GETTING YOUR IDEAL INTERNSHIP - Universum

insid er guid e 

GETTING YOUR 

IDEAL INTERNSHIP 

6 TH edition 

★ 

WHERE TO FIND THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES ★ HOW TO TURN AN INTERNSHIP INTO A JOB OFFER ★ PROFILES OF REAL INTERNS AT WORK

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Insider 

Guide 

Getting Your 

Ideal Internship 

6 th edition 

GYII_FNL_11.21HS.indd 1 

12/7/11 12:34 PM

Getting Your Ideal Internship 

WetFeet 

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Suite 1800 

Philadelphia, PA 19102 

Phone: (215) 546-4900 

Fax: (215) 546-9921 

Website: www.wetfeet.com 

Getting your ideal internship 

6 th Edition 

ISBN: 978-1-58207-985-1 

Photocopying Is Prohibited 

Copyright 2012 WetFeet. All rights reserved. This publication is protected by the copyright laws 

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All illustrations by mckibillo 


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CHAPTer 

1 

2 

3 

1 internships: 

the biG 

picture 

5 the search 

15 GettinG hired 

2 overview 

2 Benefits of 

Internships 

3 Why They 

Want You 

6 Types of 

Internships 

7 The Scoop on 

Unpaid Internships 

9 Sources for 

Internship leads 

16 The Recruiting 

process 

17 What Employers 

Want 

18 Timeline: landing 

an Internship 

10 Identifying Your 


19 Getting Your 

act Together 

11 Internships abroad 

19 Interviewing 101 

13 Timing the Search 


6 th edition 


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4 

5 

6 

23 naViGatinG 

your internship 

35 real intern 

proFiles 

43 For your 

reFerence 

24 hitting the 

Ground Running 

25 acting like a pro 

36 architecture Intern 

36 Magazine Editorial 

Intern 

44 Recommended 

Resources 

27 Making the Most 

of Your Internship 

37 MBa Intern with a 

Software Startup 

29 Timeline: 

Your Internship 

38 MBa Brand 

Management Intern 

39 advertising Intern 

40 IT Intern 

40 Intern for a 

consumer appliance 

Manufacturer 

contents 


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1 


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Internships: 

The Big Picture 

1 

Overview........................................2 

Benefits of Internships...................2 

Why They Want You......................3 


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CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 

Overview 

› An internship can be one of the most effective 

tools for success in the business world—a vehicle 

to take you from where you are to where you want to 

go. This is true whether you’re an undergrad taking the 

first steps in exploring your options, a graduate student 

with a clear idea of your career goals, or even an experienced 

professional aiming to change careers. 

Internships give you new skills, provide memorable 

experiences and measurable accomplishments, and let 

you make valuable professional connections. 

But be aware: Generally speaking, getting an 

internship is not a way to make a living. Many interns 

aren’t paid. The idea is that the chance to beef up your 

resume while doing valuable work in a real-world setting 

should be its own reward. Still, compensation 

policies will vary by industry, with the more glamorous 

industries paying the least, if anything. If you’re 

aiming for an internship in entertainment, sports, 

advertising, or journalism, expect to work for free. 

Also, take into account your level of experience. The 

wider the gap in experience between you and a true 

industry professional, the more willing you should be 

to work without pay. It’s possible to start for free, then 

request a review along the road to evaluate whether 

you should be paid. Some internships may qualify as 

independent study, gaining you academic credits. 

The availability of internships is less affected by 

fluctuations in the economy than you might think. 

There’s good business sense (some might even say 

cynicism) behind this: When a rough economy forces 

a company to cut back on its full-time employees, 

interns can sometimes fill the gap. The internship is a 

short commitment, and doesn’t affect the company’s 

headcount. Also, some industries simply don’t have 

the funds to function without interns. 

INSIDEr SCOOP 

“Our internship program is a key tool for identifying 

our future consultants.” 

Benefits of 

Internships 

› The experience you add to your resume as 

the result of a well-chosen internship will give you an 

advantage over your peers. Internships are a means 

of inside access; they connect you to the networks of 

people who influence hiring. Getting an internship is 

not a guarantee of a full-time position, but it certainly 

increases your chances. And in some industries—for 

instance, finance and accounting—companies hire 

almost exclusively out of internship programs. 

> 

TIP 

By the time they graduate from college, many 

of your peers have already taken advantage 

of internships to develop their careers—and 

you’ll be competing against them for jobs. 

Skill Building 

Even if your internship doesn’t result in a job at the 

company, it will still help you build marketable skills. 

The fieldwork is a chance to hone your communication 

skills, learn how to work as part of a team, take ownership 

of projects, and figure out how to take initiative. 

Industry Exposure 

The knowledge you’ll acquire in an internship will 

be firsthand. Sure, you can find out about industry 

trends, key players, and company performance on the 

Internet. But that can’t compare to what you’ll learn 

working alongside the pros. Why was Product X introduced? 

Why did they change the marketing strategy 

for Service Y? Of all the competitors a company has, 

which is the one that poses the biggest threat? As 

an intern, you’ll gain insights you couldn’t possibly 

obtain by research alone. 

2 WETFEET INSIDER GUIDE 


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Networking, Mentoring, 

and References 

How many times have you heard, “It’s who you know”? 

Your supervisors, coworkers, and fellow interns likely 

all have connections to the hidden job market. 

Ask thoughtful questions and reveal your interests. 

Establish a positive relationship with your supervisor, 

and ensure you receive evaluations during and at the 

end of your tenure. Even if your ties to the organization 

don’t guarantee a full-time job, they can be a valuable 

source of recommendations or references for your 

next career move. 

Academic Credit 

Many schools offer academic credit for approved 

internships in your area of study. Generally, to receive 

credit, you must get prior approval. Check with your 

academic advisers about credit requirements. Eligibility 

may depend on such factors as the duration of the 

internship, the nature of the projects, supervision, and 

evaluations. 

> 

TIP 

While you’re gleaning inside information 

about the nature of the work, future projects, 

and areas of growth, you’re also letting your 

colleagues see firsthand the quality of your 

work and your enthusiasm. The contacts you 

make may help you land a permanent position. 

says one senior marketing director. “We get to see how 

they perform on the job for 10 to 12 weeks doing real 

work. It’s the surest way of finding out if there’s a good 

fit between us and the student.” 

INSIDEr SCOOP 

“We like to hire people who’ve already worked at 

the company. It’s a matter of ‘try before you buy.’” 

Employers sometimes use interns to test the supervisory 

skills of management candidates within the 

company. Coaching, mentoring, training, and delegating 

are all interpersonal managerial skills employees 

need to develop to gain promotions. Some companies 

even ask interns if their supervisors are doing a good 

job in training them. 

CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


Why They 

Want You 

› Interns perform real work for companies. 

They can provide useful extra hands on special projects. 

Moreover, an internship program can help a company 

build goodwill in the business and educational 

communities. And for corporations, the real value of 

internships comes as an extension of the recruiting 

process. “Internships provide us the best opportunity 

to make full-time hiring decisions regarding students,” 

CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 

WETFEET INSIDER GUIDE 

3 


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The Search 

2Types of Internships.......................6 

The Scoop on 

Unpaid Internships........................7 

Sources for Internship Leads..........9 

Identifying Your 

Ideal Internship............................ 10 

Internships Abroad.......................11 

Timing the Search........................ 13 


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CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 

Types of 

Internships 

› This guide uses the term internship to cover any 

experiential learning opportunity: a position, paid or 

unpaid, developed for people who are in a school program 

(undergraduate or postgraduate), have recently 

left college, or who have professional experience but are 

aiming to change careers. 

Summer Internships 

This is the most common type of internship, bringing 

students on board during their summer vacations. 

Some companies may hire interns for a quarter or a 

semester during the school year. These positions are 

labeled according to the academic period involved, such 

as fall intern or winter quarter intern. 

Summer Associate Program 

If you have an internship in the legal, banking, or 

strategy consulting fields, particularly if you’re in law 

school or getting an MBA, you’re likely to have the 

title summer associate. These firms, even more than 

other employers, look for new full-time associates from 

within the ranks of their interns. The title itself is something 

of a marketing tool used to attract candidates, 

implying that summer associate is the step before associate. 

In some MBA disciplines, you can’t get a diploma 

without having served as a summer associate between 

your first and second years. 

In the banking industry, the title summer associate 

has supplanted junior associate in corporate publications 

and recruiting materials. However, the latter title is still 

used in the everyday language of partners and executives. 

In law firms, a summer associate is typically a student 

between the second and third year of law school. 

Cooperative Education (Co-op) 

A co-op is an employer-sponsored work program 

that generally lasts longer than a summer or a term. 

Although internships are usually independent activities 

outside the school’s purview, corporations will 

often design co-ops in partnership with universities and 

will be considered part of the educational experience. 

Co-ops are usually paid. 

Technology employers, such as engineering and 

computer/IT companies, are the most likely to have 

co-op programs. Career centers for engineering and 

computer science are especially familiar with these 

programs. Longer-term co-ops generally involve the 

student more fully in meaningful projects. Much like 

an apprenticeship in many trades, a co-op position can 

serve as an employer’s way of screening and training 

future professionals. 

> 

TIP 

Develop a solid command of the industry and 

the employer to demonstrate your knowledge 

and your desire to work with your target 

companies. 

Other Routes to 

Experiential Education 

Temping 

If used shrewdly by a student, temporary agencies can 

become a sort of paid internship. General temp agencies 

typically offer standard office work, but specialized 

staffing agencies fulfill requests for temporary 

and permanent staff in particular fields. A number of 

national as well as smaller regional staffing firms include 

specialized divisions such as management/consulting, 

accounting/finance, legal, technology, and creative/ 

marketing. 

If no specialized staffing agency serves your area, you 

can go with a general temp agency and request particular 

placements, such as with biotech companies or PR 

firms. The agency may see you as picky, but try to make 

it worth its while by developing an in-demand skill— 

expertise in website production, as an example—for 

which it has a hard time fulfilling orders. 



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Making Your Own Internship 

What if the organization you’re targeting doesn’t have 

an internship program? You can still try to work there 

by pitching a project of your own devising. This is an 

especially good tactic with smaller companies and startups. 

They’re likely to have the flexibility to be open to 

your project ideas. Research the company; find ways its 

activities dovetail with your own interests and career 

goals. Find someone in the department where you’d like 

to work. Discuss some of your own strengths as a way 

of kick-starting ideas. You could find a way of helping 

the company while furthering your professional goals. 

Some companies do have formal programs at national 

or regional headquarters—but that doesn’t mean you 

can’t target a branch office for project work. If these companies 

try to redirect you to their conventional recruiting 

pipelines, emphasize you want to create a unique 

experience and you’d prefer to take less compensation in 

return for having more control over your work. 

