Black Collegian Career Center

Internships and co-ops are opportunities that allow students to apply classroom education to practical situations. While gaining this experience, you can also get a sneak preview of what your future may be like in your chosen field, and do some company research too. Erica held internship positions throughout college, and benefited strongly from both. “My internship experience has been great. It prepared me for the position I have today.  During my internship, I was able to narrow down exactly what I wanted to do with my career.  I was exposed to senior-level management, which gave me the opportunity to find a mentor and become involved in challenging projects.”

There are two types of internship assignments: academic and non-academic. Your school is a major player in academic internships, as it often maintains relationships with companies that welcome interns and offer students good practical training. Your school can also help you select the best internships for you, based on how relevant the training will be to your studies, and help you arrange a schedule that is balanced with your class load and study schedule. The school will also determine whether academic credit will be awarded, based on the number of hours you work, your assigned duties, and/or your performance.

Non-academic internships are usually sought by the student, and arranged between you and the employer. Look for gaining experience only if you arrange this type of internship, as they normally offer little to no pay or academic credit. However, this is an excellent option if you cannot arrange an internship through your school. Non-academic internships are also a great option if you are hoping to work for a particular company after graduation.

Cooperative education combines your class load with paid employment. Many employers hire students from their co-op programs immediately after graduation. These programs also offer you a chance to gain insight into your field, and they allow you to measure your level of on-the-job performance. Co-op assignments can be arranged around your school schedule, so that you may complete both the assignment and your studies within a specific time frame. Options include:

•  Alternating a semester of full-time work with a semester of full-time study

• Attend classes full-time while working part-time

• Work full-time while attending classes part-time

Be sure to plan your schedule carefully, keeping in mind that classroom time replaced by work hours may extend your time in school. Whether you choose an internship or co-op program, each offers benefits that you can use not only to land the job you want, but also to develop yourself as a professional.

Theresa Bennett held a co-op position as a clerical worker while attending Temple University for business management. She believes that working in a paid position improved her performance. “I think that I worked harder, because it really was my job,” says Theresa. “I was held to an even higher standard, because not only was I being paid for my performance, but I was being evaluated for possible employment in my field after graduation. I got to take a good look at myself as a professional.” Theresa used her experience to identify her strengths and weaknesses in the workplace. This is another valuable tool, one that companies will also use to determine, if you are a candidate for employment after graduation.

When an employer hires you as an intern, the employer will look for not only your understanding of classroom theory, but also your all-around performance as an employee. Here are some of the characteristics employers hope to observe in their interns:

• Your understanding of the industry based on classroom theory.

• Your ability to turn theory into practical skills by completing tasks as assigned.

• Your interpersonal skills—how well you work in teams, handle problems, and communicate with co-workers.

• Your work ethic—Do you arrive on time? Do you work well independently?

• Your interest—Are you asking questions and/or asking to help on other projects?

As they observe these traits and others, employers will be making a determination of whether to invite you back for another internship assignment or for permanent employment. You will probably be wondering what they think of your performance. Academic internships and co-ops normally offer periodic evaluations, by either the employer, the internship coordinator at your school, or both. In a non-academic assignment, you may need to approach the employer for an evaluation meeting. This will reflect positively on you, demonstrating how seriously you are taking your assignment.

While you are being evaluated, use this time to perform an evaluation of your own. Internships offer you a chance that no other job seeker is given: to get an inside look at a company you may want to work for. Here are some of the ways an internship helped Erica Tinker and some things she did to make it work for her:

• She built up confidence in her abilities.

• She learned a lot about the company and its competitors.

•  If she had down time, she created a project on her own and made sure that it was okay with her boss to proceed with it.

• She asked someone in management to be her mentor.

• If she didn't know something, she asked questions.

• She was always five to ten minutes early and stayed late to show her dedication.

• Tinker wasn't afraid to accept challenging projects.

• She remembered that people were always watching her.

• Tinker asked to participate in department meetings.

