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What Should You Look For In An Internship?

1. Questions to Ask Yourself
2. Career Advising
3. Priorities and Limitations
4. Resume Writing
   

Questions to Ask Yourself
Before you even begin to search for internship opportunities, ask yourself this question--what is your mission? In other words, what do you hope to gain from your internship experience?

A basis for a decision on an academic major?
To "try out" a particular career field?
To acquire broad exposure to an industry?
To develop specific skills?
To gain professional experience and a competitive edge?

Your mission could be one or any combination of the above, or something different. But it is important that you are clear about why you are pursuing an internship. Once you have outlined your goals, think of ways you could realistically achieve them through an internship. Your focus will be essential in identifying appropriate internship opportunities and in cultivating a satisfying and rewarding internship experience.

Career Advising
Sometimes it can be difficult to focus on your internship goals when you are still unsure about your future beyond FIU. We encourage you to seek guidance from a Career Consultant at any stage of your internship search. They can assist you with self-assessment and in recognizing and articulating your interests, skills, and values, as well as help you map out your internship search strategy.

Priorities and Limitations

Geography
Establish a geographic focus for your internship search. Do you have to be in a specific geographic area? Do you prefer one geographic area over another? Do you prefer to be at home this summer, or is part of your mission to live in a new city or environment?

Housing
Will you have access to housing? Do you have relatives in the area you can stay with? Friends? Family of a classmate? Can you afford to rent an apartment? Are there any university-based housing options available?

Finances
Do you need to make money over the summer? How much? What will your living expenses be? Some internships are paid, while some are not.

Resume Writing
Prospective internship sponsors are interested in your career plans, academic background, activities, prior work experiences, and other factors that make you unique. Your resume is a marketing tool-- you are the product.