Finding an Internship
There are many ways in which SPEA students obtain internships. Here at SPEA, we expect students to be the primary drivers of their own careers, but remember that throughout the process, the Office of Career Services is always here for you to use as a resource. SPEA OCS provides access to subsciption databases as well as personalized support for those who are having trouble starting their internship search or finding an internship.
Most students find their internship using a combination of the following strategies:
Online Internship Posts/Applications
As you are probably aware, job- and and internship-searching as become very internet-driven. First and foremost, do not forget to check SPEACareers.com frequently. New internships as posted daily! Second, SPEA OCS provides you with access to subscription-based and non-subscription based resources online in our online Job/Internship Resource page. Finally, you should also check MyIuCareers, which is hosted by the Career Development Center.
Networking
The best way to find and land a quality internship is to network! Network with everyone from faculty, staff, family, friends of family, friends, community members, people you volunteer with, etc. While you are at SPEA, you should take time to find out what experiences your faculty have had in the field and what advice they could offer to you. You should also make sure that your family members and friends know that you are looking for an internship and what you would like to do, since you never know what connections they may have in the field of your interest! Many students, especially bachelors students, find internships at businesses or organizations where they either know someone who works there, or they are connected to somone who does.
While you are looking for an internship, be sure to take advantage of any networking nights or employer information sessions that are hosted by OCS throughout the year. They provide you a great opportunity to meet with fellow students, staff, and employers, all in one area!
You can network online with current OCS staff as well as students, past and present, on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
Internship/Career Fairs
Internship and career fairs offer you a unique opportunity to get in front of and network with multiple employers in a relatively short amount of time. While at SPEA and IU, you should take advantage of the many Internship and Career fairs that are hosted by SPEA along with the other career services offices around campus. Career and internship fairs are advertised all around campus as well as in SPEA. When there is an upcoming fair, you will see many fliers around the building as well as receive email announcements. Career and internship fair dates will also be posted on the Upcoming Events page as well as in SPEACareers.com both on the calendar and in the announcements.
Research of Completed Internships
Are you interested in a particular company or organization, but not sure how to get your foot in the door? Did you know that there is a searchable database of internships completed by SPEA students? There is! If you have a company in mind, or are just starting out your search and are curious as to where other students have interned before, you can search the online Internship Summary Database. The database is handy at any stage of your internship search. Plus, if you know that a SPEA student has interned at a company or organization that you are interested in, then it is an excellent way for you to research the internship and get your foot in the door.