How to Obtain an Internship

There are many ways to search for internships. Seven suggestions are listed below, but you should plan to stop by the Center for Career Development for more strategies on finding an internship! Remember, once you secure an internship there is some paperwork that should be submitted to the Center for Career Development.

1. GettysburgWorks. Internship opportunities that come into the Center for Career Development are listed in GettysburgWorks. Access this online list anytime, at college or at home! Create an account and begin the search for internship opportunities in Gettysburg as well as around the country. 

2. Websites. A number of websites list internships. Find some great sites through our office or by doing your own search.

3. Weekly Email List. Get the latest in internship opportunities by subscribing to a weekly Internship email list sent from the Center for Career Development. Interested? Then you should subscribe!

4. Networking. Tell everyone you know that you are looking for an internship! That means family, friends, professors, past employers, anyone who will listen! It is estimated that 75% of available jobs are never advertised (same for internships!). If you tell 10 people what types of internship you are looking for, they each know 10 people then you could have up to 100 people helping you find a position! Read our Networking Bulletin to learn more.

5. Career Development Library. There are also resources in the Center for Career Development that you will want to check out! Several books, like The Internship Bible, list on-going internship opportunities around the country indicating everything from deadline to apply, how to apply, paid or unpaid, and benefits of the internship.

6. Employer Research. Put together a list of companies/organizations where you would like to work as intern. Get a list of potential employers from the phone book or the Chamber of Commerce website in your town! Visit employer websites and see if they have an internship program (may be listed on the Human Resources/Career page). Employers that do not have a formal internship program may be willing to sponsor an intern if asked!

7. Apply & Interview. Applying for internships is very similar to looking for a full-time job. It is likely that you will send a resume and cover letter. Be sure that both of these documents are error-free and excellent representations of your skills and abilities. Employers may discard your application because of a careless spelling error! Send your application materials and then follow up with a phone call or stop by in person!

The internship interview should be treated with the same care and preparation as a you would an interview for a full-time job. Research the employer, practice answering interview questions, dress professionally, prepare questions to ask the interviewer, and follow-up with a thank you note.