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Black Collegian Career Center
Internships and Co-ops: An Excellent Way to Preview and Plan Your Future
by Sharon Nicole Daugherty
 It’s the job seekers’ oldest dilemma: ‘how can I get a job without
experience? And how can I get experience, if no one will hire me?’
As a college student, you have a unique advantage in finding the solution
to this problem. You can add practical experience to your formal education;
learn more about the career you’ve chosen, and become the candidate companies
are looking for by participating in internship and cooperative education
programs.
Internships and co-op opportunities turn classroom theory into practical,
hands-on experience. You can gain insight into your field, which will help you
begin planning your desired career path well before graduation. There are two
types of internships, academic and non-academic. Academic internships involve
you, the employer, and your school. Your work at the company must be related to
your major, in order to receive academic credit. The college will determine
whether credit will be awarded based on various factors such as the amount of
hours worked, or duties performed, and their relation to your studies.
Non-academic internships are arranged by you and the employer. They offer no
academic credit, and you are responsible for balancing your work and school
schedules yourself. While they offer little or no pay, internships do offer
valuable work experience for use in career planning and after graduation.
In a cooperative education program, paid employment is combined with
full-time study. Co-op programs offer thorough training and evaluation, because
companies that hire students for co-op positions often do so with the intention
of grooming that student for future employment with the company. This presents
an excellent opportunity for you to ask questions, observe daily operations, and
decide if the company or the career is right for you. There are several ways to
complete a co-op work assignment. You may:
-
alternate a semester of full-time work with a semester
of full-time classes
-
attend classes full-time and work part-time, or
-
work full-time and attend classes part-time.
While co-op allows you to gain thorough practical experience, replacing
any class time with work will extend your time in school. It is important to
decide if you are prepared to extend your curriculum to five years, or if an
internship, which can be completed along with classes within four years, better
suits your plans. Whichever type of program you participate in, the experience
you gain will not only aid you in your job search, it can bridge the gap between
the college world and the work world. You will learn about the behaviors, roles,
and expectations of the full-time arena.
According to Cynthia Dorsey-Edwards, director of Career and Job Search
Services at DeKalb Technical Institute in Georgia, internships and co-ops offer
other unique opportunities for college students that no other job seeker can
take advantage of.
“While the purpose of an
internship is to give students practical experience, they also benefit from
learning real-time problem solving,” she says. “As they apply their
classroom knowledge, students can learn that things do not always fit into
textbook-like scenarios, which may give them a chance to be creative in
developing solutions, and dealing with these situations will help them mature
personally and professionally.”
That professional maturity is something that employers like to see in a
recently graduated applicant. Being able to understand the expectations of your
employer, working well with co-workers and being responsive to clients are
crucial to success in any work environment. This is an area where your
experience will make you especially attractive to employers, who desire
candidates with, not only a degree, but also good interpersonal skills, and an
understanding of workplace ethics.
“When I look at the resumes of college students, I often scan for
experience first,” says Cheryl Anderson, president of Anderson Management
Consulting in New York. “When I see a student with internship or co-op
placement, they go to the top of my list, because I know they have at least been
exposed to ‘real life’ work situations. Depending on the position, knowing
how to deal with clients and work under pressure, is almost as important as the
degree. That experience is a component many college grads are missing.”
When a company like Anderson hires you as an intern, they will observe
not only your academic knowledge of the industry, but your work habits as well.
Employers look for students who can make a smooth transition into a permanent
position after graduation. The most sought after graduates are those who have
experience with daily business operations. The competition to hire these
candidates is keen among recruiters, who more and more are going on campus to
seek out talent early.
While companies are considering their interns for permanent employment,
you, as an intern, get an opportunity to observe the company as well. An intern
or co-op position is a great way to determine your interests and chart the
course you want your career to follow.
 “They get to see if it’s
really what they want to do,” says Cynthia Dorsey-Edwards (right). “By talking to
other employees about positions, company expectations, perhaps even salaries,
students can get a feel for the company and for the possibilities for career
advancement.”
Having that kind of information
will help you clarify what you want in a job, and what strengths you can offer a
company. You can determine the type of setting you like to work in, whether you
enjoy working on team projects or independently, and how well you perform under
pressure. If you use your internship well, you may also find new interests and
identify skills you need to sharpen. The opportunity to discover things about
you is a big part of this experience. Think about other things you would like to
learn as you begin searching for a program to participate in.
You should begin searching for the program that will help you meet those
goals early, as it takes time to find the right company for you.
Your sophomore year is the best time to begin researching intern and
co-op positions in order to complete the program within four or five years.
However, being able to balance work hours with school is a key factor in
succeeding in an internship. Be sure that your schedule will allow you necessary
study and rest time if you work. Once you and your academic advisor feel you are
ready, begin researching the opportunities that exist. There are several ways to
seek openings with employers:
-
Visit your schools’ Career Center. A career
counselor can look at your transcript to determine how ready you are to
participate, and which companies are right for your career goals. Career
Centers usually offer specific information on employers, such as their
industry information, entry-level position descriptions, and track record
for hiring graduates.
-
Check out college and job search sites on the
Internet. Sites such as black-collegian.com,
jobweb.com and Collegegrad.com list information from companies on their
internship and co-op opportunities. You can even post and update your resume
on many sites.
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Research your industry for recruiting and hiring
trends. Many companies, such as The Aerospace Corporation, Texas
Instruments, and AT&T Bell Laboratories offer internships for minority
students who major in science and technology, a field where African
Americans and women are underrepresented. Consider approaching a company
with a reputation for trying to diversify.
