Working in high quality paid internships is worth your time and effort:
- Students who have completed internships have an average higher starting salary than those who did not intern
- Students who have interned have a shorter full-time job search and get more job offers than non-interns
- 72.5% of employers say, "I prefer to hire candidates with relevant work experience"
- 60% of employers indicate they prefer experience to be gained from internships/co-ops
Internships and employment during college rose to the top of the list as the most heavily weighted attributes considered by employers - Employers made full-time offers to 64.8 percent of their interns
- Internships help you build your resume, professionalism, industry knowledge and your contacts
- Internships let you test drive a career to see if it is right for you
- 63% of college grads have completed at least one internship, and many do multiple internships
Based on data from NACE (National Associaton of Colleges and Employers)
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How is an internship different than a job?
Criteria for an experience to be defined as an internship:
- The experience must be an extension of the classroom: a learning experience that provides for applying the knowledge gained in the classroom. It must not be simply to advance the operations of the employer or be the work that a regular employee would routinely perform.
- The skills or knowledge learned must be transferable to other employment settings.
- The experience has a defined beginning and end, and a job description with desired qualifications.
- There are clearly defined learning objectives/goals related to the professional goals of the student’s academic coursework.
- There is supervision by a professional with expertise and educational and/or professional background in the field of the experience.
- There is routine feedback by the experienced supervisor.
- There are resources, equipment, and facilities provided by the host employer that support learning objectives/goals.
- National Association of Colleges and Employers, July 2011
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Finding an Internship
Finding the right internship for you requires research. Internships are posted on sites including Handshake, and featured at events including the Job & Internship Fair. If you have a specific organization in mind, go directly to their company website to look for potential internship offerings. Some employers may formally offer and publicize internships directly through your academic department. The Career Center also hosts the Job and Internship Fair each semester, bringing many employers who are ready to talk with prospective interns.
Not all internships are publicized! Some students will find it necessary to create their own internship by directly contacting employers of interest. Internships may also be found by using your network: LinkedIn, personal contacts, faculty, advisors and Career Center staff. Contact the Career Center if you need assistance in preparing a resume and approaching potential internship sites.
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Academic Credit
It is up to the academic department to determine whether or not to award academic credit for an internship. If you are considering an internship, consult your academic advisor or your department’s internship faculty coordinator to see how it fits with your course of study.
State of North Carolina Internship Program
The state of North Carolina internship program offers over 100 PAID summer internships. Interns will engage in activities designed to broaden the intern’s perspective of public service and state government at various locations across the state. Interns work 40 hours a week for a 10-week period.
The application deadline is Monday, January 13, 2019.
There are numerous internship positions available during the summer at various state agencies located throughout North Carolina. Please come to the Career Center to get help with your resume, cover letter, and the application process. Career Center Drop-in hours are Monday-Friday 1:30pm to 4:00pm.
How to Apply
Applications will be submitted ONLINE only.
- First, create your online account profile
- Next, apply for any position listed through the online job application system. You may search the keyword "internship" to find postings easily. All postings will begin with, "State of NC Internship - ..."
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Applications must be completed by Monday, January 13, 2020
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click here to apply
Helpful Tips
Tailor Your Application to Each Specific Internship (UNCP Career Center can help with this during Drop-in Monday-Friday 1:30p.m.- 4:00p.m.)
Read the internship listing carefully. When you fill out the application be sure to highlight all the knowledge, skills and abilities/competencies that make you a strong fit for the position for which you are applying. Also make sure your cover letter(s) are tailored for the internship you are applying for.
Proofread
Double check your application for spelling and grammatical errors before submitting. You do not want your application passed over because of typos. Use the spell checker on your computer and, if possible, have someone proof- read your application for errors. Another set of eyes can find things you missed.
Promote Your Strengths (UNCP Career Center can help with this during Drop-in Monday-Friday 1:30p.m.- 4:00p.m.)
The selection process is competitive. You are often competing against many other applicants. The best way to sell yourself is to focus on the strengths you possess and minimize any weaknesses. Be clear and concise about expressing your skills and experiences as they relate to the internship.
Do Not Falsify Information
Be truthful about your work experience, education, and other information you provide on an application.
Follow-Up
Don’t forget to mail required documents as instructed. Be sure not to forget to include customized cover letter(s), resume, and transcript (unofficial is ok).
