Information sessions are held every semester during Advising Week for students considering an internship.  Ideally, all arrangements will be made during the semester preceding the internship.

1.  PICK UP a Directory of Internships from the Internship Office or look at it online.  READ THE INTRODUCTION CAREFULLY and look through the placement listings to identify those which interest you.  Check the website or Trinity Exchange for new and updated information.

2.  RESEARCH YOUR CHOICES.  There is information kept in the Internship Office to assist students in finding an internship.  For example, past intern evaluations are kept in notebooks for students to read, supplementing the descriptions in the Directory.  There is also a "Faculty Bank" notebook which may help students select a Faculty Sponsor.  If you are uncertain about what type of internship you want to pursue, staff will help you in defining areas of interest, evaluating background experience and determining goals.  The office will also give you the Internship Application/Contract you must complete for registration, or you can download it from the website.  If you have any questions or need assistance, please make an appointment or come by during office hours.

3.  PREPARE A RESUME.  This need not be elaborate but should give the potential "employer" some necessary background information.  The Office of Career Services provides a useful brochure showing samples of resumes and cover letters.  Not all internship placements will request a resume, but it is a good idea to have one ready.

4.  CONTACT ORGANIZATIONS.  Once you have narrowed down your choices, you should make a preliminary telephone call to the "Internship Contact" of each organization which is of interest.  (In a few instances, the description in the Directory includes a "NOTE" asking the student to submit a resume directly.  This means you should not call the contact).  When speaking with the contact, find out if the placement will be available for the semester being considered, and ask for more information about it. If you decide to pursue the placement, arrange an interview.

YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROFESSIONAL CONCERNING YOUR INTERVIEWS.  Punctuality is essential, as is explaining in detail why the internship interests you.  If for any reason the interview must be canceled, please LET THE CONTACT KNOW in advance.  Interviewing guidelines and workshops are provided by Career Services; students unfamiliar with interviewing may take advantage of them before applying for an internship.

If you are interviewing with more than one placement and are fortunate enough to be offered more than one internship, let the placement contacts know whether or not you are accepting the internship.  This is very important for the one being turned down.  Another student may be under consideration for this opening.  Thank the contact for offering you the placement and give some explanation of why it is not being accepted.  Students don't like to be turned down and neither do employers.  Be considerate when refusing an internship.

Always send a brief "thank you" note to anyone who has taken the time to interview you in person.

5.  ENGAGE A FACULTY SPONSOR.  Once the placement has been arranged (or while you are arranging it), you must enlist the guidance of a member of the faculty.  Using the Faculty Bank, past evaluations, and your knowledge of professors' fields of study, you should determine who might have an interest in your internship topic and placement.  Ask the professor if he or she would supervise your internship.  The Faculty Sponsor will assist in creating the academic portion of the internship, and should therefore be a professor with some expertise or background in the field of the internship.  The Faculty Sponsor may make recommendations for a bibliography when required and will assign appropriate written work.  He or she will also grade the internship.

6.  APPLICATION/CONTRACT.  Details of the internship, including the job description and academic assignments, are entered on an Internship Application/Contract, which also specifies due dates and meetings with the sponsor.  The completed form is then signed by the Faculty Sponsor, by the sponsor's department chairperson, and by the Field Supervisor.  If you are receiving major or minor credit for the internship, your own department chairperson or minor director must approve that in writing on the form also.  Allow yourself plenty of time to get these signatures, as the form will not be approved without them.

7.  REGISTER.  When the form has been completed and signed, photocopy both sides; give the ORIGINAL and one copy to the Internship Office.  Other copies go to the Faculty Sponsor, the Field Supervisor and yourself.  ALL FORMS MUST BE LEGIBLE!

THE DEADLINE FOR REGISTERING AN INTERNSHIP IS THE THIRD DAY OF

CLASSES EACH TERM.

8.  EVALUATIONS.  At the end of the term you will fill out an evaluation form which will remain on file in the Internship Office.  Your Field Supervisor will also fill out an evaluation form which will be returned to the Internship Office and then sent to the Faculty Sponsor to be used in the grading process.