Students

Internship - Orientation

What's the difference between a part-time job and internship?

  • Both can offer experience
  • Both can be career related
  • Both can offer pay
  • Both can lead to possible full-time future job opportunities
  • An internship offers an intentional meaningful career training opportunity

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Where are the resources for internships?

  • Career Center web site -- get connected by registering with the Career Center at the reception desk
  • Internships that have been faxed or e-mailed to us are posted in notebooks in the Internship Center at the Career Center
  • Internship Web Page
  • Your department and faculty
  • Jan Potzmann Internship Coordinator Career Center
  • Company Web Sites
  • Local Business Directories
  • Your Friends

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How do I know which internship is best for me?

  • Start at least six months to a year in advance
  • Examine your interests, skills and values- it's hard to make positive/decisive choices without discovering what's important to you

Talk to Jan Potzmann, Internship Coordinator if you have questions.

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How can I get most out of my internship?

  • Set goals and objectives
  • List what would be most important for you to learn from this internship
  • Discuss these goals and objectives during your interview process

If you're stuck, its time to meet with the Internship Coordinator to develop goals and objective.

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How can I ensure that my goals and objectives are met?

  • Create a learning contract
  • That's an agreement signed by both you and the company. It contains your goals and objectives and the expectations outlined by the company.
  • It allows you and the company to create an agreement which contain the terms of your internship. So if questions arise regarding your role you can consult your learning contract.

If you're stuck, its time to meet with the Internship Coordinator.

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How do I find a way to have a successful internship experience?

  • Play an active role
  • When you finish your assigned activities offer to help someone else
  • Ask questions
  • Learn as much as you can about the positions and the company as possible
  • Network -- and keep in touch when you leave

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How can I learn as much as possible from my internship?

  • Keep reflective journal of your internship experience
  • Learning about yourself by reflecting on your experience can be the most important part of the internship process.
  • You can keep an online journal in your portfolio at http://www.csun.edu/career/

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What's expected of me as an intern?

  • Be punctual -- demonstrate responsibility
  • Be professional- dress appropriately for your surroundings
  • Be eager to learn something new
  • Act in a professional manner
  • Do not check your personal e-mail all day
  • Do not instant message your friends
  • Do not use the company phone for personal use, unless otherwise authorized
  • Do not surf the Web for personal use
  • Remember that you are an intern, employers do not expect you to have all the answers -- part of the internship experience is training.
  • Ask questions if you do not understand something clearly
  • Think about each assignment as: No task too small -- No challenge too great!

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Can I do more than one internship?

  • Yes. Career Center offers many internship opportunities

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Did you know that some majors require an internship?

  • Check with your department
  • Sociology, Management, HR Management, International Business, and more require internships

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How do I get academic credit?

  • Only your department/faculty can grant academic credit for an internship
  • If your employer is requesting a letter verifying that you are registered in the class; consult your academic department.

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Can I get paid and receive academic credit?

  • It is possible to receive both academic credit and pay. Consult your department, most departments allow you to receive both academic credit and pay for your internship.

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Will I be hired for job after I finish my internship?

  • In some cases a job opportunity may be offered to you.
  • However, the purpose of the internship is to provide you with a meaningful learning experience, not necessarily lead you to a specific job within the company.

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Quiz


Your Full Name

How can I learn as much as possible from my internship?

  • Complete only tasks that are assigned to you
  • Never ask questions from your peers or supervisors
  • Work quietly and keep a low profile
  • Keep reflective journal of your internship experience. Learning about yourself by reflecting on your experience can be the most important part of the internship process.

What's expected of me as an intern?

  • Instant message your friends; Surf the web and use the company phone for personal use
  • Remember that you are an intern, employers do expect you to have all the answers. Never ask questions if you do not understand something clearly.
  • Be punctual -- demonstrate responsibility; Be professional- dress appropriately for your surroundings; Be eager to learn something new
  • Think about each assignment as: Every challenge is too great!

How can I obtain academic credit?

  • The Career Center Internship Coordinator can provide documentation verifying proof of academic credit for an internship.
  • Your department/faculty can grant academic credit for an internship. If your employer is requesting a letter verifying that you are registered in the class, consult your academic department.
  • Talk to a friend, they can verify that you are enrolled.

How can I ensure that my goals and objectives are met?

  • Keep your thoughts ideas and concerns to yourself
  • Interview with your prospective internship employer without discussing your interests and goals and objectives.
  • Discuss your interests and goals and objectives with your Internship Coordinator and create a learning contract. That is an agreement signed by both you and the company. It contains your goals and objectives and the expectations outlined by the company. If questions arise regarding your role you can consult your learning contract.

Where are the resources for internships?


A.
  • Career Center web site -- get connected by registering with the Career Center at the reception desk
  • Posted in notebooks in the Internship Center at the Career Center
  • Internship Web Page www.csun.edu/~intern/students/links.htm
  • Your department and faculty
  • In a bag of M&Ms
  • Jan Potzmann Internship Coordinator Career Center
  • Company Web Sites
  • Local Business Directories (Career Center)
  • Your Friends
B.
  • Career Center web site -- get connected by registering with the Career Center at the reception desk
  • Posted in notebooks in the Internship Center at the Career Center
  • Internship Web Page www.csun.edu/~intern/students/links.htm
  • Your department and faculty
  • Jan Potzmann Internship Coordinator Career Center
  • Company Web Sites
  • Local Business Directories (Career Center)
  • Your Friends
C.
  • Career Center web site -- get connected by registering with the Career Center at the reception desk
  • Pot of gold
  • Posted in notebooks in the Internship Center at the Career Center
  • Internship Web Page www.csun.edu/~intern/students/links.htm
  • Your department and faculty

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