• She did more than she was asked to do and finished in a timely manner.

• Tinker was able to get a good recommendation from the senior vice president of marketing.

Using the tips above, you can make any internship into an experience that will help you get the job you want and gain work habits and skills you can use throughout your career. As you plan your career, you will require more from a company than a good salary. As you think about what you want for your future, think about which companies can help you achieve those things. Then, as you are completing your internship assignment, evaluate the company to learn if it offers what you want in an employer. Is this the kind of atmosphere you want to work in? Does the employer welcome ideas and creative input? What would your typical schedule be? Do you follow many routines, or do things change from day to day? These are some of the types of questions you may want to find the answers to as you work. You can also examine the industry as a whole, to see if this is the kind of work you wish to dedicate your time, energy, and creativity to. This is the kind of planning that will help you decide what kind of company you want to work for and which internships will best train you for those companies. Your sophomore year is the best time to begin searching for companies to intern for, as it will take time to select a company and receive an assignment. Starting soon after declaring your major will help you to decide if you made the right choice. You’ll also be able to add your name to the hot-list of sought-after graduates, as three years of experience coupled with a strong academic performance underscore the type of graduate employers are seeking.

There are several ways to find internship and co-op opportunities:

• Visit your school’s career services office. Career counselors can help you determine what kind of assignment would best suit your schedule, and which companies would give you the best training and insight into your field.

• Visit college and career Web sites such as black-collegian.com and imdiversity.com to get information on employers and their internship opportunities.

• Read business magazines and newspaper business sections. Reports on business trends and company news and profiles can help you decide on internships, and target companies to seek employment with.

• Follow business and employment trends related to African Americans and women to identify companies looking to diversify their personnel. Companies such as The Aerospace Corporation, Bell Laboratories, and Texas Instruments offer internship opportunities to minority science and technology majors.

• Use a placement service, such as INROADS. This non-profit organization recruits, screens, and matches minority high school and college students with companies for internship assignments. They hold students to a high performance standard and offer ongoing support throughout your assignment.

When seeking an internship, be sure you know what the assignment entails prior to accepting it. Whether you arrange the assignment through your school or not, seek the assistance of a career counselor to help you make an arrangement that works well for you and the employer. Find out what the duties of the position are, and how closely they relate to your classroom theory. Ask about scheduling, to make sure nothing will interfere with your study time. Be careful not to accept more than you feel you can handle. You need time for the appropriate amount of rest and exercise to be able to offer your professors, employer, and yourself a top-notch performance.

The application process for assignments can be easy, straightforward, or rigorous. Your counselor may simply call a company that the school has a relationship with, and send you right over. Or you may be required to submit grades, recommendation letters, and interview more than once. This is based on company policies and how competitive the internship may be. When interviewing for an internship, act as if you are interviewing for a permanent position. Dress appropriately, prepare questions for the employer, and be on time. Again, your school’s career services office can help you prepare for interviewing.

After accepting a position, treat it like a permanent assignment. Remain professional, taking any issues or concerns you have to your supervisor or internship coordinator. Leaving a positive lasting impression will probably get you invited back to continue your assignment next year, and may create a place for you in the company after graduation, and for years to come. Remember, career building starts the moment you declare your major. For more information, visit your campus career center or contact the following resources:

INROADS, Inc.
229 Peachtree Street, Suite 2100
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 586-0352
www.inroadsinc.org

The National Society for Experiential Education
3509 Haworth Drive, Suite 207
Raleigh, NC 27609-7229
(919) 787-3263
www.nsee.org

The National Commission for Cooperative Education
360 Huntingdon Avenue, 384 CP
Boston, MA 02115-5096
(617) 373-3770
www.co-op.edu

And/or visit these Web sites with internship listings and information:

• black-collegian.com

• imdiversity.com

• jobweb.org

• nebhe.org

• Internshipprograms.com

Sharon N. Daugherty is a contributing writer and former college work-study advisor and career services support specialist.