Internships
9 Creating an Internship
Can I Turn My Current Job into an Internship?
One way to get creative and expand your learning experiences in the workplace is to consider adding duties to your role with your current employer. For example, can you create social media posts for the restaurant you work at? Create a public relations plan? Assist with accounting? The ideas are endless, but it is up to you to develop an idea, set a meeting with your supervisor, and sell your plan. Offering to add extra duties for no additional compensation can give you additional work experience in your field and something to add to your resume that can help propel you into a future internship directly in your field.
Can I Create My Own Internship?
Similar to adding duties to an existing job, you can approach organizations and companies to see if you can create your own internship. This works best if you have an existing relationship with the organization, but many non-profits are willing to create internships for students in exchange for much needed help.
Best practice is to reach out to an organization, set a meeting, and bring a prepared plan for the internship in writing. Here is one student’s plan to create their own internship:
International Education and Study Abroad Internship Role and Responsibilities
Role: Help promote, develop, market, and communicate information about International Education and Study Abroad events and opportunities via social media, email, flyers, International Education and Study Abroad webpage, and campus monitor slides. Assist in facilitation of International Student Registration, redesign of the International Student Handbook, and any other necessary tasks to aid students, supervisor, and department.
Events:
- International Student Orientation
- August 21st
- International Education Week
- November 18th
- November 19th
- Study Abroad Tabling
- Passport Caravan???
- Get Passport done at Stritch
- Combined Event with Alverno
- Prize: Passport Fee Covered (Incentive)
- November 20th
- Food Festival
- Lunch in Conference Center
- International Student Recognition Ceremony
- Halftime at Basketball Games
- November 21st
- November 22nd
- Volunteer at International Festival at State Fair
- Food Festival
- Get Passport done at Stritch
Projects:
- Ireland 2020
- Organize a Carlow College Student Group for part of the summer
- Market this Opportunity
- 8-10 students
- Work with departments for course approval
- Help Market
- Persuade Students
- Sol Education
- Market their programs on campus
- International Student Profiles
- Highlight on Website
- Post on Instagram
- Suggestions to help Update Webpage
- Edit International Handbook
- Update Current Version
- Create in an Easy to Edit Format/Program
- Study Abroad Application
- Work with OIFS to build an Online version
- Send Reference Emails direct to Faculty upon completion
Reoccurring Responsibilities and Tasks:
- Marketing
- Flyers
- Monitor Slides
- Handouts
- Social Media
- Study Abroad Presentations
- Freshmen SEM
- Spanish/World Languages
- International Business
- Communication
- Other Applicable Majors
- Pre-create emails
- Mailchimp
Activity: Learn more about internships
- Research companies with developed internship programs. Here are a few suggestions: Disney, Kohler Company, and Quad Graphics. Would you like to participate in a program like this? Why or why not?
- Spend some time on Handshake, LinkedIn, and/or Indeed.com searching for internship openings in your field. What qualities and skills are employers looking for? Are you qualified for these positions? If not, what do you need to do to be a strong candidate for these opportunities?
- Locate a company or organization you would like to intern for. Do they have internship openings? Do they offer a developed internship program?
- If the company you identified above does not offer internships, create your own internship by making a list of things you can do for them. Develop your list into a professional proposal.
- Reach out to the company or organization you identified above. Schedule a meeting with an individual in the appropriate department to discuss the possibility of creating an internship; or reach out via email and send them your proposal for creating an internship.
- If you currently have a job, can you expand your duties to include new tasks that would enable you to list this position as an internship? Make a list of what you can offer your current employer and schedule a meeting with your supervisor to discuss.