» What are the benefits of doing an internship?
» What are the School of Business requirements for participating in an internship?
» What are questions I should ask myself before doing an internship?
» How do I learn about internship opportunities?
» What is the internship process
WHAT IS AN INTERNSHIP?
They are windows through which you can view the world of work, while you still have time to modify your plans and behaviors. An internship is when you work at an organization and receive college credit in return. Internships may be full or part-time, paid or unpaid, and vary in length from a summer to a semester or even an academic year.
Internship experience is consistently ranked as the number one item employers look for when considering college graduates for a full-time position.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO YOU?
Internships allow you to:- explore and clarify your major and career goals with professionals in the field, so you'll know if the field is right for you.
- develop knowledge, competencies, and experience related to your major and career goals-you'll know you can do it and how to do it better.
- gain practical employment experience that employers look for when hiring college graduates.
- take responsibility for your own learning and create a more rewarding college experience.
- establish a network of professional contacts, mentors, and references for after graduation.
One of the most significant changes in the labor market in the past two decades has been the growth of the internship. - Career Opportunities News
WHAT ARE THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATING IN AN INTERNSHIP?
UNDERGRADUATES
- Have a minimum 2.75 GPA
- Be at least a Junior matriculated at SUNY New Paltz for at least one semester
- Completion of the Internship Practicum, course 20301
- Relevant coursework completed as determined by the faculty sponsor
GRADUATE STUDENTS
- Have a minimum 3.0 GPA
- Completion of 18 credits of MBA coursework completed (not including foundation courses)
- Completion of the Internship Practicum, course 20502
- Relevant coursework completed as determined by the faculty sponsor
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF . . .
- Why do I want to do an internship? How does completing an internship fit into my short and long-term career goals?
- Do I have the time to commit to an internship? Can I commit to 10 hours a week? 20 hours a week? An internship is a commitment of your time and energy as well as an employer's time and energy. Make sure this is a commitment that you can keep!
- Do I need credit ? Do I meet the requirements (see above) to receive credit for an internship?
HOW DO I LEARN ABOUT INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
- The School of Business Internship Directory* with links to over 700 employers that have established internship programs.
- The Career Resource Center. The Career Resource Center has hundreds of internship opportunities and receives new ones in almost every day! Check out their eRecruiting Web site at to search for internship opportunities.
- Ask your advisor or other professors in the School of Business - they may have internship contacts.
- Networking - "it's not always what you know but who you know". Tell everyone you know that you are looking for an internship, yes, that means family and friends. You never know who may have the internship contact you are looking for.
- Surf the Web - there are so many resources out there on the Internet and the best part is you can search from the privacy of your own residence hall or apartment.
OK, SO NOW WHAT DO I DO?
- Register for the Internship Practicum. The Internship Practicum is designed to give students supervised practical application in order to prepare them for the external business setting. It will provide you with extensive training in such areas as identifying prospective employers, writing an effective resume networking, and interviewing skills
- Request a faculty member to be your internship sponsor.
- Fill out a fieldwork form with your faculty advisor. Fieldwork forms can be found in a pocket on the wall across from the main office of the School of Business building.
- Submit the fieldwork form to Dean Hadi Salavitabar for approval.
- Many organizations consider intern applications throughout the year. If you've missed a deadline, apply new for next year and ask to be considered if something opens up sooner
Internship contact information:
Aaron Hines, Coordinator of MBA Program and Special Projects, School of Business
VH 304, mba@newpaltz.edu
Career Resource Center, SUNY New Paltz
HAB 705, 845-257-3265, careers@newpaltz.edu
