knowledge in a real-world setting. In addition, you can earn academic credit while exploring potential career options and both learn and demonstrate leadership skills. Consider all internship options even opportunities outside of your major. Many outstanding internships exist in non-profits and small businesses for students of all majors.

By registering for an internship, you are participating in an enriching and challenging experience that for many students is an important and useful way of identifying a fulfilling career. In fact, more than half of all Gustavus students participate in an internship or career exploration, many of which lead to a full-time paid position.

Finding an Internship

G-Net is the best source for internships for Gustavus students. We recommend updating your profile before browsing internship listings. Internship information sessions, deadlines, etc. can be viewed on the Career Center Events Calendar. More Recommended Internship Listings.

 

How do I register for an Interim Career Exploration?

The interim Career Exploration Registration Form is due by Tuesday, December 1st, 2009. The registration form must be signed by the site supervisor at the host organization as well as by a faculty sponsor. Interim faculty sponsors are as follows:

• Kate Knutson (POL) knutson@gac.edu x6224
• Bruce Smith (E/M) bsmith6@gac.edu x7436
• Jen Ackil (PSY) jackil@gac.edu x7418
• Kiki Harbitz (BIO) kharbitz@gac.edu x6064
• Sanjive Qazi (BIO) sqazi@gac.edu x6319
• Lelia Brammer (COM) lbrammer@gac.edu x6190
• Terry Morrow (COM) tmorrow@gac.edu x7366

Students are also required to attend one of the Career Exploration Orientation sessions: Thursday, December 3rd at 3:30 (SSC 101), Monday, December 7th at 3:30 (Board Room), Tuesday, December 8th at 6:00pm (SSC 101), or Thursday, December 10th at 3:30 (SSC 101). Contact Brian Koeneman (koeneman@gac.edu) or Kristen Nelson (knelson2@gac.edu) with any questions.

Nancy Pautz Leadership Award (Interim Experience)

The Nancy Pautz Memorial Career Exploration Award is open to students of all majors exploring vocation through a month long, off-campus, full-time, experience. The primary goal of this program is to help students participating in an Interim Career Exploration engage in substantive reflection on issues of vocation, lives of service and how a career reflects the larger sense of self, purpose, and contribution to society. This program awards a small number of students up to $300 to cover expenses incurred while participating in an Interim Career Exploration. Students demonstrating financial need, commitment to genuine exploration, and the ability to participate in required program components are given priority consideration. Please complete the application by Wednesday, December 2, 2009: Application here

Fall Internship Assignments 2009

Reflection Questions via InterviewStream

Students participating in a fall internship are required to complete a series of reflection questions via InterviewStream for the career center. You will be asked to record your answers to a series of questions involving the 12 Essential Competencies that employers look for in college graduates. The core competencies will help you articulate the value of your internship experience and relate what you have learned as you would in a job interview. The 12 Essential Competencies are:

Working in a Diverse Environment, Acquiring Knowledge, Communicating Effectively, Managing Time and Priorities, Thinking Critically, Solving Problems, Contributing to a Team, Performing with Integrity, Balancing Work and Life, Navigating Across Boundaries, Developing Professional Competencies, and Embracing Change.

Informational Interviews

As part of your internship experience, you will complete at least two informational interviews. Think of specific questions related to your future career options and keep in mind that the point of the informational interview is to learn more about this career path & discover the true nature of the work. Informational interviews are also a great way to develop your network and career mentor base.

Informational Interviews Sample Questions

• How did you obtain your position?
• What do you enjoy most about this position?
• What are the biggest challenges of your position?
• What is a typical day like?
• What are the entry-level opportunities in this field?
• What are the trends in this field?
• What skills & personalities do you look for?
• What advice do you have for me?

Evaluations

The Career Center sends a final evaluation to the site supervisor approximately two weeks prior to the end date of the internship. This form may be copied and shared with other staff that have worked with the student within the organization. Site supervisors should complete the evaluation(s) and have the student sign the form before returning to the Career Center. Also, the evaluation can be used as a guide to offer students feedback and conduct an exit interview as appropriate.

How do I register for an International Internship?

Students planning to participate in an internship abroad are required to complete application and orientation with the Office of International Education. In addition, please note the early deadlines for internships abroad: October 1, 2009 for January Interim Experience 2009; October 1, 2009 for Spring Semester 2009; October 1, 2009 for Summer Internships 2009; March 1, 2009 for Fall 2010. Please note that passports can take up to 14 weeks for processing. Visas can take even longer and may require in-person arrangements at the appropriate embassy (typically Chicago or Washington DC) See http://embassy.org/embassies/ for a list of embassies. The International Internship Form is required of all students. Gustavus will not sponsor an internship in any country with a current travel warning. See State Department Website for a list of countries with advisories. Be wary of frequent changes and updates. International internship links below.

How do I register for a Spring Semester Internship?

Registration for semester internships requires a completed internship registration form (pdf version) . The registration form must be signed by the site supervisor at the host organization as well as by a faculty sponsor. A thorough internship position and responsibilities description must be provided. All forms need to be turned into the Career Center by Friday, February 12, 2010 in order for academic credit to be received for the internship period.

