Center for Engineering Career Development

Internships and Co-Ops

Summer Jobs and Internships Provide You with Opportunities to:

Gain valuable work experience before graduating
Develop skills
Evaluate personal likes and dislikes that will enable you to make sound and confident career decisions
Develop professional contacts
Gain confidence in your abilities
Build a stronger resume, which will help you later in obtaining full-time employment

Why Intern

Regardless of the job market, a career-related summer job or internship is critical and can make the difference when it comes to obtaining a full-time position. More employers are using work experiences as screening devices to assess the skills and abilities of prospective employees. Skills learned on the job supplement the skills learned in the classroom. A career-related summer job or internship is likely to give you a competitive edge when you seek your first job.

Each year, students obtain interesting, substantive, and career-related summer jobs and internships. The keys to their success: preparation and an early start in the summer job search process.

Steps to Finding an Internship

FIRST STEP - Determine Your Interests & Priorities.

Do you want career-related experience? The opportunity to travel? Funds to support tuition fees?

Self-assessment instruments are available to help you explore what you would like to do and what career paths are available. Contact our office for more details!

SECOND STEP - Explore Your Options.

Research career options through networking with family, friends, alumni, and employers

Conduct informational interviews

Identify Prospective Employers

Career Fairs, the UCAN alumni database, CareerSearch, organizational directories, newspapers, and employer databases can be used to pinpoint organizations of interest, including traditional summer employers.

THIRD STEP - Develop a Resume to Emphasize Your Skills.

A resume can effectively present your background and distinguish you from other job seekers.

FOURTH STEP - Start Contacting Employers Early

Participate in the UVA On-Grounds Interviewing Program

Search the CAVLinkInternship Listings

Contact the manager of an organization in your area of interest, as well as the Human Resources department of a company. Call, email or write to request information regarding internship and summer job opportunities.

Network!

Identify employers of interest to you.

FIFTH STEP - Prepare and Follow-up on Interviews

Practice your interviewing skils (schedule a mock interview for practice and feedback).

Always send a thank-you letter to the interviewer expressing your appreciation.

If you were not granted an interview, follow up your application with a phone call, a letter, or even a visit. Your interest and enthusiasm will distinguish you from other job seekers.

This internship plan is a rough outline of the steps to take in finding an internship. You are encourage to attend an internship workshop or schedule an individual appointment to come up with a strategy that is right for you.

About the Extern Program

University Career Service's sponsors the Extern Program, which is a volunteer "job shadowing" opportunity for students to spend one week during school vacations (in January, March and over Summer Break) observing and often working with professionals, investigating a career field and experiencing a typical week on the job. This experience is not for credit or pay but greatly benefits both externs and sponsors. It allows a student to clarify his/her career goals, while allowing the sponsor (or prospective employer) to scrutinize interests, skills and abilities of potential employees or interns.

Why Should I do it?

An externship is a great way to learn about the day-to-day work life of a professional in a career field of your choice. The Extern Program offers the chance to "test" a career without risk of a semester or longer term commitment. It can also get your foot in the door for a competitive internship program or job.

What do Externs do?

Many students observe in one department throughout their week; others spend a day in each department to get a broad overview. You may take a tour; conduct informational interviews with people in various specializations and at different levels; review company literature; sit in on staff meetings; help with clerical tasks; ask questions about the field, the organization, necessary training and curriculum to follow to enter the field; and/or assist with actual office projects (research, report writing, etc.).

Participate in the Extern Program


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Internships and Co-Ops Summer Jobs and Internships Provide You with Opportunities to: Gain valuable work experience before graduating Develop skills Evaluate personal likes and dislikes that will enable you to make sound and confident career decisions Develop professional contacts Gain confidence in your abilities Build a stronger resume, which will help you later in obtaining full-time employment Why Intern Regardless of the job market, a career-related summer job or internship is critical and can make the difference when it comes to obtaining a full-time position. More employers are using work experiences as screening devices to assess the skills and abilities of prospective employees. Skills learned on the job supplement the skills learned in the classroom. A career-related summer job or internship is likely to give you a competitive edge when you seek your first job. Each year, students obtain interesting, substantive, and career-related summer jobs and internships. The keys to their success: preparation and an early start in the summer job search process. Steps to Finding an Internship FIRST STEP - Determine Your Interests & Priorities. Do you want career-related experience? The opportunity to travel? Funds to support tuition fees? Self-assessment instruments are available to help you explore what you would like to do and what career paths are available. Contact our office for more details! SECOND STEP - Explore Your Options. Research career options through networking with family, friends, alumni, and employers Conduct informational interviews Identify Prospective Employers Career Fairs, the UCAN alumni database, CareerSearch, organizational directories, newspapers, and employer databases can be used to pinpoint organizations of interest, including traditional summer employers. THIRD STEP - Develop a Resume to Emphasize Your Skills. A resume can effectively present your background and distinguish you from other job seekers. FOURTH STEP - Start Contacting Employers Early Participate in the UVA On-Grounds Interviewing Program Search the CAVLinkInternship Listings Contact the manager of an organization in your area of interest, as well as the Human Resources department of a company. Call, email or write to request information regarding internship and summer job opportunities. Network! Identify employers of interest to you. FIFTH STEP - Prepare and Follow-up on Interviews Practice your interviewing skils (schedule a mock interview for practice and feedback). Always send a thank-you letter to the interviewer expressing your appreciation. If you were not granted an interview, follow up your application with a phone call, a letter, or even a visit. Your interest and enthusiasm will distinguish you from other job seekers. This internship plan is a rough outline of the steps to take in finding an internship. You are encourage to attend an internship workshop or schedule an individual appointment to come up with a strategy that is right for you. About the Extern Program University Career Service's sponsors the Extern Program, which is a volunteer "job shadowing" opportunity for students to spend one week during school vacations (in January, March and over Summer Break) observing and often working with professionals, investigating a career field and experiencing a typical week on the job. This experience is not for credit or pay but greatly benefits both externs and sponsors. It allows a student to clarify his/her career goals, while allowing the sponsor (or prospective employer) to scrutinize interests, skills and abilities of potential employees or interns. Why Should I do it? An externship is a great way to learn about the day-to-day work life of a professional in a career field of your choice. The Extern Program offers the chance to "test" a career without risk of a semester or longer term commitment. It can also get your foot in the door for a competitive internship program or job. What do Externs do? Many students observe in one department throughout their week; others spend a day in each department to get a broad overview. You may take a tour; conduct informational interviews with people in various specializations and at different levels; review company literature; sit in on staff meetings; help with clerical tasks; ask questions about the field, the organization, necessary training and curriculum to follow to enter the field; and/or assist with actual office projects (research, report writing, etc.). Participate in the Extern Program
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