SELF-MADE INTERNSHIPS 

• Chris, a student 

at the University 

of Texas at Austin, 

contacted an alumnus 

who had just 

taken a job in Nike’s 

children’s apparel 

division. Chris had 

done some research 

on this market and 

analyzed key 

competitors. He 

shared his perceptions 

with the 

alumnus, who was 

impressed with his 

initiative and insight. 

The alumnus talked 

Chris up with his 

colleagues and 

helped him land a 

summer internship. 

• Michael contacted 

Capital Sports & 

Entertainment 

(CSE), the agency 

that represents 

Lance Armstrong. He 

proposed a number 

of ideas that 

could help the firm 

generate revenue. 

His enthusiasm and 

follow-through led 

to a summer internship, 

and CSE was 

so impressed with 

his work that it kept 

him as a part-time 

employee during his 

final year in school. 

After graduation, CSE 

asked him to join the 

firm full time. 

The Scoop 

on Unpaid 

Internships 

› Working for free may sound like a raw deal. 

The unfortunate reality is that many internships come 

with no paycheck attached, and that may leave you feeling 

a bit exploited. Volunteering at a nonprofit is one 

thing, but being taken advantage of by a moneymaking 

enterprise is quite another. Although there’s no denying 

the financial difficulty presented by a summer or 

semester of unpaid work, in many cases the internship 

will provide a value that goes well beyond dollars and 

cents. The experience may be its own reward. So could 

the ability to add an elite name to your resume and the 

opportunity to rub elbows with industry power players. 

Before you talk yourself out of an unpaid internship, 

consider the following: 

Fear: I’d be better off making money at a regular summer 

job. 

Reality: Internships are a perfect way to test-drive a job 

or industry before graduation. Love writing for your 

university’s newspaper, but wonder whether a professional 

newsroom is the place for you? An internship 

provides a glimpse of what it’s like to work in the industry. 

Whether you end up loving or hating it, what you 

learn from the experience will shape your post-college 

job search. 

Fear: I’m going to end up stuffing envelopes and fetching 

lattes every day. 

Reality: Ultimately, it’s not the tasks that count; it’s 

whom you’re doing them for. Connections are currency. 

Even gofer work can create a positive impression on 

people who will be in a position to hire you down the 

road. By answering calls or running errands for a VP, 

you’ll be meeting the people they meet. Make sure to 

CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 


7 


12/7/11 12:34 PM


CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

take advantage of your insider status—don’t be afraid to 

offer to buy a cup of coffee for senior employees. 

Fear: They’ll take advantage of my hunger for experience. 

Reality: Not if you’ve done your research beforehand. 

Identify the companies you hope to work for, then 

research each one. Does a company have a good reputation 

within the community? Does its website explain 

the internship in any detail? Try to contact the person 

in charge of the internship program to ask about the 

structure of the program and the types of activities 

you’ll do. Visit your school’s career services office—it 

might be able to help you connect with students or 

alums who’ve interned at the same place. The more 

you know about the internship, the better you’ll be 

able to gauge what lies ahead. 

Fear: Without a paycheck, I won’t have anything to show 

for the time I spent there. 

Reality: If you’re doing an internship for academic 

credit, your school will play a role in ensuring your 

tasks will meet clear requirements for learning and 

enrichment. However, if you’re setting up an internship 

on your own, be sure to ask probing questions in 

your interview about the sorts of tasks you’ll be given, 

the projects you’ll be expected to complete, and whom 

you’ll report to. Find out if you’ll have the chance to 

spearhead an idea of your own and have the ability to 

walk away from the experience with a tangible product 

that represents your work. 

Find out if you’ll have the 

chance to spearhead an idea 

of your own and have the 

ability to walk away from 

the experience with a tangible 

product that represents your 

work. 

Fear: They’ll stick me in a broom closet and forget 

about me. 

Reality: In many cases, the reason a company will 

engage interns is that there’s real work to be done. If you 

can’t be sure this is the case, lay the groundwork for a 

productive internship from the get-go. An educational 

plan is a must, because it will set the benchmark for the 

skills and enrichment you want to acquire. In addition 

to those goals, arrange for weekly feedback sessions with 

your manager—as little as 20 minutes a week will do. 

These sessions will help you gauge where you need to 

develop professionally, make sure you’re workload is 

appropriate, and allow you to seek out new, interesting 

projects. 

INSIDEr SCOOP 

“You’re just as responsible for ensuring that the internship 

is mutually beneficial as the employer is.” 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 



12/7/11 12:34 PM

Sources for 

Internship Leads 

Personal Resources 

Your friends, family, and school contacts might have 

ideas and connections that can help you identify and 

land that ideal internship: 

Family 

More solid opportunities come from contacts made 

through family members than any other source. 

Friends 

Use them well, and find out if their families have connections. 

Professors 

Treat any contact that comes from a professor like gold. 

He might have spent years cultivating it. 

Career Centers 

They have vast usable contacts and opportunities. Keep 

in mind, though, it’s a career center’s job to help you get 

a position, not to get it for you. 

Alumni 

The alumni office and its website will usually provide the 

means to search for alumni in your targeted industry. 

General Resources 

A wealth of internship-related information is available 

from the following sources: 

Job Fairs 

These offer opportunities to speak directly with company 

representatives about current or future opportunities. 

It helps to have a resume and a focused message 

to make the most of the recruiter’s time. Check out the 

WetFeet guide, Conquering the Career Fair, for more 

information. 

Internet 

Job and career websites and company websites all have 

searchable databases. A job-posting site could offer hidden 

gems—along with plenty of duds. 

Trade Publications 

These often list internship programs, with contact 

information and descriptive summaries. 

Professional Conferences 

Most have student rates; some let you attend for free in 

exchange for one day of volunteering. Also, most conferences 

have student receptions. Attend them to network 

with peers and working professionals. 

Company Websites 

Many students overlook the career section of a company’s 

website in favor of the big job-posting sites. 

However, many company sites let you apply online. 

Even better, get the name of a recruiter at the company 

from your career center and personally follow up on 

your online application. 

Professional Associations 

If there’s a career you’re interested in, there’s a professional, 

dues-paying association for it. Most have student 

rates. Contact the association to learn about internship 

opportunities. Local chapter meetings may present 

opportunities to find out who’s hiring. 

News 

Who’s hot and who’s not? Keeping up on the news can 

give you the inside scoop on why you should call a target 

company, and it can help you propose a study on 

industry trends. 

CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 


9 


12/7/11 12:34 PM


CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 

Identifying Your 


› There are several options for identifying 

and securing internships. Whether you’re interviewing 

through on-campus recruiting programs or using other 

methods, you are ultimately your own headhunter. 

Some companies with formal programs may not recruit 

on your campus and others may not even have formal 

programs, but you should still be looking at these 

employers. In these cases, the path is similar to the oncampus 

process, but you must initiate contact. 

Dig Deep 

You would not buy a car without doing research on 

it. Treat an internship the same way. Unfortunately, 

there’s no Consumer Reports for internships. The 

company’s website will offer a basic outline with a certain 

amount of hype; you certainly aren’t getting an 

unbiased opinion. 

Some assiduous digging can yield results. You 

might get an idea of what to expect from a review on 

Glassdoor.com, which provides an inside look at jobs 

and companies, or a blog post. LinkedIn is a great 

source for background checks, and so is your school’s 

alumni database. With a little bit of initiative you 

can turn these resources into veritable Wikipedias of 

information about internships. When you target a 

specific company, use the site’s search function to find 

some recent interns within your network. When you 

spot them, send friendly queries about their interning 

experiences. Did they work on important projects? 

Did they receive on-the-job mentoring? What was the 

workplace atmosphere like? If the answers are “no,” 

“no,” and “toxic and suffocating,” move on to other 

employers. 

Find a Mentor 

A mentor can be an invaluable support in your internship 

search. Through your personal network—friends, 

family, previous jobs—you should find an experienced 

person in you chosen field and cultivate the relationship. 

A mentor, wise to the ways of the world and the 

workplace, can help you realize your goals. She will have 

ideas about which companies will make good targets for 

your internship search. She also can serve as an example 

of how success is achieved in your industry, set a benchmark 

for the skills you’ll need, and provide insight on 

how to avoid the typical pitfalls. 

Your Homework Assignment 

Research is the single 

most important thing 

you can do before any 

interview. With so 

many resources available—the 

Internet, 

career centers, career 

fairs—there’s no 

excuse for being 

uninformed. But the 

most critical part of 

your research will be 

contacting people 

with experience in 

the company and 

within the field. Talk 

to alumni who have 

worked for your prospective 

employer. 

Meet with peers 

who’ve done internships 

in the same 

target functional 

area or industry. 

They’ll help you pick 

up the lingo and give 

you a clear, insightful 

understanding of 

the industry and the 

company itself. 

Self-Assessment 

Because internships take many forms, you should ask 

yourself some hard questions before beginning your 

search. 

1. Your objectives: 

• What industry do you want to work in? 

• What kind of role do you see yourself filling? 

• Do you want to work part time or full time? 

• Do you need to be paid? Do you have a minimum? 

• Do you want to work in a specific city? 

• Do you want to work for an organization of a 

specific size? 

2. Your interests and abilities: 

• What types of mental challenges do you enjoy? 



12/7/11 12:34 PM

• How well do you communicate in writing and in 

person? Get an honest opinion from someone with 

good communications skills. 

• Do you prefer to research and analyze or discover 

and create? 

3. Your personality: 

• Do you prefer to work alone or on a team? 

• Can you sit at a desk for hours and remain productive 

or do you have to move around to stay energized? 

• Do you prefer working with a lot of direction and 

limited flexibility or are you more comfortable with 

open-ended assignments that require you to be a 

self-starter? 

INSIDEr SCOOP 

“Even before I applied for the internship in 

Bangalore, I got grilled by people in my university’s 

co-op office. They wanted to make sure that I could 

handle the adversity of India, and the fact that 

I’d be one of only two or three Americans in the 

company.” 

Internships 

Abroad 

› Your internship search could be a great 

opportunity to find work overseas. In fact, work programs 

are becoming more prevalent as alternatives to 

traditional foreign study. From a summer analyst position 

at a Brazilian investment bank to an environmental 

conservation internship with a Bangladeshi nonprofit, 

opportunities for interning in a foreign land are attainable. 

Be aware that most countries demand work permits 

for paid internships and other kinds of short-term 

employment; you have to get these in the U.S. before 

heading abroad. The process may be easier if you’re 

working for a U.S. company with overseas offices. 

U.S.-based programs offering international work 

exchanges or structured volunteer positions will usually 

provide participants with the appropriate papers. 

