Spring break is fast approaching and after that, summer will be right around the corner! So why not begin looking for summer internships now? Do it before summer actually creeps up on you and you are left without an internship or a job. Employers begin filling summer internship positions in the spring by opening up their application processes, attending career fairs and getting to know students who are interested in working with them.
If you’re wondering how to get started with your internship search, NAU Career Development has the perfect starting line for you!
Every Semester NAU Career Development hosts a Career and Graduate School Expo that brings in 100+ employers looking to hire NAU students specifically. As a student, attending the Expo is a great move that could get you your dream internship. If you are wondering which employers will be attending the expo, visit Jobs for Jacks for the list of employers who will be there, just be sure click on the “Fairs” tab! Many employers are looking to hire students for summer internships, part time and full-time positions. So be sure to attend on Thursday, February 25th from 12pm-4pm. If you have class, you can stop by in between your classes for even just 5 minutes and get in some facetime with employers. Be sure to bring copies of your resume and dress up professionally (not jeans).
Obtaining an internship looks great on your resume and it helps you gain valuable transferrable skills that every employer looks for. Not only would you be learning great skills that will last a lifetime, your internship could also potentially lead you to earn employment with the company or organization you are interning with! A post-internship job isn’t guaranteed, but it can happen if you prove your value to the company and work hard in your internship. For example, Career Development just hired our very own Design Intern as a Career Jack!
Another way that you could make your internship search more efficient is by checking out Jobs for Jacks Powered by Handshake. We have over 100 internships in our database just waiting for NAU students like you to apply! All you have to do is log in to Handshake (you already have an account if you are a student, just use your NAU email!). Once you upload your resume, you can easily apply for those internships that meet your criteria.
If you want one-on-one help with your internship search or need help preparing to meet with a potential internship employer, Career Development’s new Internship Referral Center can help. The Internship Referral Center is your central point of contact for all-things-internship at NAU. Call 928-523-4772 to set up an appointment with one of the Internship Referral Center staff.
Even if you have no idea what kind of internship would be the best fit for you, Career Development always has an answer: Informational Interviews! Informational interviews allow you to interview people, who are in a position that catches your interest, whether they be NAU alumni, Flagstaff community members, or a family friend. In these interviews you can ask about how much they like their job, how they got into their field, and what kind of daily tasks they complete. Conducting an informational interview is one of the most beneficial ways to gain an inside look at an organizations or fiend of interest. It could help you make your pick! Plus, it gives you more detailed information than you could get from any website or flyer.
So there you have it, three fun ways to begin your hunt for internships! Start now and with hard work there’s no doubt that you will have an internship in your hands by summer. Be a good Lumberjack and put yourself out there, because everyone wants to hire an intern that bleeds blue and gold!