Internships and similar hands on experiences are an essential component to your education. Completing an internship can help you learn about your interests and skills, explore potential roles and careers, and build a professional network.
Internship Search Process
- Finding Posted Internships
Includes resources for finding posted internships in a wide variety of fields - Finding Unposted (Hidden) Internships
Many organizations do not to post jobs or internships for various reasons. You can greatly expand your internship options by utilizing these resources and strategies. - St. Olaf Internship Database
Search information about 1300+ internships completed by Oles since 2008. - Questions to ask yourself about internships
Helps direct you to the next step is in the internship acquisition process.
Networking for Internships
- LinkedIn (St. Olaf page)
- Writing professional emails (Lynda.com video)
International Students and Working in the U.S.
Register Your Internship for Academic Credit
- How to get academic credit for an internship
- Credit for Domestic Internships
- Credit for International Internships
Internship Funding
- Internship funding options (Internship Grant Award, Johnson Family Opportunity Fund, etc.)
St. Olaf Internship Programs
These programs include elements of skill building, vocational discernment, and intentional reflection and offer the advantage of additional support from and engagement with St. Olaf staff, faculty, and alumni. Learn more about these internships.
- Davis Projects for Peace
- Social Entrepreneurship Scholars
- Svoboda Legal Scholars Program
- Mayo Innovation Scholars
- Rockswold Health Scholars Program
Other Internship Resources:
- Job & Internship Search Page
- Local Internship & Civic Engagement Opportunities
- Undergraduate Research
- Handshake
- Internship Opportunities Organized by Field
- Industry Insights on Vault campus
Getting an Internship – Applying
Other
- Professional associations
- Employee Rights Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
- Federal Guidelines for Unpaid Internships Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
Internship experience is an essential component to your education. While there are many factors that impact success in the job search, internship experience will make you a more competitive candidate and will inform your decisions in important and meaningful ways as you develop and pursue post-graduate plans.
Employers from all sectors use internships as a recruiting tool. Employers use internships to screen and groom potential full-time hires. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has conducted numerous employer surveys that demonstrate this growing trend. Employers know that you will have developed professional skills, gained hands-on experience in your field of interest, and learned how organizations operate.
Internship experience will give you a competitive edge as a full-time job or graduate school candidate. No matter the organization, having internship experience as an undergraduate student makes you a more qualified candidate in the eyes of employers’ and professional schools’. We hear this message from recruiters year after year, who feel that students with past internship experience bring more professionalism and maturity as full-time job or graduate school candidates. An internship experience also expands your professional network.
Looking for something else? Schedule an appointment with a Piper Center coach.