The key prerequisite to gaining an internship 

abroad is a willingness to step out of your comfort 

zone. You’ll be encountering new cultures and new 

languages. You may be headed to a place that lacks 

the living amenities you take for granted. An overseas 

internship can be a real test of your flexibility and 

maturity. But the cultural skills you acquire can give 

a distinct boost to your career prospects. “Companies 

are desperately seeking people who have cross-cultural 

competency,” says Paula Caligiuri, the author of Get a 

Life, Not a Job. 

The experience won’t simply strengthen your 

chances of working overseas; it can help you land a job 

domestically. Business is a global proposition, which 

makes cultural competency a highly valued quality. 

In the words of one university career-services office, 

“College grads who understand that their customers or 

their clients might come from a different background 

than their own have an important skill set.” 

Take Inventory 

When you’re trying to identify internship opportunities 

abroad, start by considering your motives. Do you see 

this experience as a way to hone specific work-related 

skills, or more as a cultural immersion? Consider your 

level of comfort with risk. Would you be okay going to 

a country where you don’t know the language? Are you 

willing to work in a third-world country or one where 

women don’t enjoy equal rights? 

INSIDEr SCOOP 

“Whether you’re in Mumbai or San Juan, it helps to 

have people on the ground.” 

By fleshing out your objectives, you should be 

able to narrow your search to two or three countries. 

Further, consider the feasibility of each: Do you have 

CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 


11 


12/7/11 12:34 PM


CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 

friends or family living abroad? Do you have background 

knowledge of a specific country through your 

studies? Is there a special skill you can hone only in one 

particular country or region? 

Use your school’s career center to narrow down 

your overseas choices. Find out what prerequisites the 

internships demand. Are there any applicable grants 

or school-sponsored placement programs? Your school 

may subscribe to valuable Web-based references such 

as Going Global (www.goinglobal.com) or Uniworld 

(www.uniworldbp.com), offering comprehensive job 

listings and guides to individual countries, along with 

lists of top employers and visa regulations. 

Don’t hesitate to tap into the powerful networking 

potential of your academic community. Contact 

professors who have worked or done research in your 

target country. Identify alumni who live there, and 

see if the career center can provide names of students 

who have recently interned there. 

In many cases, the right contact is within reach 

but out of sight. For example, there’s a good chance 

the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has an association 

devoted to the economic interests of your target 

country. For instance, the American Chamber of 

Commerce of Argentina provides job listings and a 

place to post your resume or CV. Also, the American- 

Argentine Chamber of Commerce, located in the 

U.S., provides similar listings, including committee 

members (perfect points of contact) and country 

data. Because organizations like these make it their 

missions to promote trade and investment, you’ll find 

they’re eager to help. 

You might consider using a for-profit placement 

program to help you find your overseas internship. 

Sure, you’ll be spending money, but considering 

the time you’ll save in research and arrangements, 

the fee may be worth it. Still, find out something 

about the outfit’s reputation before laying down 

your hard-earned cash. And make sure it’s offering 

the kind of experience you’re aiming for—not a glorified 

field trip. 

International Students 

If you’re a foreign 

national studying in 

the U.S., your internship 

possibilities may 

be limited. Of course, 

you will need the 

proper work permits. 

(Information on 

different types of 

educational and work 

visas is available at 

J-1 Visa Exchange 

Visitor Program, a 

government website: 

http://j1visa.state. 

gov/) Be aware that 

some employers 

have a policy against 

sponsoring international 

students 

for permanent work 

authorization, so 

those employers are 

unlikely to hire international 

students as 

interns. If your university 

arranges co-op 

programs, you may 

be in luck: Because 

co-ops are part of 

the curriculum, the 

school might handle 

the task of obtaining 

the necessary papers 

for foreign students. 

Make it Count 

Foreign firms may have a different idea of what the 

word intern means than a domestic employer would. 

To ensure an enriching experience, you should get 

the job description, development plan, and the 

employer’s expectations on paper before you set sail. 

INSIDEr SCOOP 

“When I spent a semester interning in Greece, they 

honestly didn’t know what to do with me. They 

were almost afraid to delegate their work.” 

If you work for an American firm abroad, you’re 

more likely to go through a classic internship. You’ll 

also find yourself on a clearer path to a full-time job 

with the company. On the downside, you may get 

less experience of the country itself than if you were 

working for a foreign firm—you’ll be more immersed 

in corporate culture than local culture. A careerservices 

pro says, “You can live and work in another 



12/7/11 12:34 PM

country and still be in a big bubble.” But there are 

ways to escape this trap. Have lunch outside rather 

than in the company cafeteria. Make friends with 

your non-American colleagues and invite them out 

for drinks after work. Join a local club. The more 

local you can get, the better. 

Timing the Search 

› There’s no hard-and-fast schedule for the 

process of getting an internship, but you should expect 

to take the following steps: 

1. Decide what kind of internship you want and when 

you’ll be able to start. 

2. Learn about existing opportunities. 

3. Put together your application package: resume, 

cover letter, references. 

4. Chart deadlines for internships of interest: application 

due dates, the start of formal recruiting. 

5. Prepare for interviews through research. 

6. Do interviews and follow-ups. 

7. If your initial plans fall through, cast a wider net. 

Each of these steps takes time. If you’re unclear 

about your career goals, you might need more time 

than if you already know your functional area and target 

companies. But be sure to begin the process several 

months before you hope to start an internship. This 

means that the process of finding a summer internship 

should begin in the fall for undergraduates; for graduate 

students, it usually begins before the school year starts. 

When to Run the Other Way 

Not all internships are created equal. Some 

positions that might look like internships 

are really just part-time temp jobs available 

to almost anyone. They may even be unchallenging 

busywork that an employer would 

rather not assign to staff. You might get paid 

at this type of job, but chances are slim you’ll 

rack up good, resume-building experience. 

Here are some tips for recognizing shady 

internships: 

•It promises quick 

money and lots of 

it. If it sounds too 

good to be true—it 

is. 

• It’s a small organization 

you can’t find 

in the Yellow Pages. 

• The employer advertises 

its “internships” 

on flyers all 

over campus. 

• It’s a sales-related 

job and the pay 

is based on 

commission. 

• The employer 

doesn’t inquire 

about your 

experience, background, 

or career 

interests to see if 

you’re a good fit for 

the position. 

•You get vague 

answers to your 

questions about the 

work you’d be doing. 

•The offices are in 

a questionable 

location, such as a 

warehouse area or a 

person’s home. 

• The employer 

doesn’t ask you 

to complete a job 

application before 

making you an offer. 

•Your instincts are 

telling you to get 

out as fast as you 

can! 

CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 


13 


12/7/11 12:34 PM


12/7/11 12:34 PM

Getting Hired 

3The Recruiting Process................. 16 

What Employers Want................. 17 

Timeline: Landing 

an Internship............................... 18 

Getting Your Act Together........... 19 

Interviewing 101.......................... 19 


12/7/11 12:34 PM


CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 

The Recruiting 

Process 

Rules of Engagement 

As you aim for that ideal internship, you’ll be competing 

with many other highly qualified candidates. Here 

are some ways you can improve your odds: 

Use Your Best Resource 

Career centers are your greatest ally in the recruiting 

process. Take advantage of them. Check with your 

career center to stay up to date with recruiting events, 

sign up for newsletters, and visit its career resource site 

regularly. 

Gather Intelligence 

The number-one complaint among recruiters is students’ 

lack of research. When you show up for an interview, you 

should have a pretty good idea of the company’s products 

and operations. Use the news media, Web sources, and 

any information your career center can provide. 

Stay Focused 

You can’t—and shouldn’t want to—apply to every 

internship you come across. Nor should you try to talk 

to every recruiter who shows up on campus. If you’re 

looking at a list of twenty five companies, choose the 

top five. That focus will help you delve into each company 

and tailor your pitch to the particular opportunity. 

Otherwise, you’ll be spreading yourself too thin. 

Go into Training 

If possible, schedule a mock interview at your school’s 

career center. Some centers will videotape the interview 

so you can review your performance. Get your resume 

critiqued and attend interview workshops. 

Do Legwork 

Don’t sit around and wait for recruiters to come to you. 

Find good contacts at the company—people with a role 

in internship hiring decisions—through your alumni 

database, through LinkedIn, and through whatever personal 

contacts you’ve established. Email them, tell them 

about yourself and your qualifications, and explain your 

reasons for wanting this internship. 

Make Contact 

If you know a recruiter will be coming to campus or 

attending a local career fair, initiate contact one week 

prior. Perhaps the employer has a Facebook page or 

LinkedIn profile. Become a friend or fan, and send 

the company a message. Let the recruiter know you’re 

looking forward to meeting. Make yourself stand out 

from the competition by showing a sincere interest in 

the company. Don’t forget to double-check your spelling. 

And don’t be a Facebook stalker: One message is 

enough. 

Be a Good Sport 

If you get a “no” at any point, take it gracefully. Sending 

the representative a thank-you note is a good touch. 

On-Campus Recruiting 

The classic internship recruiting process, in which 

students work with the companies who scout on 

campus, follows a general pattern. 

1. You’ll start by registering with the career office and 

completing a profile that includes at least one version 

of your resume. 

2. You’ll submit your resume to compete for interview 

slots. On many campuses, this is known as the 

resume drop. 

3. If a company has chosen you as a candidate, its representatives 

will interview on campus. 

4. If you make the cut, the next round of interviews 

takes place at corporate offices. 



12/7/11 12:34 PM

What Employers 

Want 

› As an organization screens candidates during 

career fairs and interviews, it’s looking at three things: 

ability, possibility, and fit: 

1. Ability is the sum of your past achievements, your 

aptitude, and your skills. These are the elements you 

can offer an employer right off the bat. Even though 

employers will not expect a student to have a huge 

amount of work experience, your grades will offer an 

index of your ambition and your dedication to hard 

work. Needless to say, all of this should be spelled 

out on your resume. 

2. Possibility is what you might become for the 

employer—your potential. Your past projects may 

offer a key to this; so may your aspirations and an 

air of motivation. Your grades, of course, are also an 

indication of what you can offer the company. 

3. Fit is suitability, a knack for adapting to and internalizing 

the company culture. Can you work within 

the system? 

Your skill set 

Besides the general characteristics detailed above, 

recruiters are keeping an eye out for specific skills. In 

your resume, in your interaction with recruiters, and of 

course during your interview, you should highlight the 

following. 

Communication Skills 

Prepare a great cover letter for each employer. (Nothing 

will sink your chances faster than a generic cover letter.) 

Practice your responses to common interview questions 

(“Tell me about yourself.” “Why do you want to work 

for us?” “How do you imagine your career path?”). 

Make your answers concise and informative. 

Integrity 

Be truthful in all your dealings with the organization. 

Don’t exaggerate your GPA; don’t put false information 

on your resume. And don’t withhold information you’ll 

have to reveal if you get the internship. 

People Skills 

Draw on your life experience to demonstrate you 

can deal with people effectively and work on a team. 

