Test drive your career

An internship is a well-planned learning experience that combines career development and academic learning. Internships may be paid or unpaid, and some may be available for academic credit. However, an internship is not a chance to get academic credit for your current part-time job. Unlike many part-time jobs, internships should help you apply your classroom learning in the real-world. If you’re only making copies and filing, chances are, you are not learning.

In today’s competitive job market, internships are one of the best ways to test-drive your career. Internships help you connect your academic studies to the real world, learn about yourself, and provide valuable information about the world around you. Our unique location in Atlanta offers extraordinary opportunities to gain valuable work experience in any field. Oglethorpe students have recently completed internships at The Carter Center, CNN, Georgia Pacific, Atlanta Magazine, Zoo Atlanta, the Atlanta History Center, and the Georgia State Legislature, to name only a few. In addition to these Atlanta-based internships, the A_Lab has resources and affiliations with nationwide opportunities, such as the Washington Center in Washington, D.C.

FEATURED INTERNSHIP

Apply on Handshake: https://app.joinhandshake.com/jobs/2111125

How to get an internship

Step One: Meet with an A_LAB Career Counselor

If you don’t already have a career plan, or even if you do, you’ll find it helpful to discuss internship options with us. We can help you to think about your goals, assess your skills and interests, and help you decide on the types of internships that will move you along your career path. Ideally, this will be done during the semester before your internship begins.

Step Two: Secure an Internship

The A_LAB has over 200 internship listings within the Atlanta area alone. Most of these opportunities can be found through Handshake. Many internship applications will require a resume and interview. We can help you create your resume and prepare for the interviews.

Step Three: Decide if You Will Seek Academic Credit for Your Internship

You should apply for academic credit if an internship is required by your major and/or if you want the internship listed on your transcript. To get academic credit (ranging from 1-4 credits), you must apply and get approval first. To receive academic credit, you will need to meet a set of minimum requirements and complete an academic assignment in addition to your work. The internship will appear on your course schedule and will bear the same tuition and fees as a regular course.

If you choose not to seek academic credit, you do not need to apply and have your internship approved. However, you still need to register your internship with the A-Lab. The internship requirements (2.0 GPA, sophomore status) are waived if you do not wish to receive academic credit. Non-credit internships may begin and end at any time and don’t need to be structured around the academic calendar or the drop/add dates. However, you and your supervisor should agree on a suitable length of time. At least three months is recommended.

Step Four: Find a Faculty Supervisor

In addition to the work you will complete at your internship, there is an academic portion of the internship that is required in order to receive academic credit. This requirement is met through writing assignments as determined by your faculty supervisor. The minimum requirement for internship credit is five pages of written work per credit hour. Ask one of your professors in the field you are seeking to intern if they will supervise your internship. The A_LAB will also be happy to assist you in securing a faculty supervisor.

Step Five: Complete Internship Application in Handshake

Log into Handshake using your Oglethorpe username and password.

Select “Report an Internship” on the left side of the page and the system will walk you through the process to apply for your internship.

Step Six: Wait for Approval

All internship applications must be approved by the Experiential Education Committee at the beginning and end of each semester. You will be notified via email if your internship has been approved, or if your application needs to be modified.

Step Seven: Complete Your Internship

Enjoy it! This is a wonderful chance for you to learn about your fields of interest and hone your career prospects. The A-Lab and Oglethorpe’s Pinterest boards have a wealth of information to help you make the most of this experience. Throughout the semester, you will meet with your faculty advisor to discuss your internship experience and your writing assignments. Upon successful completion of the internship, the student is awarded academic credit (graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis) in recognition of the learning value of the experience.

Participate in company-wide events
Attend different types of meetings and presentations
Apply for/look for opportunities within the company
Attend conferences offered to employees
Ask for a directory and an organizational chart
Conduct informational interviews: Find out more about the organization and the field you are interested in by interviewing employees who have careers that interest you.
Assess the value of your internship experience: Review your internship objectives periodically and conduct reflective self-assessments through logs or memos to your file to ensure that you are meeting those goals. If your work experience does not seem to be allowing you to meet your objectives for the internship, tactfully and professionally request a meeting with your supervisor to discuss modifying your assignments.

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