Internship Planning
At Grand View, you'll have many opportunities to get acquainted first-hand with what it will be like to work in a chosen field. Most majors offer or require at least one internship, practicum, clinical, or other job-related experience before graduation. Your internship is an important component of your Grand View education. Not only do internships give you the practical, real-world experience employers want, they can also lead to full-time jobs after graduation.
Starting your first year at Grand View, we recommend getting involved on campus or finding an on-campus job to gain skills and experience. For example, you might write for the student magazine, shoot video or record a podcast in the Student Media Suite in the Henning Student Center, or practice clinical skills in the Johnson Wellness Center. Through classes, you may also complete a project with a company, polish your creative skills in the graphic design lab or even explore the structural and functional relationships of the human body in the cadaver lab. Include these experiences on your resume to showcase your skills and help you secure an internship!
| Academic Program Requirements |
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Since an internship is an academic program at Grand View, the faculty in your department have established eligibility requirements for student participation. To learn about internship details and eligibility requirements for your academic department, check with your advisor or the department's faculty internship coordinator for more information.
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| Setting Goals |
One way to define a successful internship is that the experience provided a stepping-stone to reaching your career, personal, and academic goals. To begin planning for an internship, we suggest that you spend time considering your long-term goals and how your internship will help you achieve these goals. Think about the specific tasks and activities you want to experience and how these experiences will develop or enhance your skills and knowledge, aligning experience with the NACE Career Readiness Competencies.
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| Prepare for Success |
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Most internship employers require a formal application from interested students. If you need to develop a resume and cover letter, the Career Center offers resources to help you prepare a competitive resume and cover letter.
Additional application materials may be requested by an employer such as transcripts, writing samples, and portfolio.
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| Interviews |
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While applying for internships, start preparing for interviews:
- Research an employer's products or services.
- Practice your responses to interview questions.
- Schedule a mock interview with the Career Center through Navigate.
- Review interviewing resources in the myGVU Career Center group.
- Develop your own list of questions to ask the interviewer.
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| Academic Credit |
| Each department has its own process, forms and standards for registering and earning academic credit. The faculty internship coordinator in your department will help you with the planning and registration process and provide the necessary guidelines and forms to complete your internship. |
How to Land An Internship
To be successful in the search for the "ideal" internship, explore the many resources available to you within Grand View, on the internet, and through your own networks. See the list of excellent options below as you prepare to land an internship.
| Check with faculty in your department or program of study |
Check out the opportunities the Faculty Internship Coordinator in your department may have. Also, visit with your academic advisor and your favorite professor.
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| Explore employer websites |
Many internship opportunities can only be found on an employer's website. You may want to develop your own list of favorite employers or visit the Career Center's listings on Handshake.
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| Connect with family, friends, and alumni |
| Networking is a common way to find an internship. Talk with family and friends about internships, and identify alumni to connect with through LinkedIn. Ask for advice, names of organizations and people to contact. |
| Look for part-time jobs |
| Apply for part-time jobs in Handshake, as a part-time job related to your career goals may qualify as internship experience. Check with your department’s Faculty Internship Coordinator to see which part-time job meet your department’s internship requirements. |
| Attend employer events |
Attend on-campus career fairs, on-campus networking events and local career fairs to connect with employers. Learn more about these events through the myGVU Career Center group. Ask employers about their organizations and opportunities, and apply for their positions in Handshake.
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| Meet with the Career Center |
| Although the Career Center does not place people into internships, the Career Center can help with a variety of things related to finding an internship (e.g., resume and cover letter reviews, LinkedIn, Handshake, internship seeking strategies and interview preparation). Schedule an appointment to meet with the Career Center through Navigate or email careers @ grandview.edu. |