Nobody expects an internship candidate to be able to 

draw on a wide range of work experiences. But did you 

handle small children effectively as a babysitter? Did 

you collaborate on the set design for a school play? 

Technical Skills 

These vary from industry to industry. But if you’re looking 

for an internship at an investment bank, you had 

better be able to demonstrate your aptitude at financial 

analysis. You won’t have much of a shot at an IT internship 

if you’ve never taken a course in computer technology. 

And if you’re looking for a spot on a magazine, you 

better have the clippings to argue for it. 

Initiative 

Your behavior during the recruiting process is a key to 

demonstrate you’re motivated. Don’t expect the recruiters 

to hold your hand; show them through your actions 

that you’re a self-starter. You should provide examples, 

from school or previous job experience, where you 

volunteered for an important task or proposed a new 

project. 

Work Ethic 

Offer examples of how your hard work helped you 

accomplish a task. Make sure recruiters know about 

your nonacademic achievements: Perhaps you’re an 

accomplished pianist, or a green belt in tae kwon 

do. Volunteer work is a great indicator of your work 

ethic—if you’re a Big Brother or Big Sister, don’t hide it! 

CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 


17 


12/7/11 12:34 PM


CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 

Timeline: Landing 

an Internship 

› You want to start thinking about your internship 

well in advance—as much as a year ahead. Here’s 

a rough idea of the various steps you’ll need to take and 

when you’ll need to take them. 

Spring/Summer (The Year Before) 

and Fall Semesters 

• Assess your interests; know your skills; set realistic 

job goals; and develop a plan of action. 

• Attend cover letter and job search workshops offered 

by university career services centers. 

• Prepare your resume. 

• Check the job listings on your school’s career center 

website, preferably twice a week. New jobs and 

internships are listed daily throughout the semester. 

Note that companies have various deadlines for 

applications. 

• Attend job fairs and career symposiums to make 

employer contacts, conduct informational interviews, 

and to pick up information about the organization. 

(Note that interviews may take place at job 

fairs, in which case you should contact employers a 

week to a month before to submit resumes.) 

• Research potential employers. Set up informational 

interviews for your breaks. You can find potential 

sources through your school’s alumni database or 

LinkedIn. 

• Start applying for summer opportunities. 

Fall Break, Thanksgiving, and Winter Break 

• Start your networking in earnest. Let your family, 

friends, relatives, former teachers and coaches know 

you’re looking for summer opportunities. 

• Attend on-campus employer information sessions. 

• Identify and research local employers while home 

during the break. 

Spring Semester 

• Review the Fall Semester items listed above, noting 

that some companies have earlier deadlines for 

applications. 

• Continue to check the job listings on the career 

website, preferably twice a week...new jobs and 

internships are listed daily throughout the semester. 

• Apply for summer jobs or internships. 

• After submitting an application, cover letter and 

resume, call the employer to be sure your materials 

arrived (allow sufficient time for applications to 

get to their destinations before calling); ask if the 

employer needs any further information from you. 

• If the employer isn’t coming to campus, schedule 

an interview over spring break or whenever you can 

arrange to meet; most employers will want to meet 

with you before offering you a position. 

• Always send a thank-you letter after each interview. 

This is not only a courtesy, it’s a confirmation of 

your sincere interest in the position. 

Buzz Killers 

Remember, the interviewing process isn’t 

designed just to find the right candidates; 

it also screens out the wrong ones. Here are 

some mistakes that can throw you out of the 

running: 

• A resume that’s 

poorly organized or 

doesn’t reflect the 

skills required for 

the position 

• A generic cover 

letter. If it uses 

phrases such as 

your company or 

this position, they’ll 

smell a rat. 

• Poor grooming and 

sloppy attire 

• Substandard 

written or oral 

communication 

skills: Bad grammar 

and misspellings 

can sink your 

chances. 

• Bad manners 

• Lack of enthusiasm 

• Arrogance 

• Timidity 



12/7/11 12:34 PM

Getting Your 

Act Together 

› Your self-presentation is key to landing 

an internship. Don’t approach the process haphazardly. 

Through careful preparation, you can maximize your 

appeal as a candidate and get a leg up on the competition. 

Here are some tips: 

• Have your resume reviewed and reviewed and 

reviewed again—the more eyes, the better. Take 

advantage of any relevant workshops offered by your 

college career center. 

• Research the employer. Use newspapers, magazines, 

and websites. Contact former and present employees, 

especially recent interns and graduates, and seek 

out information. 

• Practice, practice, practice. Conduct a mock interview 

and videotape it if possible. Then review the 

tape and make notes about the things you did well 

and the areas you’d like to improve. College career 

centers will usually offer interview workshops, mock 

interviews and even video critiques. 

• Get feedback from your peers about your conversational 

style. If you come off sounding cocky—tone 

it down. If you sound halting and unsure of yourself, 

work on projecting confidence. 

• Dress for the part. Company employees can give 

you a sense of the dress code, but if anything, you 

should err on the side of being too formal. The day 

before an interview, lay out the clothes you plan to 

wear—you don’t want to find a missing button on 

your shirt minutes before you’re about to leave. 

• Approach the interview with confidence. Recognize 

the attributes that make you a good candidate—and 

own them. 

Interviewing 101 

› You’ve made the cut; now is the critical 

juncture when you find yourself face-to-face with an 

interviewer. Of course, you’ll know enough about the 

company’s culture to dress and conduct yourself like 

a member of the firm. Here are some other essential 

precepts to bear in mind. (For the specifics of conducting 

a great interview, consult one of WetFeet’s Ace Your 

Interview guides.) 

Be Enthusiastic 

This is basic. Enthusiasm alone won’t land you the 

internship. But if you don’t seem avid about the prospect 

of getting the job, the employer will quickly pass 

you over—it’s that simple. And lip service isn’t enough. 

You may say you’re enthusiastic about the prospect of 

working for the company, but if you act apathetic or 

bored, you’re cooked. You should make your enthusiasm 

clear through attentive posture, an alert tone of 

your voice, and a smile that says you’re glad to be there. 

Greet the interviewer warmly. Make eye contact, smile, 

and offer a firm handshake. You should say something 

like, “I’m delighted you’re taking the time to meet me, 

and I’m really excited about this position and eager to 

learn more about it.” Let him know up front you’re 

glad to have this opportunity. 

A show of enthusiasm is vital. Inevitably, during the 

internship itself there’ll be moments when your energy 

flags, and employers know this. But if you’re unenthusiastic 

at the start of the process, it bodes ill for your 

future demeanor on the job. 

Exude Confidence 

To inspire an employer’s confidence in your abilities, 

you’ve got to demonstrate confidence in yourself. 

During the nerve-wracking course of a job interview, 

this may be easier said than done. But bear in mind the 

basics of confident body language: Make frequent eye 

contact with your interviewer. Speak up, but not too 

fast. Don’t fidget. Sit upright, but not rigidly. 

CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 


19 


12/7/11 12:34 PM


CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 

Most of all, come prepared to state your strengths. 

Give concrete examples of how you’ve put them to 

use. Don’t overstate your accomplishments, but don’t 

downplay them either. Keep self-deprecating humor 

to a minimum: It may be fine when you’re with your 

friends, but this is neither the time nor place for it. 

If remaining confident is a struggle for you, give 

yourself a pep talk before the interview. Better yet, enlist 

an enthusiastic friend to give you one. Or, practice techniques 

for managing your nerves such as deep breathing 

and visualizing success. If you’re at ease, the interviewer 

will be too. 

> 

TIP 

Be aware you may have the opportunity to ask 

just two or three questions, so choose wisely. 

Know Your Limits 

Some people spend the night before an interview boning 

up on company facts and figures as though cramming 

for the test of their lives. But interviews aren’t oral 

exams; they are an exchange between two people, who 

may soon be coworkers, about shared professional interests. 

You do need to know something about the industry 

and the organization, but you’re not expected to know 

it all—just enough to ask your interviewer informed 

questions, to understand the questions your interviewer 

asks, and to give reasonable answers. Your common 

sense should prepare you to give sound answers to any 

questions that may arise about how you would handle 

a specific problem during your internship. The details 

will emerge later, when you become part of the team. 

Like any other conversation, an interview requires 

give and take, so don’t expect to dominate it. Give your 

interviewer a chance to contribute to the conversation. 

Questions and Answers 

The old saying, “There’s no such thing as a bad question,” 

does not pertain to the interview process. When 

you ask the right questions in an interview, it shows 

you’re paying attention and you’re truly interested in 

the job and the company. But offer questions carefully. 

“You can kill yourself with a question if it shows a lack 

of knowledge about the company,” says an internship 

hiring supervisor. Don’t ask questions you could have 

answered yourself by spending a few minutes on the 

employer’s website. 

A good question may resemble one of these: 

• How does this internship fit into the larger 

organization? 

• What are some of the critical challenges in this 

department? 

• What management style can I expect? 

• Can you describe the performance review process? 

But as you research the company, other relevant 

questions may spring to mind. If the opportunity presents 

itself, be sure to ask them. 

Rapport is Vital 

Once recruiters are done interviewing a round of candidates, 

the first thing they will ask each other is, “What 

did you think?” They’ll share their gut reactions. A candidate 

is either a fit or he isn’t. Even if you’re a leading 

contender for the position on paper, your chances of 

getting an offer are slim if you’ve failed to build rapport 

with the interviewer. 

There’s no foolproof way of turning your interviewer 

into an ally. But here are some tactics that can put you 

in a good light: 

• When responding to a question, give a brief overview 

of the points you want to cover and clear them 

with the interviewer. For example: “I did a school 

projects integrating aspects of finance, marketing 

and operations. Would you like to hear the details?” 

• Appropriate humor (in small doses!) is a good thing. 

• If you aren’t sure of the meaning of a question, ask 

clarifying questions. 

• Mean what you say. If you seem insincere, it’ll be an 

immediate turnoff. 

• Make sure you close the interview. Reiterate your 



12/7/11 12:34 PM

interest in the position and ask for the interviewer’s 

business card. Give a friendly closing handshake as 

well. 

CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


> 

TIP 

When the interview is over, send a thank-you 

note within 24 hours. Email is okay; snail 

mail is even better. Include thoughtful comments 

about the session. When relevant, 

refer to some personal fact the interviewer 

mentioned: “Good luck shopping for that new 

van,” or “How’d you do at racquetball?” 

CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 


21 


12/7/11 12:34 PM


12/7/11 12:34 PM

Navigating 


4Hitting the Ground Running.......24 

Acting Like a Pro.........................25 

Making the Most 

of Your Internship.......................27 

Timeline: Your Internship............29 


12/7/11 12:34 PM


CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 

Hitting the 

Ground Running 

› Your internship is a short-term proposition. 