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Use a placement service, such as INROADS, Inc. This
non-profit organization recruits and matches minority high school and
college students with companies for internships. These kinds of programs
have high standards for their internship applicants, and they work to find a
perfect match between a company and a student. Their ongoing support will
help you get the most out of your experience.
When doing your research, be sure you understand what you need to gain
from your experience. Your career counselor can help you define these terms.
Find out what kind of duties you will be performing, to determine how much
classroom theory you will actually get to practice. Ask questions about the type
of on-site support you will receive, such as mentoring, question-answer
sessions, or periodic reviews. Ongoing support will help you track your
professional development and adjust your career plans accordingly.
Once you have identified a company you wish to work with, the application
process begins. Employers have various requirements for intern or co-op
applicants. Some employers accept students from programs who have completed a
specified amount of credits and achieved a good G.P.A. Others require more
information to determine if you are ready to enter the workforce on this level.
They may request letters of recommendation from instructors, a resume, or
transcripts. In this case, be sure to work with your advisor and career
counselor to make the strongest presentation possible.
When you are invited to interview for an internship or co-op assignment,
prepare for it as if you are seeking a full-time after graduation position. Your
career counselor can advise you on choosing appropriate professional attire, and
they can help you polish your interviewing skills. If you are offered a
position, be sure to clarify the terms of the program. Find out if you’ll
receive a salary or academic credit, how often you should report to your
advisor, what type of supervision you will receive, and what your work hours
will be.
After you begin working, remember to remain professional at all times.
Address any concerns you have with your internship advisor or co-op coordinator.
The impression you leave with employers will help them remember you when they
begin recruiting at graduation time. A good performance will not only improve
your chances to get the job you want, but it will make your college experience
richer, and you a more confident, well-rounded job-seeker. Internships and
Cooperative Education programs offer you a way to decide what your goals are,
and to determine what path you would like to follow to get there. For more
information, visit your career center, or contact the following resources:
The National Society for
Experiential Education
3509 Haworth Drive, Suite 207
Raleigh, North Carolina 27609-7229
Phone: 919-787-3263
Website: http://www.nsee.org
The National Commission for
Cooperative Education
360 Huntingdon Avenue 384 CP
Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5096
Phone: 617-373-3770
Website: http://www.co-op.edu
INROADS, Inc.
229 Peachtree Street, Suite 2100
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404-586-0352
Website: http://www.inroadsinc.org
Visit these Web sites with
internship listings:
http://www.black-collegian.com
http://www.imdiversity.com
(formerly
MINORITIES' JOB BANK)
Jobweb.org
Nebhe.org
Internshipprograms.com
Internship and Fellowship Opportunities
Liz
Claiborne, Inc.
Monica
Eiyluk, College Relations Coordinator
440
Broadway, 2nd Floor
New York,
NY 10018
Type of
Program: Internship
Description:
Internship opportunities available in all divisions in various departments such
as sales, business planning, marketing, merchandising, production,
manufacturing, etc. Full summer
calendar with events such as showroom tours, store trips, brown bag lunches, mid
and end of summer event.
Classification:
Freshman-Senior
Majors
Sought: Business and Retail majors.
G.P.A.:
3.0
Length of
Program: June – August 2001
How to
apply - Mail/fax resumes to:
Monica Eiyluk
Liz Claiborne, Inc.
1440 Broadway
2nd
Floor
New York, NY. 10018
Application
Deadline: March 1, 2001.
Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)
Ms. Sheri
Jojokian
401 M
Street, SW
Mail Code
1707
Washington,
DC 20460
Type of
Program: Fellowship
Description:
The purpose of the National Network for Environmental Management Studies (NNEMS)
program is to provide students with practical research opportunities and
experiences, to create a catalyst for increased public awareness of and
involvement in environmental issues, and to encourage qualified individuals to
pursue careers in environmental protection fields. The research fellowships fall into the following five
categories: Environmental Policy, Regulation & Law; Environmental Management
& Administration; Environmental Science; Public Relations &
Communications; Computer Programming & Development.
Classification:
Undergraduate and Graduate students.
Majors
Sought: Students pursuing a degree in the environmental field.
G.P.A.:
3.0/4.0
Other:
Must be a U.S. citizen, must submit one letter of reference from a faculty
member or department head familiar with the student’s work and qualifications.
Length of
Program: Varies
How To
Apply: Submit four complete application packages (original and three copies)
consisting of a one-page work plan proposal, resume, an official transcript, a
letter of reference from a professor or advisor, verification of Fall enrollment
in graduate school (graduating seniors), and NNEMS Liability Agreement to:
Ms.
Sheri Jojokian
U.S. EPA (1704)
401 M. Street SW
Washington, DC. 20460.
Application
Deadline: Mid-December
The
Aerospace Corporation
Walter
Caldwell
Manager,
Human Resources Operations
P.O. Box
92957 – M1/050
Los
Angeles, CA. 90009
Type of
Program: Internship
Description:
Job assignments are designed so that students have the opportunity to work in
scientific and technical areas of the company.
The level of responsibility of each job depends on the project needs,
student’s career interests, and experience levels.
Classification:
Sophomore, Junior, Senior
Majors
Sought: Science and Engineering. (EE,ME,AE,C,S,Math)
G.P.A.:
N/A
Length of
Program: 8-12 weeks
How to
apply: Send resume to the address above; Fax: (310) 388-7933; e-mail: jobs@aero.org.
Application
Deadline: May 1, 2001
Sharon Daugherty is a contributing writer, who was formerly
a college work-study advisor and career services support specialist in Atlanta.
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