SPP Careers 301 1

Careers 301: Internships

Clark R. Bonilla, DirectorAlumni and Career Services

School of Public Policy

SPP Careers 301 2

Table of Contents

What is an Internship?

Values of an Internship

The Internship Search

Securing an Internship

Documenting an Internship

Other Occupational Experiences

Suggested Reading

SPP Careers 301 3

What is an Internship?

“any official or formal program to provide

practical experience for beginners in an

occupation or profession: an internship for

management trainees.”

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/internship

SPP Careers 301 4

Educational Definition

An Internship is “a supervised discipline-related

work experience [involving] an intentional

experiential learning strategy, an emphasis on

professional development, performance

assessments, and reflection and acknowledgment.”

(O’Neill, 2010)

SPP Careers 301 5

Emphasis: Supervision

An Internship “integrates career related

experience into an undergraduate education

through participation in planned, supervised

work.” (O’Neill, 2010)

SPP Careers 301 6

What is “Practical Experience”?

Apply theory to real-world problems.

Gain “tacit” knowledge through contextualized learning.

Utilize multiple skills simultaneously within an

interdisciplinary team environment.

Identify, reduce and manage risks of uncertainty in

workplace.

Learn relationship-building in professional context.

SPP Careers 301 7

Experiential Learning Objectives

Adapt to various work environments,

Adopt professional etiquette and ethics,

Perform professional work assignments,

Function within teams,

Adhere to hierarchies of authority,

Adhere to all policies and procedures,

Clarify career goals and career pathways,

Apply PP knowledge, tools, and techniques.

SPP Careers 301 8

Structure of Internships

Full- or Part-time (20 hr/wkly minimum),

Summer time for SPP MS students,

Fall/Spring time (with SPP approval),

Preferably paid (volunteer with SPP approval),

Regular work hours,

Work on-site (not remotely, not on-campus),

Relevant to career goals,

Managerial supervision,

Perform work necessary to employer,

SPP Careers 301 9

Optional Elements

Earn academic credit for work experience

Produce thesis or professional paper related to work

experience

On-campus internship requires SPP pre-approval (GTRI,

EII, CETL or CIESMC)

Management trainee program (longer than 1 semester)

Use of prior work to fulfill SPP MS internship requirement

(requires SPP pre-approval)

SPP Careers 301 10

Internships Should …

Promote student’s professional development

Be completed before or after graduation,

Be SPP pre-approved to fulfill internship requirements,

Include professional mentoring and educational

assignments,

Involve career related experiences to reinforce prior

learning.

SPP Careers 301 11

Find a Mentor, …

Find an adviser,

Expand exponentially your professional network,

Find a permanent job,

Excel in your internship or permanent job,

Find a satisfying career,

Advance in your career,

Find a friend … perhaps.

SPP Careers 301 12

Desired Outcomes

Clarified career goals,

Employer evaluated your knowledge and skills,

Improved skills and managerial potential,

Maintained positive SPP/GT-employer relationship,

Permanent employment or positive employer

recommendation,

Expanded professional network,

Better employee-job matching (satisfaction, excellence,

productivity, advancement, pay).

SPP Careers 301 13

Internship Search, Step 1

GT Recruitment Fairs (

http://gtalumni.org/pages/careerfair)

Targeted Mailing (very limited)

Networking (colleagues, SPP alumni, new contacts,

social media, professors, prior employers, etc.)

Online Searches (See: Link to “Job Search Engines” on

http://spp.gatech.edu/careerblog/)

SPP Careers 301 14

Internship Search, Step 2

Attend Career 201 Workshop on Social Media.

Identify and Map Your Knowledge & Skill Sets.

Define Career Goals.

Draft Professional Resume (not CV).

Create Profile on Social Media (LinkedIn.com).

Conduct Mock Interviews.

Join Relevant Professional Associations.

Update Your Professional References.