Most likely, the summer will be over before you even 

know it. That’s why you have to make every day count. 

The process should start even before you show up 

at the office. Here’s where the research you did to prepare 

for the interview really pays off. Your contact with 

insiders will have started you on the road toward understanding 

how the company and the industry work. Each 

industry has its own lingo; by now you should have 

started picking some of this up. You should know the 

technical jargon you’ll need in your new job, any recent 

developments in the company, and the names and functions 

of the company’s top brass. Your new colleagues 

will see this as an encouraging sign of your interest. 

> 

TIP 

If at all possible, before you begin your internship, 

speak with the professionals whose 

team you’ll be joining. Ask about their careers 

and professional interests, ongoing projects, 

and challenges. Also ask for advice. The knowledge 

will be useful—and so will the rapport 

you’ve started to build. 

Before You Start 

Your search is over once you’ve accepted the internship—but 

your work has just begun. Find out to 

whom you will be reporting. Contact that person well 

before you show up at work. Find out what projects 

she has in mind for you. If the answer is vague, try to 

elicit details as politely and diplomatically as you can. 

Explain that you put a high priority on doing good 

work and you need to prepare as thoroughly as possible. 

You also can request being assigned to a particular 

area or particular type of project. But don’t appear 

too demanding because these conversations with your 

boss will set the tone of future dialogue. You’ll also get a 

sense of your boss’s managerial style—whether detached 

and formal, or laid-back and approachable. It helps to 

know what lies ahead. 

Say you’re entering a marketing internship. You may 

prefer to gain exposure to pricing and promotional 

strategies for existing offerings on the one hand, or 

to the researching, planning, and structuring of new 

offerings on the other. Discuss your preferences with 

the appropriate people before you start. The discussion 

may help you shape the internship to suit your personal 

career goals. 

You may have certain amount of flexibility in determining 

the scheduling of your internship. For instance, 

in the interest of accommodating different school 

schedules, the employer will often give you a choice of 

start date. Consider this carefully. You may have hoped 

for a nice vacation after exams. But this can throw your 

internship off course. Ideally, you’ll start at the same 

time as, or even before, the other interns. If you show 

up after everyone else has started, you’ll have to catch 

up. You’ll miss orientation sessions, possibly even the 

chance to work on choice projects. 

If you’re planning to take a vacation later in the 

summer, get a sense of how much wiggle room you 

have. Some employers will not even consider you for 

the job unless they are sure to get a summerlong commitment 

from you. Others may grant the permission 

but resent the time you take away from your internship. 

They’ve committed time and resources to making 

your internship productive and they want to get 

maximum benefit out of it 

INSIDEr SCOOP 

“So many people think an internship is all about 

the final project—the great climax at the end of 

your three months. I think it’s so much more about 

the first two weeks. That’s when you establish 

yourself with your team. Based on your first 

impression, people are going to decide whether to 

take the time to support you in your internship.” 

—Assistant Brand Manager 



12/7/11 12:34 PM

Your employer will usually make sure you have 

all the proper resources when you show up for your 

internship: a workstation, a company email address, 

voicemail. But these details can sometimes fall between 

the cracks. Don’t be afraid to sort out in advance; it will 

save valuable time during that precious first week. 

INSIDEr SCOOP 

“The reporting manager who oversees interns 

treats them like regular employees. We’re looking 

to see how much direction they need, their 

initiative, and quality of their work. We check on 

their progress throughout the summer. Our goal 

is to be able to make a hiring decision before they 

depart.” 

Acting Like a Pro 

› Remember, your internship is basically a 

long-term interview. That means you need to show the 

company you’d be a worthwhile candidate for a fulltime 

position. If your supervisors want you to develop 

certain skills and areas of expertise, apply yourself diligently 

to the task. And at all times remain professional 

in your demeanor and your approach to the job. 

“Intern supervisors check in with me frequently 

during the summer as to who’s standing out,” says a 

motion picture company executive. “If a supervisor 

mentions an intern is reliable, honest, driven, humble, 

enthusiastic, and intelligent, that’s a huge plus for me. 

When I remember an intern and have heard numerous 

positive comments like that, that’s someone I keep my 

eye on.” 

Here are some key ways you can present yourself as a 

worthy member of the team: 

Be on Time 

It sounds simple, but punctuality speaks volumes about 

your professionalism. 

Stay Positive 

No one wants to work with a grouch. If you maintain a 

positive, can-do attitude during your internship, you’ll 

show yourself as someone who coworkers will want to 

see again—in a full-time position. 

Be Modest 

No need to point out your every accomplishment. 

Rest assured your managers are watching; they know 

about it already. A soft sell is the best tactic for proving 

your worth to the company. Don’t aggressively 

tout your abilities and accomplishments to your manager; 

let her discover them for herself. And that trick 

of shooting off an email to her when working into the 

wee hours? Oldest one in the book. Don’t use it more 

than twice. 

Act Like a Full-Timer 

Never think of yourself as a temp. Don’t blow off an 

assignment just because you think you won’t finish 

before your summer stint ends. If you have any interest 

in getting hired full time, act like you’re in the game for 

the long haul. 

Swallow Your Pride 

You’re a hot shot at a top university. But one uninformed 

jerk has the audacity to ask you to send a fax. 

Don’t say “that’s not in my job description”—because 

now it is. No matter how menial the task, show how 

professional you can be. Photocopying and filing may 

not be glamorous chores, but they’re essential ones. And 

if you do a sloppy job copying a stack of documents, 

who will trust you with bigger assignments? 

Be Stalwart 

Show yourself as somebody your colleagues can lean on. 

Go out of your way to help others. Stay late and offer 

assistance when others at the company are overloaded 

with work. Remember, it’s never too early to act like 

you’re already an indispensable part of the team. 

CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 


25 


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CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 

Master the Territory 

Delve as deep as time allows into the company and the 

industry. Look for relevant information in the news and 

in trade magazines. 

INSIDEr SCOOP 

“The three most important attributes in getting or 

keeping a job are attitude, attitude, attitude.” 

Ask Questions 

You might have a 3.9 GPA, but you still don’t know 

it all—and, guess what? You aren’t expected to. Most 

managers would rather answer your questions when 

you get the assignment than have to fill in the gaps after 

you turn it in. If you don’t understand how to go about 

an assignment, ask your supervisor for clarification. 

Find out what resources are available to you. But use 

your discretion; figure out the right people to question 

and the right time for doing it. Don’t corner a senior 

vice president at a cocktail party and start asking about 

the specifics of workflow. 

Don’t Be Afraid to Socialize 

Sure, you’ll run into annoying brownnosers who spend 

more time schmoozing the higher-ups than working. 

Even more galling, the tactic can sometimes work. The 

lesson? Although getting the job done is of paramount 

importance, don’t underestimate the importance of 

building important social connections. 

Speak Up 

It’s fairly safe to assume the employer knows about 

your hope for a full-time job offer. But don’t take it for 

granted. If you’ve decided you want to come back after 

graduation, let everyone know—your boss, your colleagues, 

and the support staffers who often have the ear 

of the big guns. 

Interning Kryptonite 

Because interns are usually new to the corporate world, 

they’re sometimes prone to make mistakes a seasoned 

professional would avoid. Some bad moves can 

destroy your chances faster than kryptonite can disable 

Superman. Here’s a list of 11 ways to obliterate your job 

prospects with a single blunder: 

Interning Under the Influence 

You have a right to a social life. As long as you’re of 

drinking age, you’re free to head to a bar with your 

coworkers for some happy hour cheer. But wherever 

alcohol and work mix, proceed with caution. Know 

your drinking limits and stay well within them. Loud, 

lewd behavior will nix your chances at the company. 

Loose Lips 

Your more experienced colleagues may like to dish the 

dirt. But it’s best to turn a deaf ear to gossip. You’re new 

on the scene and can’t afford to get caught up in the 

crossfire of office politics. 

Dream-Weaving 

As bad as it is to get caught nodding off in class, it’s 

even worse on the job. Doodling or daydreaming during 

meetings will attract negative attention right off the 

bat. If you have to be brought back to reality during 

meetings, there’s no way you’ll be brought back. 

False Friends 

It might sound 

harsh, it might sound 

Machiavellian, but 

the astute intern 

never befriends the 

first people to seek 

him out. There’s a 

high probability 

they’re in need of 

instant allies. 

Stay cordial and 

professional, but 

not chummy. If you 

find yourself the 

lunch pal of a guy 

who is known for 

badmouthing the 

brass, you become 

guilty by association. 



12/7/11 12:34 PM

INSIDEr SCOOP 

“An intern was told to alphabetize a bunch of files, 

and he thought it was the easiest thing. He was 

text messaging the whole time and ended up putting 

five or six things in the wrong order. He ended 

up getting fired. Even if it’s small, you may be doing 

more important things than you think. And many 

times other people’s jobs are dependent on the jobs 

the intern does.” 

Axes to Grind 

Don’t complain—not about the company, not about 

your assignments, not about the cafeteria food. A positive 

outlook could make or break you in management’s 

eyes. 

Impolitic 

Religion, politics and sex are not safe subjects for the 

workplace. Yes, as you develop personal ties with colleagues, 

these issues may come up. But in any group setting, 

these topics should stay off the table. Oh, and that 

risqué email you got from your reprobate uncle? Keep 

it to yourself. 

Fashion Sense 

If the other women are wearing closed-toe heels every 

day, leave the wedge sandals in the closet. And even 

if you see your supervisors taking business casual to 

new levels, don’t break out the muscle shirts. In business 

dress, it always makes sense to err on the side of 

caution. 

Digital Distractions 

You may be used to treating your iPhone or BlackBerry 

as an appendage. But while you’re on the job, use it only 

to get your work done. When your supervisor is hovering 

over your desk, it’s not the time to send texts to your 

girlfriend. And those iPhone games? You can play them 

when you get home. 

Too Much Information 

Yes, you should let your supervisor know what you’re up 

to. But she doesn’t need minute-to-minute updates. If 

you’re running out for a cup of coffee, there’s no need to 

interrupt her activities to announce it. 

Space Invasions 

The men’s washroom? Not a good place to engage your 

boss in work chatter. Be assured he wants to finish his 

business in there before attending to the business outside. 

Unfunny Business 

It’s okay to leave before other colleagues. But as you 

stroll out the door, never cheerily say, “Don’t work too 

hard”—or you’ll be branded as the kind of person who 

says things like that. 

Going AWOL 

Chronic lateness or absence is a certain job-prospect 

killer. If an unavoidable conflict arises, let your supervisor 

know. It’s best to pick up the phone and ask; if it’s a sticky 

situation, he may see an email or a voicemail message as 

a weasel tactic. And if you call in sick, make sure he can’t 

hear the flight announcements in the background. 

