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Planning

Each year we hear about internships where students had a terrible experience. In many cases, planning could have avoided these disappointing outcomes. A few tips to help you avoid a bad internship:

1. Know What You Want Before You Start Searching
We strongly suggest you think through the below questions before you begin looking for your internship:

• What type of internship are you looking to acquire?
• What skills would you most like to develop?
• What type of organization and work environment would fit your interests and values?
• What qualities do you look for in an ideal supervisor?

2. Start Early and Get Help
If you want an internship with a large company like Target, Cargill, or Wells Fargo, plan ahead! Many companies hire summer interns in September and October–8 months before the actual start date. Smaller companies post summer positions in January and February.

Strategies for finding a good internship vary by field; to get insider tips for your industry call 612-624-2710 and schedule an appointment with your career counselor. Also, check out the Finding Jobs and Internships section of our web site or visit GoldPASS, the job posting site for students and alumni, to view internship listings.

3. Ask Three Critical Questions
Before accepting an internship experience, be sure to ask the following questions:

• What type of training is provided for interns?
• Who will supervise me and how would you describe his/her supervisory style?
• Can you give me specific examples of the types of projects that I would work on and what types of skills I would develop through these projects?