Internships & Jobs

Your internship must:

• Make intellectual and practical connections between skills/knowledge developed through a liberal arts education and skills/knowledge required for a particular career.
• Gain first-hand insight into careers related to or associated with your academic interests.
• Explore a career path or field in order to confirm or reject a tentative career plan.
• Acquire experience and practical skills required by employers in your chosen career field.
• Acquire hands-on experience that will enhance your graduate or professional school candidacy.
• Provide routine feedback given through supervision by a professional with expertise and educational and/or professional background in the field of the experience.
• Be an extension of the classroom: a learning experience that provides for applying the knowledge gained in the classroom. It must not be simply to advance the operations of the employer or be the work that a regular employee would routinely perform.
• Have a defined beginning and end, and a job description with desired qualifications.
• Have clearly defined learning objectives/goals related to the professional goals of the student’s academic coursework.
• Be supervised by someone other than a member of your immediate family, nor should your internship supervisor report to a member of your immediate family. (Family members may be employed at your internship company.)

• To receive funds for a summer 2025 internship, you must be a returning undergraduate student and enrolled at Trinity College for the Fall 2025 semester.
• We recommend that international students contact Katharine Clair with questions to ensure that students are in compliance with U.S. visa requirements during summer internship period.
• Students applying for credit for their internship will need to submit a separate internship contract via Handshake – please note that the College assesses a fee to register for credit for summer internships.
• Past recipients of Catalyst or Weingarten funding may apply again; however, preference may be given to first-time applicants. Additionally, funding cannot be awarded twice for the same internship.
• Summer internship funding is not based on your FAFSA nor financial aid from the College. It is appropriate, however, to describe financial need in your application materials.
• Funding cannot go towards equipment or facilities required by the employer to complete the internship.
• Students should have an eReview or visit The Studio for a résumé review and upload their most up-to-date résumé to their Handshake profile. Students who have completed this task, and/or meet with a Career Coach for a mock interview will score higher on the decision rubric.
• Internships can be unpaid OR under-paid, however, those that are completely unpaid will be given preference.
• The internship must consist of a minimum of 120 total hours.
• Students can only receive funding for ONE internship, and cannot receive funding from BOTH Catalyst and Weingarten.

Applications are reviewed by the Summer Funding Selection Committee, who will evaluate each application individually to determine if the student’s internship meets the guidelines. The Selection Committee uses a rubric to determine funding decisions. Funding decisions will be communicated to all applicants via email in May 2025.

• Your internship must be taken during the semester in which you’d like to receive credit. You cannot receive credit for the same internship twice. You must complete the Handshake application before the deadline. And you must answer the application questions fully, with as much detail as possible, and to the best of your ability.
• 1 full credit = 120+ internship site work hours; .5 credits = 60-119 internship site work hours.
• As part of the new Trinity Plus Curriculum (matriculated fall 2021 or later) the Center for Academic & Experiential Advising will provide a faculty supervisor to students, add them to a Moodle classroom, and will assign projects/assignments throughout the internship and a pass/fail grade at the conclusion of the semester.
  • If you matriculated fall 2021 or earlier, you must secure your own faculty sponsor in order to receive credit.
• More information regarding costs for the J-Term and Summer can be found on the Registrar’s Office and Center for Academic & Experiential Advising webpages.

The Weingarten Cross-Cultural Internship Fund provides support for enriching cross-cultural experiences, both within the United States and on the global stage. Tailored exclusively for the summer term, this fund extends financial assistance to students who commit to engaging in transformative multicultural internships. Eligible candidates have the prospect of securing funding amounting to $3000, enabling them to embark on cross-cultural internship opportunities that foster professional growth and cultivate industry-specific skills, while alleviating the financial burdens associated with participating in a multicultural summer internship.

Cross-cultural refers to situations involving people or groups from different cultural backgrounds, marked by significant cultural differences. It provides an opportunity to learn about new customs, traditions, and viewpoints, with a focus on understanding and appreciating the unique cultural aspects of others. This definition encompasses the idea that “cross-cultural” goes beyond merely being in contact with people from different cultures; it involves active engagement with those differences and a willingness to learn and appreciate the perspectives of others, even in situations where the cultural contrast may not be immediately obvious.

The following funds provide financial support to undergraduate Trinity students pursuing unpaid or underpaid summer internships across a wide range of sectors — including nonprofit, public service, business, science, the arts, technology, and more. Open to students of all majors and backgrounds, these opportunities are designed to reduce financial barriers and expand access to meaningful, career-building experiences. Fellows may receive up to $3,500 to help cover the costs associated with participating in internships that offer professional growth and the development of industry-specific skills.

Catalyst Summer Internship Fund

The Catalyst Summer Internship Fund supports fellows pursuing unpaid or under-paid internships in any field. It is designed to help students gain real-world experience, develop industry-specific skills, and explore future career paths without financial limitations.

The Kauff Jacobson Fellows Program

The Kauff Jacobson Summer Internship Fund is open to all fellows pursuing unpaid or under-paid internships, with a particular emphasis on opportunities in the nonprofit sector. The fund supports students engaged in mission-driven work and provides the flexibility to explore a range of roles while building transferable skills and a strong sense of purpose.

The Schnadig Fellows Program

The Schnadig Summer Internship Fund offers financial support to fellows undertaking unpaid or under-paid summer internships across all industries. The fund enables students to participate in immersive learning experiences that contribute to their academic, professional, and personal development.