Making the Most 

of Your Internship 

› An internship presents a great opportunity 

for learning and career advancement. It’s your responsibility 

to maximize it. Learn your way around the 

organization and familiarize yourself with day-to-day 

operations. Master the company’s communications 

systems and any software programs you’ll need to 

do your job. You want to integrate yourself into the 

office’s operations as quickly and thoroughly as possible. 

When you need help with a task, ask the seasoned 

staffers. They’ll appreciate your efforts to become a 

member of the team. 

CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 


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CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 

Don’t stop at questions. Talk to everyone you can. 

Be sensitive to people’s availability—these are busy 

professionals and they may have more important 

things to do than chat. But you should be making 

as many connections as you can with colleagues and 

supervisors; your internship is a prime networking 

opportunity. 

The role you play in your new team is crucial 

in your effort to make the internship worthwhile. 

“Understand how your skills and background can 

support the team,” says an internship supervisor with 

a major consulting firm. “Look at what other people 

are doing on projects, and figure out how you can 

contribute.” 

INSIDEr SCOOP 

“There are definitely times you feel undervalued 

and unappreciated as an intern, and you’re going to 

be upset and you’re going to be stuck doing crappy 

things, but it’s all part of the experience. At the end 

of the day, everybody starts somewhere.” 

It’s up to you to get the full value of your internship. 

If you find you aren’t doing the work you 

expected to do, let your supervisor know. Be diplomatic 

and don’t whine. You can’t indicate you’re 

bored with your present project but you may be able 

to get reassigned to more suitable work. 

At some point in the process—usually halfway 

through, then again at the end—you will probably go 

through an evaluation process. This is a great opportunity 

for personal growth. Listen carefully and with 

an open mind. Don’t be defensive. If they tell you 

about areas where your skills and work habits can be 

improved, take heed—these people know what they’re 

talking about. But they’re also likely to discuss your 

strengths, which are useful to bear in mind when 

you’re pitching your services in your next job hunt. 

The evaluation process is a two-way street: While 

the company is sizing you up, you’ll be figuring out if 

you like the work and the work environment. Have 

you found the qualities that attracted you to the 

employer in the first place? Is the company a good fit 

for your style, your values, and your goals? Before you 

proceed forward to a full-time job, be sure you have 

found a comfortable fit. 

Signing Out 

Your exit interview may serve two purposes. It will 

probably be your last chance to get a personal evaluation. 

But the company team also will probably elicit 

your feedback about your experience. The information 

will help the team as it plans future internships. 

Be open and honest, but focus on the positive. By no 

means should you turn this into a gripe session. Make 

constructive suggestions, and don’t burn any bridges. 

When the summer is over, you might be inclined 

to submerge yourself into the current business of 

your life—especially if you’re cramming to fulfill 

your school requirements. But you shouldn’t let go 

of the connections you made during your internship. 

If you haven’t already done so, send thank-you notes 

immediately to the key people on your team. In the 

months ahead, keep in touch. Don’t be a pest about 

it, but periodically update them about your activities. 

Send them articles you think might be of interest. 

Nurturing this network can give you an inside 

track on job opportunities within the company. 

Use LinkedIn aggressively. Add your new contacts, 

and get a supervisor to recommend you there. 

Follow up with your fellow interns, check on their 

plans, and maintain the conversations you started 

about your ideal job. 

> 

TIP 

If your employer doesn’t have events planned 

for yourself and your fellow interns, take the 

initiative yourself and suggest some afterwork 

get-togethers. These can be great networking 

opportunities—your peers may hold 

the keys to future career opportunities. 



12/7/11 12:34 PM

Timeline: 


› As you contemplate the summer ahead, it 

may seem you have all the time in the world. Well, 

you don’t. Your internship is more likely to fly by, 

reaching its endpoint before you even know it. That’s 

why it’s best to plot your route in advance, making 

sure you progress toward your goals as the internship 

runs its all-too-short course. (Internships generally 

run 10 to 12 weeks; we’ve decided to outline an 

11-week stint.) 

Weeks 1 and 2: 

Learning the Ropes 

The first couple of weeks are the time to get to know 

your workplace. Following are some areas that deserve 

special attention. 

People 

The ties you establish with your colleagues and your 

comprehension of their place in the corporate structure 

are keys to your success during the summer. The 

following steps will help you map out the job’s human 

landscape: 

• Familiarize yourself with the company’s organizational 

structure. Find out how your team fits into 

the department and how the department fits into 

the division. Who are the key stakeholders in the 

work you do? 

• Learn who depends on your group for information 

or resources, and who the group itself depends on. 

Remember, you’re a link in the chain. 

CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

Lessons from the Frontline: Interning Do’s and Don’ts 

“I was interning at a 

magazine, and was 

assigned to accompany 

a reporter covering 

a premiere at the 

Metropolitan Opera 

House. Since I’d be 

standing on the sidelines, 

I didn’t dress 

up. The reporter 

ended up having an 

extra ($15,000) ticket 

to the show, so he 

took me. And I was 

wearing flip-flops!” 

Lesson: Dress professionally 

when you’re 

on the clock. 

“While working at 

the front desk as a 

law-firm intern, I accidentally 

pushed the 

alarm button. Oops. 

The police called 

back to see if they 

were needed—but 

I accidentally hung 

up on them. Double 

oops! Minutes later, 

they called back and 

demanded I exit the 

building. I walked 

outside and found 

myself surrounded by 

cops with their weapons 

drawn.” 

Lesson: Master the 

phone system on day 

one. 

“I accidentally CC’ed 

my office on an email 

chain circulating 

within my extremely 

conservative family. 

After that, whenever 

they’d send out an 

email blast railing 

about left-wing government 

conspiracies, 

they’d hit ‘reply 

all’—and include my 

entire office! Yikes!” 

Lesson: Don’t use 

your work email for 

personal messages. 

“We had completed 

a big project, so our 

department went on 

a celebratory lunch 

cruise. Everyone got 

a drink ticket for 

one free drink. Since 

there were interns 

under 21, I decided to 

ask one of them for 

their ticket. She was 

talking to somebody 

I didn’t know, who 

turned out to be a 

department head! It 

made me look like a 

lush.” 

Lesson: Keep it 

classy when boozing 

at work events. 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 


29 


12/7/11 12:34 PM


CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


• Find out who does what within your group. Learn 

the role of each member. This knowledge helps 

especially when you’re looking for information—it 

allows you to target questions to the right person. 

• Learn which group or department members have 

forged careers along the lines you envision for yourself. 

Ask them to share their stories and advice. A 

career-molding insight might be a friendly question 

away. 

• Make administrative staffers your allies. Receptionists, 

mail handlers, assistants, and secretaries, IT 

people, the HR team—all of them can help you 

navigate the company’s systems and gain access 

to resources. And the way you treat them is a sure 

reflection of your professionalism. 

Work Tools 

Learn the core methods and tools your group uses, and 

the terms applied to those processes. The quicker you 

master them, the sooner you’ll be an effective group 

member. 

• Do your colleagues use a specific type of software, 

planning tool, protocol, or group dynamic process? 

Your job is to get up to speed on them quickly. 


Making Connections 

You’re starting to feel more comfortable. You’ve been 

making good progress in your projects; you’re getting 

familiar with the company’s tools and jargon. Even 

more important, you’re getting to know your coworkers 

inside and outside your group. These people can 

help you reach your goals. Here’s how you can use this 

period to make those connections mean something: 

Find a Mentor 

Seek a senior colleague who can provide advice and give 

feedback about your work habits and accomplishments. 

Although some companies have formal mentorship 

programs, this person will not necessarily just drop in 

your lap. Use your networking skills. Look within your 

area and outside of it to find someone you can trust and 

admire. That person could become your champion—a 

key ally in your quest for a full-time job. 

Network Within 

Make a list of key people, in your group and outside of 

it, who can help you reach your goals. Contact them to 

discuss their roles and their challenges. You’ll develop a 

deeper understanding of the work at the company and a 

better sense of whether you want to work there. 

CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 

• Find out where past work is stored and how to access 

it. You’ll likely have some downtime during your 

first week. Use that time to study the types of deliverables 

the group has recently produced. 

• Take note of which communication and collaboration 

tools the group favors. Does it use meeting 

management software such as Outlook? A real-time 

instant messaging tool such as Skype? Is there anyone 

on the road who uses only a cell phone to check 

email? Better not attach that 10 Mb document if 

you aren’t sure. 

Dear Diary 

One tool that can 

truly enhance your 

internship experience 

is a work diary, 

recording your 

activities and accomplishments 

and 

evaluating your daily 

experiences. Aside 

from helping focus 

on your goals for the 

internship, it will 

provide raw material 

you can present 

when you’re evaluated 

toward the end 

of the process. If your 

school requires you 

to write a summary 

of your internship 

experience, the diary 

will be your main 

source. 



12/7/11 12:34 PM

Meeting Expectations 

If you’re not doing the work you were expecting to do, 

it should be clear by now. Speak up and let your supervisor 

know. Make suggestions of how your internship 

can come closer to your expectations. You might find 

out the plans the two of you discussed during your first 

two weeks will come to fruition later, and your patience 

will be rewarded. Perhaps the group’s business needs 

changed and your expertise is needed for some other 

vital project. Whatever the case, be diplomatic. 

What Piques Your Interest 

You may identify a more interesting project than the 

one you’re working on. If you want to move on, establish 

a plan with your supervisor for completing your 

current work before moving on. Whatever you do, don’t 

indicate you’re bored with your present assignment. 

Weeks 5–8: Building Bridges 

By now, you’re running at full steam. Your duties have 

been defined and you know your role within your various 

projects. Now is the time for using the relationships 

you’ve established to build bridges for your career. 

Get Reviewed 

If a midsummer review was part of your internship’s 

agenda, make sure it takes place. When you talk to your 

supervisor, don’t be afraid to mention the ways you’ve 

contributed to the team. But also talk about the ways 

you can improve. Get as much feedback as you can to 

help you improve your work style and help you adapt to 

the corporate culture. 

Go To Lunch 

As you start becoming friendly with the company’s fulltimers, 

ask them out for one-on-one lunches. In most 

cases they’ll be flattered by your interest and glad to 

share their expertise. Ask them about their career histories 

and the ways they got their positions. These conversations 

can deliver insight about company workings and 

invaluable career advice. 

Expand Your Network 

When a colleague or mentor mentions people he works 

with, inside or outside the company, ask if it would 

be okay to contact them and mention his name. Use 

these secondary contacts for information gathering and 

industry perspectives. Find out what they’re working 

on—even the projects they’ve got on hold. This information 

could soon prove invaluable. 

Scout Your Prospects 

You should have started to get an idea of whether you’re 

interested in full-time work with the company. If so, ask 

your supervisor, along with the recruiting and HR team, 

about your prospects. Ask, “What can I do to ensure 

that I’m a strong candidate for a full-time position?” 

