University Career Services
Northwestern University
Developing Your Own Internship Why Develop Your Own Internship? After engaging in the internship search, you may realize that you can’t find that perfect opportunity. In this case, you can research and develop your own position. While it takes time and effort, students who utilize this strategy largely have rewarding, substantive experiences tailored to their individual interests and goals.
How to Develop Your Own Internship 1. Determine Individual Goals
2. Research the Field
3. Target Specific Organizations
4. Contact Organizations
5. Propose Your Request
6. Follow Up
It is often difficult to decide what you really want, but doing so will help you conduct a focused search for an internship. Ask yourself these questions: Why do I want an internship? What do I hope to learn? In what field(s) am I trying to gain experience? What kind of responsibilities would you like to have as an intern? If you invest time and effort in researching a field, you will have a greater chance of success when you do contact employers. There are two basic ways to research a field: (1) by using prepared materials (2) by talking to people who work in the field. As you research the field, you will be identifying employers to contact later, while learning more about what the work involves. You will also learn about what qualifications are required and what responsibilities are involved. Based on your internship goal, you should develop a list of potential organizations to target in your search. Organizations could make your list based on whether they have previously hired interns, their location, and industry. Learn as much as you can about the organization(s). Understand the mission and goals of the organization to be prepared and educated when you speak with the potential employer. If you find a company that does the kind of work of interest to you, ask if they have internships by calling, e-mailing, or writing a letter. Whether you approach the employer by letter, phone, or in person, be sure you are contacting the person with the power to make the decision to hire (supervisor or manager of the department in which you want to work). The emphasis now switches to: What can you offer as an intern? If you have spent some time determining your individual goals, you will know yourself better and be more familiar with your strengths (knowledge, skills, and abilities). Having researched a field, you will also know what employers want and are looking for in an employee. Follow-up with resumes, cover letters, phone calls, e-mails, etc., if asked. No matter the outcome of your proposal, send a thank you note. You never know how a single gesture of appreciation and professionalism can help you.
University Career Services Main Location: 620 Lincoln Street Career Lab: Main Library, Core Reserves, 2nd Flr Phone: 847-491-3700
Website: www.northwestern.edu/careers Fan UCS @ www.facebook.com/northwesternUCS Follow UCS @ twitter.com/northwesternUCS Join UCS @ www.linkedin.com/groupRegistration?gid=1926036
University Career Services
Northwestern University
Developing Your Own Internship Resources
The Proposal
In developing your own internship, it is a necessity that you invest time and energy into conducting research. The information you gain through your research will strengthen your proposal and your position as a potential candidate. Use the following tools to acquire information:
Your proposal might be for a specific project or for a particular position the employer is likely to have. While there is no prescribed format for your proposal, it should:
Career Search*
Professional Associations
Organization Website(s)
Trade Publications
Crains Business Weekly*
Vault*
Network Contacts
Wetfeet*
O-NET * Check with UCS for how to access resource
Tips for Success
The preferred means of connecting is via telephone (unless noted on organization website or materials) as this will expedite your attempt to reach the right person. Don't say you are willing to do anything. Be clear and concise when explaining what you want to do and why they need you to do it.
Communicate why you are the right person for their organization using information about your academic abilities, interests, skills, and experiences.
Offer to send a resume and cover letter for their consideration and ask for the appropriate address to send that information.
Be assertive, but not pushy, when conducting follow-up with a contact you have made.
Prepare a phone script and consider your responses to possible comments or questions. The more you prepare, you will be less likely to stumble on your words.
Follow-up with every contact, regardless of the level of support or help they provided. This can be done via email.
University Career Services Main Location: 620 Lincoln Street Career Lab: Main Library, Core Reserves, 2nd Flr Phone: 847-491-3700
Be specific about the project you want to work on or the position you wish to fill.
Include a clear and concise description why you think they will benefit from it.
Highlight why you are the right person to do this for the organization.
Your proposal should include a resume that illustrates your strengths and evidence of what you have to offer.
Obstacles to Anticipate Hiring Process: Quite often there may be a protocol or procedure in place for hiring. The employer may have to identify how to navigate their organization’s hiring process, especially if having an intern is a first. Lack Familiarity with Internship Organizations that you contact directly may be unfamiliar with hiring interns. They may be unsure of what type of supervision they would need to provide and what type of projects would be appropriate. In this situation, you need to be clear about your skills and qualifications and how you could contribute. Highly Competitive Industry In many competitive industries, getting your foot-in-thedoor can be the greatest challenge. Many college students start out with an organization by volunteering, completing an internship for academic credit, or simply working at the organization in another capacity. Funding Of course, you may be able to find a position, but the employer may not have the funding to pay you. In this situation, many students have secured part-time employment to help subsidize living expenses. Website: www.northwestern.edu/careers Fan UCS @ www.facebook.com/northwesternUCS Follow UCS @ twitter.com/northwesternUCS Join UCS @ www.linkedin.com/groupRegistration?gid=1926036