• Craft a standout résumé with the guidance of the Career & Life Design Center and upload it to your Handshake profile. (Applicants who have had an eReview, been to Studio, and/or met with a Career & Life Design Coach for a mock interview will score higher on the Selection Committee’s decision rubric).
• The application process is two-fold:
  • Step 1: Apply through Handshake in the “Experiences” section; search for “Catalyst Summer Internship Fund Application 2025” or “Weingarten Cross-Cultural Summer Internship Fund Application 2025”. (An instructional video demonstrating the steps for this portion of the application can be viewed here.)
  • Step 2: Complete a video interview on Big Interview (the link and code for the interview will be given at the very end of the Handshake application).  Applications submitted via Handshake WITHOUT also recording their interview will be considered incomplete. (An instructional video demonstrating the steps for this portion of the application can be viewed here.)
• Prepare to share internship details and explain your budget plan.
• Application deadline: Sunday, April 20, 2025, at midnight.

Please note: accepting an internship before receiving a funding decision is a personal decision and does not guarantee financial support.

• A signed Internship Learning Agreement (completed together by both the student and internship supervisor)
• Accounting form for funding purposes
  • W-9 or W-8BEN
• A mid-summer check-in essay
• A detailed photo essay at the conclusion of the summer
• An end-of-internship survey
• Thank-you note to donors
• Students awarded Weingarten funding must also attend a luncheon in the fall with Richard Weingarten ’68

Financial disbursements are contingent upon timely completion of the items listed above. Recipients who fail to complete the internship or requirements of the summer funding programs must repay all funds already distributed.

Trinity’s Information Security Team (IST) has created a resource page for students to help identify job offer scams that typically are sent from non-Trinity sources and how you can be more aware. Learn more here.

Whether you are searching for your first internship, a job on campus, after-graduation employment, or future graduate schools, we are here to support your exploration and planning.

Students:

1. Log into Handshake with your Trinity credentials
2. Navigate to the “Career Center”
3. In the menu options at the top of the page, click on “jobs”
4. Filter “job type” by “on-campus student employment”
5. Search and apply!

Faculty & Staff:

Submit your available positions to be posted in Handshake by completing and submitting this form. All student applications will be sent directly to your Trinity email address, via Handshake, and you are able to contact applicants and conduct interviews at your own discretion.

Why post in Handshake? It’s simple and streamlined – once you submit the form, the challenging part for you is over. Just let the applications come to you!

Students know about Handshake! We continuously advertise to look in Handshake for available on-campus positions, along with our other useful resources. Handshake is students’ one-stop-shop for everything career-related!

Having all on-campus positions in one place makes it easier for everyone – especially students!

Handshake – Search for internships and jobs, register for events and workshops, make career coaching appointments, network with employers and peers. Update your profile and career interests to help us help you find relevant opportunities.

Video on how to search for internships in Handshake (3 minutes)

Video on how to make an appointment in Handshake (1 minute)

Career Development has built strong partnership with many local organizations and employers. Search for local internships with our partners in Handshake. Click on “jobs,” click on “filters,” scroll down and type “Hartford Area Internship” under “Labeled by Your School.”

You can also use Handshake to access many other useful resources:

• Big Interview – Learn interviewing strategies and record yourself practicing interview answers.
• What Can I Do With This Major – Learn about industries and types of employers related to your major, as well as strategies to make you a more marketable candidate.
• Interstride – Geared towards international students, Interstride targets companies with a history of selecting international students. In addition, it provides resources for job searching, future visa pathways, tips and tricks for mental wellness, and much more, tailored specifically to your needs as an international student.
• Forage – Build real world skills direct from world leading organizations with virtual experience programs. These virtual experience programs are free for all students.
• Guides – Our team has developed reference guides to support your career journey! The content of these guides ranges from how to write a cover letter and begin networking, to interview preparation and how to apply to grad school.

Bantam Career Network – Network with Trinity community members including alumni to learn about internships and jobs and explore majors and careers. 

LinkedIn – Search for internships and jobs, network with alumni using Alumni Search Tool, build your networking profile. Video in tailoring your LinkedIn profile’s URL (1 minute)

What is Doxxing?

Doxxing refers to gathering an individual’s Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and disclosing or posting it publicly, usually for malicious purposes such as public humiliation, stalking, identity theft, or targeting an individual for harassment. *

*Definition from United States Department of Homeland Security. Learn more here.

Career & Life Design Center’s Statement on Doxxing:

The Career & Life Design Center will not tolerate harassment and has the right to remove someone’s access to resources like Handshake and the Bantam Career Network, should we learn that students or alumni are harassing current Trinity students.

If you have experienced online harassment and would like to report it, please contact the Campus Climate Response Team.

How Career & Life Design Can Help Trinity Students & Alumni

Our team encourages current students and alumni to meet in-person or virtually, to create a strategy for personal and professional branding and protection.

Learn how to curate an online presence, create a professional image, and make a positive first (and lasting) impression. Discuss ways to develop your professional network and forge meaningful conversations as well as the importance of building strong references.

Trinity students and alumni may schedule appointments via Handshake or email us at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

Online Safety Tips from the Library & Information Technology Services (LITS)

View ways to better secure your personal information online, here. Learn more ways to shield your personal information through the National Cybersecurity Alliance.

For more information on cybersecurity, please contact the Information Security Team (IST).

Additional Resources for Doxxing Prevention

• “If you have been targeted/doxxed, consider the following actions…” (Columbia’s Doxxing Resources)
• “You can take steps that reduce your risk of being doxxed. ” (Tufts Safety Article – How to Protect Yourself Against Doxxing)

If you’ve been a victim of doxxing, especially through one of the career platforms, please contact the Career & Life Design Center at [email protected], and we’ll help you schedule an appointment with a member of our team to discuss further.