Snag an Offer 

You may have decided you don’t want to return to the 

company. Don’t broadcast the fact; try to snag an offer 

anyway. Other employers will want to know whether 

your internship resulted in an offer. It will increase your 

perceived value in the job market. 

The Pitfalls of Meetings 

You’re a smart, 

energetic person, 

and you want to 

shine before your 

colleagues. But your 

first meetings— 

daily team updates, 

group program 

reports, brainstorming 

sessions, project 

reviews, departmental-planning 

conclaves—are not 

occasions for strutting 

your stuff. If 

you’re too aggressive 

about making your 

presence known, you 

run the risk of seeming 

like an arrogant 

pup. Minimize the 

danger by asking 

your supervisor or 

a trusted colleague 

how much you’re 

supposed to participate—then 

err on the 

side of caution. The 

time to express your 

viewpoint may come 

after the meeting, 

but use discretion 

even then. Still, if 

you’re asked to contribute 

an opinion, by 

all means speak up. 

CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 


31 


12/7/11 12:34 PM


CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 


Sharpening Your Focus 

As you wrap up your project deliverables, you’ll face 

a blizzard of final meetings and last-minute changes. 

But it’s still important to maintain a clear focus on 

your objectives. Keep the conversations going with the 

people who make the hiring decisions. Try and create a 

situation in which you can step right into a great job. 

If it looks like the perfect job won’t be waiting for 

you, it’s time to take the reins into your own hands. 

Envision your ideal role—within the company or outside 

of it—and diplomatically share your thoughts with 

your contacts. If the role doesn’t exist, find out which 

key stakeholders can help you create it and start the 

conversation rolling. Let your supervisor know about 

these interactions, because you’ll need her support. 

Great opportunities can come your way if you’re vocal 

about what you want. 

Give Thanks 

Leave personalized thank-you notes, emails and/or 

voicemail messages for the people who helped you during 

the summer. Include the senior executives who may 

have offered support, and the tech-support people and 

administrative assistants who’ve helped you master the 

workplace’s logistics. 

Returning Full Time 

If you’ve made a great impression during your 

tenure, you may find yourself in the enviable 

position of receiving an offer for full-time 

employment. Employers will usually provide you 

with some time—either weeks or months—to consider 

the offer. 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 

Final Week: Seal the Deal 

With the end in sight, develop a short list of tasks that 

will help ensure your internship ends with a bang. 

Finish Strong 

Make sure your final performance review takes place. 

Ask your supervisor to share your performance review 

(it’s stellar, right?) with the decision makers who might 

be able to deliver your dream job. 

Show Off 

If you have a final presentation, find out if you can 

invite people outside the group—the key contacts 

who’ve aided you in your work and might be vital players 

in your full-time position. If you can’t invite them, 

ask if you can conduct a separate presentation for them, 

or at least send them a summary of your work. 



12/7/11 12:34 PM

CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 


33 


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12/7/11 12:34 PM

Real Intern 

Profiles 

5 

Architecture Intern.......................36 

Magazine Editorial Intern............36 

MBA Intern with a Startup 

Software Company.......................37 

MBA Brand 

Management Intern.....................38 

Advertising Intern........................39 

IT Intern..................................... 40 

Intern for a Consumer 

Appliance Manufacturer.............. 40 

> We sought out interns from various 

industries and asked them to share 

their internship success stories. From 

advertising to IT, here’s a glimpse into 

the intern experience. 


12/7/11 12:34 PM


CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 

Architecture 

Intern 

Where did you serve your internship? 

At an architecture and design firm in Santa Fe, New 

Mexico. 

What role did you perform? 

I spent a lot of time doing the schematic design for the 

renovation a 300,000-foot historic hotel in the center 

of town. I also worked on government projects and 

residential projects, as well as a new museum for the 

Navajo Code Talkers. 

What drew you to this particular 

opportunity? 

I wanted to work with a diverse set of clients, different from 

what you’d find in a typical urban setting. Also, although I 

go to school in the East, my college teaches about different 

architectural styles in different parts of the country. 

What did you learn in the course 

of the internship? 

I learned a lot about architectural codes, construction 

types, accessibility issues, and other areas I need 

to know in order to prepare for the architectural exam. 

What surprised you most about 

this experience? 

The biggest surprise was that I was trusted with big 

responsibilities—doing presentations to clients, meeting 

with contractors and owners. I hadn’t anticipated that I’d 

be doing anything better than getting coffee. It was good 

to know they trusted me enough to do these things. 

Might you be interested in full-time work 

with the company? 

I’ve still got one more internship to go before I graduate, 

so I want to get more experience and keep my options 

open. But I would definitely be interested in going back 

after college. 

Magazine 

Editorial Intern 

What are you doing in your internship? 

My main duty is to send out six weekly e-newsletters to 

our subscribers. Each day’s newsletter is a bit different, 

but my main functions include formatting HTML text, 

finding photos, copyediting text, and using a web program 

to deliver the newsletters. 

What did you do before? 

This is my first formal internship. I did a few short restaurant 

reviews for a web-based food site, where I was 

able to get a few clips. I also waitressed. 

How did you get your internship? 

I applied through my career center’s online database 

of internships. I submitted my resume through there, 

along with a few of my writing samples, and soon heard 

that I got an interview. 

What are your career aspirations? 

I’m not sure what I’d like to do with writing, but food 

and design are my passions. I’d like to write a book; 

I’d like to go back to graduate school; I’d love to write 

about food. Because of that, I sought out the food editor 

here at the magazine and told her about my interest 

in writing a food piece. A month later, I was published 

in the October brunch issue! 

What kinds of people do well in internships? 

As I see it, you can do okay—simply do what’s in your 

job description so you can slap the internship on your 

resume—or you can go above and beyond. People who 

are self-starters and have a thirst for knowledge and 

experience will excel. If something sparks your curiosity, 

do something about it. Being confident helps. So 

does being nice! 



12/7/11 12:34 PM

What do you really like about your 

internship? 

I like that I get the experience of working at a top-notch 

local magazine without the pressure that I’d be under in 

a full-time job here. It’s a test run. I get to see what their 

processes are like, and someday I’ll probably apply some 

in a full-time job. I also like that I’ll have this name, 

kind of like a brand, on my resume, and some good 

clips to add to my portfolio. 

What do you dislike? 

The monotony. The vast majority of work I do every 

day is something that I more or less did the day before. I 

once thought, even if they paid me to do this full time, 

I wouldn’t take it. I guess that’s why they give it to an 

intern—no full-timer would do this day in and day out. 

MBA Intern 

with a 

Software 

Startup 

What do you do in your internship? 

I’m the business development manager for a venturebacked 

software company. I work on creating partnerships 

with other businesses and on marketing to end 

users. 


I had a lot of entrepreneurial experience. I started an 

Internet marketing company and my own software firm. 

Before that, I was an associate in a venture capital firm. 

Now I’m in business school, working toward my MBA. 


I want to develop more venture-backed companies— 

from seed to harvest. Eventually, I hope to move back 

into venture capital. 

What kinds of people do well in 

internships? 

Be a self-starter; be confident, flexible, and able to deal 

with ambiguity; and have strong communication skills. 


internship? 

I enjoy how quickly and directly I can see the results of 

my work. 


The pace of change! Targets in this industry shift 

quickly. It makes it hard to focus on a few key goals. 

How can someone get an internship 

like yours? 

Start knocking on the right doors until you get in. 

CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 


They found me. The company was looking for a business 

development intern to work with them during the 

semester. Specifically, they were looking for someone 

with my kind of experience. 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 


37 


12/7/11 12:34 PM


CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 

MBA Brand 

Management 

Intern 

What did you do as an intern? 

I was an associate brand management intern at a big 

consumer packaged goods company. I worked under 

the general manager who handled a variety of projects 

and managed a cross-functional team. I worked 

on new products, from concept to launch. I worked 

with agencies on advertising and communication campaigns. 

I worked on finding ways to improve our product 

quality and margins, and coordinated with global 

teams to keep our strategy aligned around the world. 


I worked as a management consultant and as a project 

manager in the strategy group of a music company. 

How did you get the internship? 

Through on-campus recruiting at my business 

school. I met representatives from the company, had 

informational interviews with them and realized the 

company would be a good fit for me. Investing the 

time in getting to know the company and building 

relationships kept me top-of-mind when it came 

time to select candidates to interview. 


The internship led to a full-time job, so right now I’m 

getting a great education in marketing from a worldclass 

marketing company. Eventually, I’d like to either 

start my own company or work for a smaller company 

where I can apply the skills I’m developing in brand 

management. 


this industry? 

People who are self-motivated leaders. As a brand manager, 

I’m managing several projects at once and man- 

aging a large team of cross-functional partners. From 

business school I’ve brought the leadership and negotiations 

skills required to ensure I’m getting the best work 

from my team and that we’re meeting all of our deadlines 

and milestones. Additionally, I have to be able to 

pull myself out of the details and think about my brand 

strategically: How do my projects fit in the bigger picture? 

What is the long term vision for my brand? 

What did you really like about 

your internship? 

I liked that I got to use my creative, strategic, and analytic 

skills every day. There are so many different elements 

to the job and every day is different so I feel like 

I’m always learning and developing. The internship 

prepared me for that. I also loved my fellow interns and 

the brand managers we worked with. Now that I’m here 

full time, I’ve got a great group of close friends whom I 

worked with as an intern. 

What did you dislike? 

Working at a big, public company comes with its fair 

share of politics and bureaucracy. The training was 

great, but sometimes I wished we could be more nimble 

and take more risks without getting bogged down in 

processes. 

What’s one thing you learned in your 

internship? 

That brand management is not solely marketing. It’s 

more general management with a healthy dose of marketing 

and strategy. 


like yours? 

Network with industry professionals and learn about 

the various companies and their cultures. Study marketing 

and show a genuine interest in products and the 

consumer insights behind every decision the company 

made to getting that product to market. From the packaging 

to the advertisement, the consumer is at the cen- 



12/7/11 12:34 PM

ter of CPG; incorporating that perspective in interviews 

can be helpful. 

How did the internship prepare you for 

your current role as a brand manager? 

Not only was I able to see that my internship company 

was one where I then wanted to work full time, but I 

was exposed to best practices that I now employ. It also 

solidified the fact that I’m passionate about brand management 

and allowed me to begin forming strong contacts 

in the company. 

Advertising 

Intern 


I’m a part of the account services team at a big advertising 

agency, working on the account for a Fortune 500 

automobile manufacturer. 


College. This is my first real job. 


Through networking. A friend of my father’s knows the 

general manager of the agency. 


internship? 

The people. They’re very supportive of each other and 

work well together. Also, I have a great deal of client 

interaction, and they aren’t afraid to allow me to take on 

real projects. That’s great exposure. 