SPP Careers 301 15

Securing an Internship, Part 1

Study the organization (mission, strategic priorities,

budget, recent achievements, organizational design).

Learn backgrounds of interviewers (see:

www.LinkedIn.com profiles).

Know your strengths and weaknesses for the position

(Analytical, Social, Knowledge).

Have Professional Development Plan.

Believe in the organization (employer).

Keep a positive tone always.

SPP Careers 301 16

Securing an Internship, Part 2

Praise Georgia Tech and prior employers (not yourself).

Never underestimate the value of reputation.

Be happy to “prove” yourself to employer.

No task is too small to give it your best.

Refer to your LinkedIn.com profile.

Relate your knowledge and skills to the position.

Be self-confident and sociable (not arrogant or talkative).

SPP Careers 301 17

Securing an Internship, Part 3

Consider your long-term potential to employer.

Identify how you provide value-added service.

Say how you’ll grow professionally via internship.

Be a keen observer and listener.

Don’t volunteer confidential information.

You just might get a job offer without internship.

Consider broadly your relevant experience (research,

volunteer, service learning).

SPP Careers 301 18

Documenting an Internship

Supervisor’s contact information

Colleagues’ contact information (your network)

Log of daily activities

Reports of tasks and outcomes

Copies of reports, studies, policy statements, memos,

etc. (with permission)

Exit interview documents

Recommendation letter before exit

SPP Careers 301 19

Other Occupational Experiences

Externship

Practicum

Cooperative Education

Contract Work

Temporary Work

Volunteer Activities

Consulting

Mentoring

SPP Careers 301 20

Key Web Sites

GT Career Services, Internship Programs: http://www.career.gatech.edu/plugins/content/index.php?id=291

GT, DPP, Cooperative Education: http://www.gradcoop.gatech.edu/

Federal Internships: www.USAJOBS.gov

PPGSA T-Square: Internships/Search Engines

SPP Careers 301 21

Annual Internship Opportunities

Intern, GA Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget

Research Intern, Progress Partners of North Fulton,

Atlanta, GA

Intern, White House Office of Science and

Technology Policy, Washington, DC

Performance Management Analyst Intern, Office of

the Mayor, Atlanta, GA

Legislative Intern, DC Summer Internship Program,

Georgia Tech, Office of Provost

SPP Careers 301 22

Next Steps

Define Your Career Goals. Explore Alternative Career Pathways. Be Strategic. Have a Career Management Plan. Be Persistent. Be Positive. Show What You Can Contribute to Employers. Network, Network, Network.

SPP Careers 301 23

Suggested Reading 1

Feldman, Daniel C.; Folks, William R. and Turnley, William H. “Mentor-protégé diversity and its impact on international internship experiences.” Journal of Organizational Behavior, Sept. 1999, 20, 5, p597-611.

Gavigan, Lisa. “Connecting the classroom with real-world experiences through summer internships.” Peer Review, Fall 2010, 12,4, p15-19.

Hindmoor, Andrew. “Internships within Political Science,” Australian Journal of Political Science, September 2010, 45, 3, p483–490.

O’Neill, Nancy. “Internships as a high-impact practice: some reflections on quality.” Peer Review, Fall 2010, 12, 4, p4-8.

SPP Careers 301 24

Suggested Reading, 2

Fifolt, Matt and Searby, Linda. “Mentoring in cooperative education and internships: preparing protégés for STEM professions.” Journal of STEM Education: Innovations & Research; Jan-Jun 2010, 11,1, p17-26.

Wasonga, Teresa A. and Murphy, John F. “Learning from tacit knowledge: the impact of the internship.” The International Journal of Educational Management, 2006, 20,2, p153-63.

Weible, Rick. “Are universities reaping the available benefits internship programs offer?” Journal of Education for Business, 2010, 85: 59–63.

SPP Careers 301 25

For More Information:

Clark Bonilla, Director

Office: 404-385-7220

clark.bonilla@pubpolicy.gatech.edu