FAQ

The following list (from the Internship Office) points out some of the advantages of an internship:

• An internship increases your marketability to employers. On average, only 30 percent of graduating seniors have job offers before graduation; however, after students complete an internship, that figure rises to 58 percent.
• An internship facilitates a higher starting salary than non-interns receive. In a recent study, interns received, on averages, $2,240 more than non-interns for starting salary.
• You gain exposure to real-world problems and issues that perhaps are not found in textbooks.
• You can evaluate specific companies or specific careers prior to committing with full-time employment.
• An internship increases opportunities within a company for faster advancement and growth.
• You increase your self-confidence in the workplace while developing an expanded network of associates and professionals.
• You have resume-building experiences while applying academic concepts and principles.
• You can spread the gospel in many areas through example and lifestyles wherever you go.
• You can have hands-on opportunities to work with equipment and technology that may not be available on campus.
• Click here for previous English interns’ thoughts on the value of internships.

When should I start doing internships?

Most of our students end up doing their internships in their junior or senior year, after they’ve had some training and experience at school and when they’re preparing to enter the job market. However, having several internships is a good idea, it is also acceptable and, in some cases, advisable, to start earlier.

Some but not all internships are paid. An intern may do an internship for credit only. If your internship is unpaid, you may qualify for funding from the College of Humanities.

You absolutely can do more than one internship and, in certain fields, such as technical writing and editing, it may advisable.

Finding an internship is similar to finding a job: you must locate, apply, and receive an offer. This editing internship website lists possible internship opportunities, and this is where information about new internships will be be posted. Check the website periodically. For additional postings, explore the databases found under the database tag.

Read the information on creating a resume provided by Career Services here and by the editing department here. Write or edit your resume following these guidelines and take it to Career Services in the Wilkinson Center, the writing center in either the library or the JKB, or the Humanities Advisement Center in the JFSB. Preferably all three.

Also, make sure that you’re modifying your resume specifically for the internship you’re applying for. See if you can determine from the wanted ad and from the internship provider’s website what they’re looking for and emphasize those things on your resume. You may also visit the workplace or call with a few well-chosen questions.

Check out this information provided by the University Career Services, and make sure you practice before you go in.