Internship Experiences

Perhaps you have already been introduced to the idea of obtaining an internship. Perhaps you have heard about other Grinnellians who pursued amazing internships. Perhaps your parents are pushing to get an internship during every summer break. Regardless of your major or if you are still undecided, you owe it to yourself to build internship experiences into your academic studies. 

Internships offer you the opportunity to integrate classroom theory with career-related work experience. They can enhance your classroom learning while you explore and clarify your career goals. Career-related work experiences also increase your chances of finding satisfying employment upon graduation whether right after graduation or following graduate or professional school. Perhaps most important, employers prefer to hire candidates who have had prior career-related work experiences. Internships are essential especially for you as a liberal arts student because you need to demonstrate to employers that you can apply your academic experience concretely and this will increase your marketability as well.

That is what the Career Development Office  staff is here for—helping you navigate the process. Whether you are just getting started or have some idea of what you’re looking for in a career or internship, this is the place for you. We provide assistance in searching for internship opportunities through online resources and networking connections, preparing your internship search documents (e.g. resume and cover letter), preparing for interviews, how to market your internship experience afterwards, and everything in between.

Internships come in various forms. They may:

  • Be a part- or full-time work experience that is directly related to your field of study, career goal, or both;
  • Be pursued with or without applying for academic credit;
  • Be arranged during the academic year or summer;
  • Be paid or unpaid;
  • Be local, national or international;
  • Be pursued at any point during your time at Grinnell – first-year through your senior year.

Start early! Contact our office at 641-269-4940 today to set up an appointment with a CDO career counselor to begin the process of gaining career-related experiences that will springboard you into your future and give you a competitive edge!

Summer 2013 Student Internship Orientation Handbook