Definition

Business Internship
Business internships are a unique opportunity for students to observe
professional practice first hand and acquire professional networks, while
gaining credit towards your degree.

The learning experience in these units takes place primarily outside the
classroom where you have the opportunity to both observe and participate in a
range of real world

An internship is:

 A structured work experience related to a student's major and/or career goal

 An experience that should enhance a student's academic, career, and personal
development
 Supervised by a professional in the field
 An experience that can be one academic term (summer, spring, fall) or multiple
academic terms in length
 Paid or unpaid, part-time or full-time
 An experience that is mutually agreed upon by the student, supervisor and/or
faculty member
 Meets registration requirements for 0 credit hour or academic internship course
 It’s important to note that to qualify as an internship the position does not have to
be labeled “internship”. Many part time jobs, volunteer opportunities, or even
summer jobs can qualify as an internship. Internships might also be called a
practicum or co-op.
 PURPOSE OF INTERNSHIPS
Internships are integral to any good business education. They allow students to
get a taste of the real business world within a structured and guided program.
Students should begin thinking about their internship possibilities during their
initial application process.

Benefits of an Internship
One of the recurring themes in any entry level job search is the lack of
experience factor. "Where do I get experience if no one is willing to hire me?"
The answer is simple: Get an internship!
Students planning to enter the permanent work force should complement their
academic preparation with a range of other experiences, such as study abroad,
community service, undergraduate research experiences, participation in sports
and other student organizations, membership in pre-professional organizations,
and internships.
An internship offers you the chance to learn by doing in a setting where you are
supervised by a work-place professional, and have the opportunity to achieve
your own learning goals, without the responsibilities of being a permanent
employee.
An internship also offers you the opportunity to work with someone who can
become a mentor for you - not only in the internship, but throughout your
career.
 
Career Exploration

 Learn about a career field from the inside and decide if this is the right career
field for you
 Work alongside a professional in your chosen career area
 Observe the work place and see if it matches expectations
Leadership and Skill Development
 Learn new skills and add to your knowledge base while gaining confidence in
your abilities
 Opportunity to practice communication and teamwork skills
 Gain industry knowledge first hand from an organization and professionals
 Provide evidence that you have initiative, are reliable, and have a sense of
responsibility
 Apply some of the ideas learned in school and provide a bridge between school
and the professional world
 Achieve a sense of accomplishment by contributing to an organization
Networking and Establishing Mentors and References

 Meet new people and practice networking skills while establishing a network of
professional contacts, mentors, and references
 Open to door to advice for the next steps to take on your career path
Resume Enhancements

 Gain valuable experience and accomplishments to add to your resume and/or

enhance your application to Graduate School
 Create an advantage over other job or graduate school applicants
 Potential for a full time job offer at the end of the internship based on your
performance
 

Importance of an Internship
Whether it’s a year-long stretch or one of many summer business internships,
your internship experience will provide four valuable lessons to consider as you
move from student to business professional. First, internships offer hands-on
experience. Instead of just being tossed into the ring, though, internships are
structured and supervised by business professionals who will guide you through
the ins and outs of a particular business and its operations. Within business
internships you will see business skills in action. These skills include the
quantitative aspects, such as accounting and number crunching; qualitative
aspects, such as communication, HR concerns, and leadership; and
technological aspects, such as spreadsheets and other more complicated
software interaction.

Second, international students should treat their internship as a trial before the
real thing. We always like the idea of trying something before we commit to
buying it, right? Why not apply the same logic to your career? Internships allow
you to consider whether you really want to devote your time, energy, and
money into a particular field. Maybe accounting isn't for you, but investment
analysis really excites you! Internships are a great way to test your passions.
Third, internships are a prime opportunity for networking. Networking is
possibly the most important thing aspiring businesspeople can do, and
internships give you a chance to dive right in and meet several business
professionals with whom you'll be able to spend ample time.

Finally, internships offer an insider's view of how business really works.

Learning about businesses in class is one thing, but seeing how a business
works and learning how a business runs from the perspective of those within it
is priceless.

Finding a Business Internship

Seeking out a good internship can seem like a daunting task, and it certainly
shouldn't be taken lightly. Most schools with solid business programs will assist
international students in the process of finding an internship. However, if a
school does not assist or if you really want to strike it out on your own, you can
search through local ads and business websites for more information on
available internship opportunities. Above all, though, you should try to seek out
an internship in your area of interest; you want to make the most of your
opportunity. Once you find a potential internship, the process of applying is
very similar to any job application process. You'll need a resume, a cover letter,
letters of recommendation, and you'll need to prepare for a rigorous interview
process.

Types of Business Internships

Like ice cream, business internships come in a variety of styles and flavors.
There are paid internships and unpaid internships. There are credit internships
and non-credit internships. There are graded internships and there are pass/fail
or satisfactory/unsatisfactory internships. Make sure you are in contact with
your school about which category your desired internship falls under. It's worth
noting here that if you do find a paid internship, you will need to check with
your international student advisor to ensure you are under CPT or OPT and
compliant with the US regulations.

There are also different kinds of internships for undergraduate and graduate
international students. Undergraduate internships tend to come from large
companies like Google, Inc. These internships allow students to learn about the
company itself, the basic roles within a functioning business, and the general
ecosystem of a business. Most of these opportunities for undergraduate students
will come in the form of summer business internships. Between semesters is the
perfect time to immerse yourself into an internship so that you can learn without
having to balance your time with other classes.
Graduate internships operate a little differently. Though they also tend to be
offered by large companies like Sony and The Hartford, these internships expect
a greater mastery of basic business concepts and place students directly on high-
level active projects. Usually graduate students complete their internship
between their first and second year.

After the Internship

While an internship is your chance to test out a potential career, businesses see
internships as chances to test out potential employees. Sometimes students who
perform highly at an internship will be hired on full-time upon completion.
Companies with summer business internships may offer excellent students a
post-graduation contract to join them upon obtaining their degree. Even if you
don't get hired on at the same company for which you served as an intern, you
should make the most of the experience and networking, and keep moving
forward in your career.