What Is an Internship?
It's not just a job, it's on-the-job training to prepare you for a career. An internship should give you exposure to a field you're interested in and help develop skills and perspectives that will be useful in future jobs. Often you define concrete learning goals and spend time reflecting on what you've learned. Because it is focused on your training, an internship is different from a research project, a job, or a volunteer experience. You may or may not get credit for an internship, and you may or may not get paid, but the most valuable things you'll gain are likely to be intangible.
Why Do an Internship?
- It's a great way to explore a career and see if you actually like it and are suited to it.
- You can gain technical as well as transferable skills that employers are looking for.
- It can look good on an admissions application.
- You can start to develop a professional network.
- You'll have someone to write a recommendation letter who really knows your work.
- You can apply knowledge from the classroom in a real world situation, so it becomes more meaningful.
Where Can I Find an Internship?
Listings & Services
- CALS Internship Resources and Tips
- CALS International Internships
- Center for Leadership & Involvement Internships page
- International Internship Program, International Division
- Internship resources at College Library
- L& S Career Services: Internships & Scholarships; scholarships available for students who need financial aid to take an internship
- Student Government (ASM) internships
- UW Student Jobcenter
Courses
- Internship-for-credit (Inter L&S 260)
- Worldwide Internship Program
- CALS Internships for Credit (399)
- College of Engineering Cooperative Education Program (001 courses)
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