The Spring Internship Orientation is mandatory, and will be held at a TBD time. At the orientation session you will receive information about the reflection questions, final essay, and other assignments.

Information for Faculty

As faculty sponsor it is expected that you maintain weekly contact with your student intern and, if practical, visit the student at their organization. Most faculty assign a summary paper, selected readings, and two or more informational interviews. Grading is pass/fail and submitted by faculty the the Registrar's on-line at the end of the experience. Currently, a faculty based Internship Advisory Committee is being formed. Contact the Career Center for more information.

Faculty are encouraged to visit students at the internship site whenever possible. Site visits can be done at any time during the internship or career exploration. You will be reimbursed for mileage and expenses. Preferably, you should reserve a college vehicle to conduct site visits. To make reservations for a College vehicle please call Telecommunications by dialing “O”. Vehicle expenses can be covered by the Career Center.

If you take a student and their site supervisor to lunch, the Career Center will reimburse you. Because of our limited travel budget, we will limit that reimbursement to a maximum of $15 per person. All charges made on your Gustavus credit card should include details of the purchase. In addition to the itemized receipts, the College requires that you include each individual's name and the name of the organization(s) you visited.

Information for Internship Site Supervisors

A complete guide for site supervisors is available in pdf here. As site supervisor we look to you to create an environment where students are challenged and supported throughout their experience. As site supervisor you serve as a mentor and your openness and accessibility are extremely important to the success of the internship program. The following suggestions may he helpful as you work with student interns:

1. Offer students orientation & training opportunities to explain your organization's expectations regarding work hours, dress, confidentiality, etc..
2. Be prepared to invest time in interns, particularly in the first few days. Ideally, set a daily or weekly meeting time to "check in" and answer questions.
3. Engage students in pre-professional activities; limit clerical or menial tasks such as filing, copying and answering phones as much as possible.
4. Assist students with learning about the larger issues of your work, including how their work fits in with the mission statement of your organization.
5. Provide students the opportunity to network with people within your organization to learn more about related career options.
6. Ask students to offer a final presentation or summary report of their experience.

Featured programs & recommended internship listings

• MN Council for Non-profit Very current internship & job listings for MN non-profits. Other career resources included too
• University of St. Thomas internship listings
• HECUA-Paid summer internships in MN, WI, and IA. City Arts, Metro Urban Studies Team and other opportunities in Asia, Latin America, Europe, and the US.
• Washington Internship Institute-Innovative internships in the nation's capitol
• Idealist.org-Action Without Borders. Widely respected organization. Search worldwide listings for all majors. Paid & unpaid listings. Look for annual conference too.
• Lutheran World Relief LWR partners with over 50 countries worldwide to help people grow food, improve health, strengthen communities, end conflict, build livelihoods, and recover from disaster. Features include a Fair Trade Coffee J-term position in Nicaragua. Other internships in Columbia, East Africa, West Africa, Asia, India, Europe, Central and South America, the Middle East, Philippines. Now offering e-internships (student based on-campus) working with public policy.
• World Camp (programs in Malawi, Honduras, and India)
• Going Global
• Internabroad.com
• Australearn.com
• USAID Student intern positions in the Bureau for Legislative Affairs, Public Affairs, and the Office of General Counsel. 3.0 GPA and early application required.
• TravelTree Internship programs abroad searchable by country or subject. Great resource for anyone looking for internship experience abroad.
• Global Citizens Network- Short-term volunteer teams to Guatemala, Kenya, Nepal, Peru, Tanzania, Thailand, and Mexico. Domestic opportunities in AZ, KY, NM, WA.
• INROADS-Paid internships for ethnic minority students (must had two summers remaining while at Gustavus)
• Directory of Nonprofit Organizations of Color in MN- Great resource listing non-profit that primarily serve communities of color. Recently updated!
• Birkbeck, University of London Internships for all majors in England.
• MN House of Representatives Internships
• Government Job and Internships
• Human Rights Campaign Internships for GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender) students
• Eco.org-The most respected environmental internship program in the US
• Please contact the career center to have a copy sent to you. Read information about internship fairs, other internship listings (below), practice interview program, and resume and cover letter tips.
• Goinglobal.com (see Brian in the Career Center for temporary password)
• Internabroad.com
• Australearn.com
• BUNAC.org
• HECUA-Paid summer internships in MN, WI, and IA. City Arts, Metro Urban Studies Team and other opportunities in Asia, Latin America, Europe, and the US.
• Idealist.org-Action Without Borders. Widely respected organization. Search worldwide listings for all majors. Paid & unpaid listings. Look for annual conference too.
• Lutheran World Relief LWR partners with over 50 countries worldwide to help people grow food, improve health, strengthen communities, end conflict, build livelihoods, and recover from disaster. Features include a Fair Trade Coffee J-term position in Nicaragua. Other internships in Columbia, East Africa, West Africa, Asia, India, Europe, Central and South America, the Middle East, Philippines. Now offering e-internships (student based on-campus) working with public policy.