Internship Opportunities by Industry
- Arts
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Business
Coro Kansas City-Summer Internship in Public Affairs
The Fund for American States-Bryce Harlow Institute on Business and Government Affairs
Harvard Business School-Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP)
National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR)-Diversity Internship Program
National Hispana Leadership Institute-Latinas Learning to Lead Summer Youth Institute
Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO)-Career Program
United Negro College Fund Scholars Programs
U.S. Department of Energy-Summer Diversity Partnership Program (SDPP)
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Communications
Associated Press (AP)-Internship Program
Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN)-Communications Internship
Coro Kansas City-Summer Internship in Public Affairs
Dow Jones Newspaper Fund-Business Reporting Program
The Fund for American States-Institute on Political Journalism
Hispanic Link Journalism Foundation
Institute for Humane Studies (IHS)-Journalism Internships
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR)-Diversity Internship Program
- Education
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Government
Academy for Educational Development
AIDS Action-Pedro Zamora Public Policy Fellowship
ASPIRA Association, Inc.-Public Policy Internship
Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars Program
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI)-Summer Internship Program
Coro Kansas City-Summer Internship in Public Affairs
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)-Honors Internship Program
Feminist Majority Foundation-Internship Program
The Fund for American States-Bryce Harlow Institute on Business and Government Affairs
The Fund for American States-Engalitcheff Institute on Comparative Political and Economic Systems
George Washington University-Semester in Washington Program
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)-National Internship Program
Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research
Illinois Lieutenant Governor’s Internship Program
Institute for Humane Studies-Charles G. Koch Summer Fellow Program
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Library of Congress-Hispanic Division Fellowship
Mexican American Legislative Foundation, Inc.-Moreno/Rangel Legislative Leadership Program
Minority Access-Internship Program
National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI)
National Organization for Women (NOW)
National Partnership for Women and Families
National Security Agency (NSA)-Undergraduate Training Program
New York State Senate-Undergraduate Session Assistants Program
Organization of Chinese Americans
Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
Public Campaign-Summer Democracy Internship
Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA)-Internship Program
Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (SVREP)
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Energy-Summer Diversity Partnership Program (SDPP)
U.S. Department of State-Student Internships
U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI)-21ST Century Leaders Internship Program
University of California, Berkeley-Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Summer Institute
University of Maryland-Summer Program in Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA)
University of Michigan-Summer Program in Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA)
The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars
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Health and Mental Health
Academy for Educational Development
Advocates for Youth-General Internship
AIDS Action-Pedro Zamora Public Policy Fellowship
Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University-Summer Research Opportunity
Association of American Medical Colleges-Summer Medical Education Program
Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars Program
Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program
Cornell University-Travelers Summer Research Fellowship Program For Premedical Minority Students
Duke University Summer Research Opportunities Program in the Biological Sciences (SROP)
The Headlands Indian Health Careers Program
Hispanic-Serving Health Professions Schools, Inc. (HSHPS)/CDC-Health Professions
Institute for Mental Health Initiatives (IMHI)
Mass. General Hospital and Harvard Medical School’s Summer Research Trainee Program (SRTP)
The Medical College of Wisconsin
National Center for Ethics-Health Care Ethics Internships
National Partnership for Women and Families
Stanford University-Summer Health Careers Opportunity Program
UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School-The Biomedical Careers Program
UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School-Research In Science and Engineering Program (RISE)
University of Connecticut-Summer Research Fellowship Program
University of Michigan, School of Public Health-Summer Enrichment Program
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
University of Pittsburgh Carnegie Mellon MD/PHD Program
Wake Forest University School of Medicine-Cardiovascular Summer Research Program
- Law
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Science, Technology and Research
Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University
ASPIRA Association, Inc.-Technology Initiatives Internship
Center for Advancement of Hispanics in Science and Engineering Education (CAHSEE)
Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC)-Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP)
Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program
Duke University Summer Research Opportunities Program in the Biological Sciences (SROP)
The Fermi National Accelerator Lab-Batavia Illinois
The Headlands Indian Health Careers Program
Iowa State University-Summer Research Internship Program
Mass. General Hospital and Harvard Medical School’s Summer Research Trainee Program (SRTP)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
New York University Summer Institute
Summer Undergraduate Internship Programs for Minority Students at Harvard University
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship at Boston University
Princeton Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (PSURE)
UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School-The Biomedical Careers Program
UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School-Research In Science and Engineering Program (RISE)
U.S. Department of Energy-Summer Diversity Partnership Program (SDPP)
The University of Connecticut-Summer Research Fellowship Program
Wake Forest University School of Medicine-Cardiovascular Summer Research Program
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Social Service and Not-for-Profit
Academy for Educational Development (AED)
Advocates for Youth-General Internship
American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)-Union Summer
Aspen Institute-William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship for Minority Students
ASPIRA Association, Inc.-Public Policy Internship
ASPIRA Association, Inc.-Technology Initiatives Internship
Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN)-Financial Justice Internship
Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD)-Diocesan Internship
Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD)-National Internship Program
Center for Advancement of Hispanics in Science and Engineering Education (CAHSEE)
Center for Third World Organizing-Movement Activist Apprenticeship Program
Coro Kansas City-Summer Internship in Public Affairs
Mexican American Legislative Foundation, Inc.-Moreno/Rangel Legislative Leadership Program
National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI)-Nathan J. Stark Internship for Non-profit Development
National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI)-Washington Internship on Social Insurance
National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI)
National Organization for Women (NOW)
National Partnership for Women and Families
Organization of Chinese Americans
Political Research Associates (PRA)
Student Action With Farmworkers (SAF)-Into the Fields Internship
Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (SVREP)
- Accepting a Variety of Majors