Internships are typically part-time positions of fixed duration that offer you the opportunity to explore an occupational field and/or work experience related to your college major and career goals. Internships are guided by intentional learning objectives, skill assessments, and performance evaluations. This program is designed to complement and enhance your classroom learning. Take the theories and apply them in the work world--suddenly you have a new understanding about your topic area and how it functions in the "world of work."

The Internship Program creates important links between the College and the business world. Internships allow organizations and companies the opportunity to invest in a valuable community resource: you! Colleges/universities and businesses are able to foster positive working relationships through internship and co-op programs. As a student intern, you also can offer a fresh perspective in the workplace by bringing your classroom learning to the table. By hiring interns, companies get a chance to "try out" a prospective future employee. The employer gets first-hand experience of your skills, work ethic, and strengths.

Several of the reasons you should consider doing an internship are:

• Career Development: This is your chance to take a "test drive" before committing yourself to a particular career.
• Skill Development: You will gain hands-on experience in a professional setting. This will be important information to highlight on your résumé.
• Leadership Development: An internship may give you the opportunity to oversee a project and to be responsible for a specific area.
• Personal Growth: Not only do internships provide excellent educational experiences, they can allow you to take on new roles and learn more about yourself.
• Cross-Cultural Awareness and Appreciation: You will find the ability to work well with others is a critical skill. Working in a new environment will introduce you to things you may not have encountered previously.

What kinds of internships are there? There are as many different kinds as there are students with different interests! Use your imagination and think about what you would really like to experience. Plan in advance to give yourself all the time necessary to set up just the right internship to suit you. Some internships are paid positions (either offering an hourly wage or a stipend), while others are non-paid positions. This varies according to the company or organization offering the internship opportunity.

There are many ways to find an internship. In the Career Services Office, you will find listings of internship positions, categorized according to academic area of study. Another source for finding internship opportunities is through materials in the Career Services library. These offer information about national and international internship programs, which often have set criteria and application processes. Talk with your adviser, professors and internship monitor about any internship openings they might be aware of. Perhaps there is a contact they can pursue on your behalf. You can also do networking on your own: who do YOU know and who do THEY know?! Think broadly and be creative--you probably have more contacts than you realize. The Internet also has sites for students seeking internships. Some companies advertise their internship programs at career fairs; check with a career counselor to see what fairs might be coming up in the near future.

To be considered for an internship position, you must submit a résumé to Career Services. If you would like assistance developing or revising your résumé, see one of the career counselors or the résumé section of this guide.

When considering specific internships, there are additional considerations for you to weigh. Is there a "dress code?" Will you be expected to wear professional business attire every day? Do you have any transportation constraints? How will you get to work? How many interns does the company employ in this department/division? How do their roles and responsibilities differ? Are there any "fringe benefits" with the position, such as formal training, the opportunity to attend seminars and workshops, etc.

For more than two decades, Elmhurst College has offered an experiential learning program called Field Experience. During January Term, students work full-time for an employer and receive academic credit. Like an internship, this work experience in an actual career setting is supervised jointly by the College and the associated employer. Field Experience allows students the chance to explore an occupational field related to their college major.

The Career Service Office works with local, national, and international employers, public and private, small companies and large corporations, to arrange Field Experience opportunities for our students. Just like the Internship Program, you will need a résumé to apply. If you need assistance developing your résumé or identifying a Field Experience site that is right for you, see one of the career counselors.

Field Experience can be paid or unpaid depending on work responsibilities and company policies. If you have a strong interest in a particular company or organization, you can initiate a Field Experience opportunity there. In such an instance, you would need to work closely with the Career Services Office and your internship monitor. All work sites must be approved in advance.