Internships: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• What is an internship?
• What is the value of doing an internship?
• How many internships should I do?
• What do I need to know about for-credit internships?
• What is the procedure for securing a for-credit internship?
• When should I begin looking for an internship?
• Is it better to do a for-credit or a not-for-credit internship?
• What resources are available for helping me locate internships?
• Who can I speak with in Career Services regarding my internship interests?
• What if I don’t have time for an internship right now?

What is an internship?
An internship is a work-related learning opportunity to gain hands-on practice in an area of interest. Available in a wide variety of fields from both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors, internships may be paid or unpaid, for-credit or not-for-credit, and may be pursued spring, summer, or fall, based on individual goals. Most internships are temporary assignments, typically lasting approximately three months to a year.

What is the value of doing an internship?
There are many benefits to completing an internship including the development of strong teamwork skills balanced with the exercise of individual responsibility, the opportunity to experiment with jobs that match academic and personal interests, the chance to develop industry-specific abilities while enjoying the advantages of a liberal arts education, and the likelihood of building professional networking contacts and mentoring relationships. Internships help students become viable, experienced job applicants when seeking employment after graduation. In fact, many employers consider internship experience in the hiring process, and often look to their own interns as the best potential candidates for full-time positions.

How many internships should I do?
There is no limit. Students may profit the most by experimenting with a combination of not-for-credit and for-credit internships. For example, a student could do not-for-credit internships during the summer months (full-time if the internship is paid, or in conjunction with a part-time job), and one or two for-credit internships during the fall/spring semesters, depending on academic department or major.

What do I need to know about for-credit internships?
For-credit internships require a strong academic center, a set of organizing principles that will foster a particular discipline of mind. The central question is the value of the internship experience to higher education in a liberal arts and science context. Internships that are primarily clerical or mechanical will not qualify for academic credit.

The Internship Application involves students in a three-way “contract” negotiation: the content description on the application needs to reflect an agreement that meets the student’s interests, the expectations of a Skidmore faculty sponsor (who will evaluate the internship for credit and a grade), and an on-site supervisor (who will guide the student’s on-site activities). The student’s role in bringing about this agreement is thus fairly complex, but it is also educational. The Office of Academic Advising can help students with the process if they are given enough lead time. It usually takes two to three weeks for a student to secure all the necessary information and approvals for an internship application.

What is the procedure for securing a for-credit internship?

1. Locate an internship that will meet the academic requirements of the department. Begin by meeting with a career counselor in Career Services to discuss your goals and learn about the many relevant internship listing resources as well as strategies for discovering unlisted opportunities. Please Note: Internships for credit require a strong academic center, a set of organizing principles that will foster a particular discipline of mind.
2. Find a faculty member to act as a sponsor for the internship (e.g., your faculty advisor or another recommended faculty member).
3. Download and complete the Internship Proposal Application packet from the Office of Academic Advising web page. Please Note: Applications must be submitted to the Office of Academic Advising by the publicized date.

When should I begin looking for an internship?
It is important to allow enough time to locate and apply for rewarding internships. Preliminary steps might include working with a career counselor to be guided through a self-assessment, reviewing the resources linked under What Can I Do With This Major, and conducting Informational Interviews with career advisors from the Career Network in order to learn more about your fields of interest and potential internships. These measures will also increase your chances of finding and securing a worthwhile internship.

Next, it is important to work with a career counselor to learn how to prepare a targeted resume and write effective cover letters for your applications.

Finally, time must be allotted for the actual search and application process. The total amount of time might vary for each individual, but a reasonable expectation would be...

Please Note: Some competitive or well known summer internship programs have deadlines as early as November of the previous year.

Is it better to do a for-credit or a not-for-credit internship?
Generally, credit-based and non-credit-based internships are considered as having equal value. If you are not in need of academic credit, and it is not required for your major, you may elect to do your internship as a skill-building experience. Please Note: Some organizations only offer for-credit internship opportunities (this is often the case in the entertainment industry).

What resources are available for helping me locate internships?
Links to the best internship listing sites are found at InternCentral and the Internship and Summer Jobs page. You are strongly advised to meet with a career counselor for an orientation to Career Services’ many resources to discuss which will best meet your needs.

Please Note: Students can often develop their own internship opportunities by contacting potential employers to propose their services as interns. Work with a career counselor to learn how to produce a list of organizations to approach. Your counselor will also be able to coach you through making an effective pitch.

Who can I speak with in Career Services regarding my internship interests?
If you want a personalized map for your internship search (and we highly recommend this), contact Career Services to schedule an appointment (X5790) or stop in during walk-in hours. Career counselors Penny, Donna, and Mike are prepared to coach you through every step:

Office Hours and Appointments

What if I don’t have time for an internship right now?
While internships are the best way to get in-depth, hands-on exposure to fields of interest, there are supplemental experiences to consider as well.

Informational Interviews
Winter and spring break periods are excellent opportunities to conduct Informational Interviews with career advisors and other professionals. Interviewing people about their jobs and organizations will provide you with a better idea of what it would be like to work in the field yourself (and whether you would want to), and can help you actually land an internship.

Job Shadowing
Skidmore alumni and other professionals at work is another great way to gain short-term exposure to a field and gather valuable information for your decision making. Our Job Shadow Program provides the opportunity for students to spend one day to several weeks on the job with an alumna/us or other professional during winter or spring break. Watch for an announcement early fall semester from Career Services regarding a mandatory orientation session for the program. Check out our current list of sponsors or contact Career Services to establish an individualized list of potential sponsors based on your career interests.