The toughest thing about the job is the strict emphasis 

on deadlines. They cannot be pushed back under any 

circumstances. It means a lot of late hours. 

Looking back on your job search, what do 

you wish you had done differently? 

Kept in closer contact with some of the other people I 

worked with. 

How can someone get a job like yours? 

If you’re interested in the advertising industry, make as 

many contacts as possible, even if it means cold-calling 

executives and setting up informational interviews. The 

industry is all about whom you know. Contacts from 

the past can be very useful in the future. 

CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 



At this point, I’m not sure. 


internships? 

People who communicate well with others, who are 

willing to learn by doing, and are comfortable taking 

responsibility for a project with minimal supervision. 

CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 


39 


12/7/11 12:34 PM


CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 

IT Intern 

What did you do at your internship? 

I was an IT leadership program intern with a global 

Fortune 100 company. My primary focus was on 

enhancing the user interface for a field-service Web 

application that was used for monitoring corrosion levels 

inside of pipes in nuclear facilities. 

Before your internship, what was 

your experience? 

Various summer jobs, including primary technician and 

business manager for a local computer repair shop, as 

well as year-round jobs with the IT department at my 

university. 

What did you like most about 


I was given business-critical projects to run. I had the 

flexibility to tackle the challenges in my own way, but 

I also had guidance from my manager and other mentors 

at the company. This gave me exposure to the company’s 

upper management, helping me fast-track my 

career. Within the first month of my senior year, I got 

an offer with a full-time position with the company. 

That took a tremendous amount of pressure off of what 

could have been a stressful year of job hunting. 

Anything you disliked? 

Looking back, there was very little not to like. It was an 

environment where, if there were any frustrations, they 

were addressed quickly and turned around. 


like yours? 

Attend your university career fairs, become very tight 

with your school’s career development center, and speak 

with past alumni in similar degrees that have taken a 

path that you desire—to learn how they did it. 

What did you learn from the job? 

I learned that success is defined by far more ways than 

just getting an “A”—it isn’t the approval of others that 

makes you successful. Everybody has to define their 

own version of success, then use their ambition, creativity 

and thirst for knowledge to get there. Plus, learning 

how to measure the corrosion levels within metal pipes 

without having to look inside them was pretty cool, too. 

Intern for 

a Consumer 

Appliance 

Manufacturer 


I work in the marketing communications department. 


I worked for five years in an advertising agency as an 

account planner and supervisor before going back to 

B-school for an MBA. 


Through on-campus career services. 


I want to start my own creative hot shop or PR agency 

about six years down the road. 

Who does well in this kind of internship? 

People who are articulate, creative and have good people 

skills. 



12/7/11 12:34 PM

What do you really like about 


That I learn something new every day. I’m surrounded 

with people who have tons of experience and are willing 

to share it with me. They also let me take initiative 

and try new things. And the job itself allows a lot of 

room for creative expression. 


The hours can be very long. And the pay’s not as sweet 

as consulting or investment banking. 

Looking back on your career or job 

search, what do you wish you had done 

differently? 

I probably should not have spent so much time in one 

industry. I could have come back to school quicker, in, 

say, three years rather than five. 

How can someone get a job like yours? 

Get an internship with an agency. It most likely will be 

unpaid, but that’s the best way to get your foot in the 

door. You’ll get exposure not just to the agency, but to 

its clients. 

CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 


41 


12/7/11 12:34 PM


12/7/11 12:34 PM

For Your 

Reference 

6 

Recommended Resources.............44 


12/7/11 12:34 PM


chapter 1 

INTERNShIpS: 

ThE BIG pIcTURE 

chapter 2 

ThE SEaRch 

chapter 3 

GETTING hIRED 

chapter 4 

NavIGaTING 

YoUR INTERNShIp 

chapter 5 

REal INTERN 

pRoFIlES 

chapter 5 

FoR YoUR 

REFERENcE 

recOmmended 

resOurces 

› the resources listed here are a small sampling 

of the information available to help you land an 

internship. 

onlinE rESourcES 

• Wetfeet’s internshipprograms.com (www.internshipprograms.com): 

Find internship postings by 

location, industry, or keyword. 

• JobWeb (www.jobweb.com): Hosted by the 

National Association of Colleges and Employers, 

this useful website provides resources and statistics 

on co-ops and internships. 

• collegegrad.com (www.collegegrad.com): This 

extensive site has postings for internships and fulltime 

positions. 

• internships-usA (www.internships-usa.com): This 

website lists thousands of internships in the U.S. 

with hundreds of employers and organizations. 

• internJobs.com (www.internjobs.com): Global 

database of internships and entry-level positions for 

students, recent graduates, and career changers. 

• internWeb.com (www.internweb.com): Database 

searchable by internship type, employer type, and 

state. 

• monster college (college.monster.com/education) 

The leading job-posting board offers a section tailored 

to college students. 

• internships.com (www.internships.com) Website 

linking potential interns with employers. 

• usAintern (www.usaintern.com) Resource for finding 

internships and volunteer opportunities. 

your carEEr cEntEr wEBSitE 

Your university’s career center will probably have information 

on internships on its website. Sometimes this 

will take the form of a database listing the employers 

who will be targeting your school and the internships 

they’re making available. In most cases, this information 

is password-protected. Whatever the case, this is a key 

resource when you’re researching your ideal internship. 

Employer research 

Learn about the companies or organizations you want 

to target: 

• The business Journals (www.bizjournals.com): 

Business news from 41 local markets and 46 industries. 

• pr newswire (www.prnewswire.com/news/) 

• Wetfeet’s industry and company profiles (www. 

wetfeet.com) 

publications with company lists 

Some of the best-known lists about employers can be 

found through a good local library or through paid subscriptions 

to the following magazines: 

• business 2.0 (http://money.cnn.com/magazines/ 

business2/) 

• bloomberg businessweek (www.businessweek.com) 

• forbes (www.forbes.com) 

• fortune (http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/) 

• inc. (www.inc.com) 

professional associations 

Search information on associations in every field imaginable 

using the directory provided by Internet Public 



12/7/11 12:34 PM

Library’s database (www.ipl.org/div/aon/). 

Some key associations to target are: 

• American Management Association 

(www.amanet.org) 

• American Marketing Association 

(www.marketingpower.com) 

• Association for Financial Professionals 

(www.afponline.org) 

• Society for Human Resource Management 

(www.shrm.org) 

Specific Opportunities 

Some of the programs listed here require registration or 

a fee. Programs have different requirements for participation—a 

few are open only to students. 

Business and Multiple Areas 

• Rising Star Internships (www.rsinternships.com) 

• National internships (www.internships.com) 

Internship Programs for Minority Students 

• INROADS (www.inroads.org) 

• Sponsors for Educational Opportunity 

(www.seo-ny.org) 

Nonprofit and U.S. Federal Government 

Opportunities 

• Students.gov (www.students.gov) Note that this 

website was retired in October 2011, but it still 

provides links to useful information. 

• The Environmental Careers Organization 

(www.eco.org) 

• Idealist.org: Action Without Borders (www.idealist.org) 

• VolunteerMatch (www.volunteermatch.org) 

• Washington Internship Institute (www.ielnet.org) 

International Programs—Internships and 

Work Exchange 

• AIESEC International (www.aiesec.org) 

• Association for International Practical Training 

(www.aipt.org) 

• British Universities North America Club 

(www.bunac.org) 

• Center for International Career Development 

(www.cicdgo.com) 

• Council on International Educational Exchange 

(www.ciee.org) 

• Cross-Cultural Solutions 

(www.crossculturalsolutions.org) 

• EducationUSA (educationusa.state.gov) 

• Intern Abroad (www.InternAbroad.com) 

• The International Association for the Exchange 

of Students for Technical Experience 

(www.iaeste.org) 

• International Institute for Cooperation and 

Development (www.iicd.org) 

• Internship International 

(www.internshipinternational.com) 

Resources in Print 

The Back Door Guide to 

Short-Term Job Adventures 

Michael Landes (Ten Speed Press, 2005) 

Internships for Dummies 

Craig P. Donovan and Jim Garnett (For Dummies, 2001) 

National Directory of Arts Internships 

Warren Christensen and Debbie McAfee 

(National Network for Artist Placement, 2005) 

Peterson’s Internships 

Peterson’s Guides, 2005 

The Internship Bible 

Princeton Review, 2005 

The Internship Series from 

Career Education Institutes 

(www.internships-usa.com/books.htm) 

CHAPTER 1 

Internships: 


CHAPTER 2 

The Search 

CHAPTER 3 

Getting Hired 

CHAPTER 4 

Navigating 


CHAPTER 5 

real intern 

profiles 

CHAPTER 5 

For Your 

Reference 


45 


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12/7/11 12:34 PM

The WetFeet Story 

WetFeet was founded in 1994 by Stanford MBAs Gary Alpert and Steve Pollock. While exploring their 

next career moves, they needed products like the WetFeet Insider Guides to guide them through their 

research and interviews. But these resources didn’t exist yet—so they started writing! Since then, 

millions of job seekers have used the WetFeet Insider Guides and WetFeet.com to research their next 

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In 2007 WetFeet became part of Universum Communications, the global leader in employer branding. 

Thanks to the integration of WetFeet into the Universum group, WetFeet products are now used by 

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>> The WetFeet Name 

The inspiration for our name comes from a popular business school case study about L.L. Bean, the 

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Every time he went hunting in the Maine woods, his shoes leaked. One day he set out to make a better 

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was born. 

The lesson we took from the Bean case? Well, it shows that getting your feet wet is the first step toward 

achieving success. And that’s what WetFeet is here for: To help you get your feet wet and take the right 

steps toward ever-greater career goals, whatever they may be.

Ideal internships can lead to ideal jobs. 

Internships provide hands-on experience and give you and your 

potential employer a chance to evaluate each other. Whether 

you’re looking for training in a given industry, an opportunity to 

develop contacts at your dream company, or simply a chance to 

determine if you’ll enjoy working in a particular field, an internship 

could be your best bet. But competition for internships is intense, 

with many firms considering their internship programs the most 

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Insider Guide will show you how to find the internship that’s right 

for you, get hired, and maximize your professional development. 

TURN TO THIS WETFEET 

INSIDER GUIDE TO EXPLORE 

★ WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF BEFORE 

YOU START YOUR INTERNSHIP SEARCH 

★ WHERE TO FIND THE INTERNSHIP AND HOW 

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★ HOW TO STRUCTURE AN INTERNSHIP AT A 

COMPANY THAT DOESN’T HAVE A FORMAL 

PROGRAM 

★ HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING 

A FULL-TIME JOB OFFER WHILE INTERNING 

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WetFeet has earned a strong reputation among college 

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GETTING YOUR IDEAL INTERNSHIP - Universum

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