A guide to helping you plan your internship

The most important thing in the initial phase of planning your internship involves setting your learning objectives / career goals and putting together a job search plan that will lead you in a positive direction and towards an internship opportunity that will best suit your needs. Listed below are a few questions you should ask yourself before you even begin your internship search.

Develop an Internship Target

• What are your career goals?
  
• What skills do you need to strengthen in order for you to reach these goals?
  
• How will your targeted internship help you to strengthen your skills?
  
• What transferable skills do you have?
  
• What would you describe as the ideal internship for you?

Prepare for your Internship Search

• Register to use the CAPS Web site so you can browse the internship postings or search through directories of internships
  
• Contact companies directly and ask if there are internships available
  
• Network with people you know and make them aware of your goals (teachers, friends, family members, etc.)
  
• Check government Web sites
• Visit and register with Placement Étudiant
  
• Check out internship resources at the Career Resource Center (H-440)
  
• Get suggestions from the Outreach / Placement Officer at CAPS

Build your career portfolio

• Take advantage of workshops related to job search techniques and strategies
  
• Make an appointment to see one of our Placement Officers to get feedback on your CV and cover letter.
  
• Contact references and make a list available to employers upon request
  
• If your field of study requires you to have a portfolio, have it organized and available for viewing.

Set your priorities

• Make a prioritized list of desired internships
  
• Research the possibilities to the fullest extent
  
• Determine the best way to apply for the internship position
  
• Inquire if you are uncertain about requirements, eligibility or qualifications
  
• Find out the contact person
  
• Follow up on favorable responses

Skills Assessment

Choosing an internship that best matches your needs and your chosen career path is not always easy and straightforward. Assessing which area your skills are the strongest in can help guide you. Moreover, assessing your skills can broaden your options and show you domains you might not have thought of otherwise.
A thorough self-assessment is a necessary step in internship planning. The information you can gain from through self-assessment is beneficial and crucial to the development of your cover letters, resume and interview preparation.
Working through the self-assessment checklist will help you identify your transferable skills. Even though you lack direct work experience, you have acquired skills that you can bring to the work place; skills that you have gained through other work, school, volunteer and / or extra-curricular experience.
Self-assessment requires you to take an in-depth look at a variety of skill areas. Even though you may think some of the areas do not apply, or do not seem important, you may be surprised to find out that most employers look for well-rounded candidates to fill internship positions.
After completing your self-assessment, you could prepare further by preparing a personal statement, which represents a summary of skills and personal attributes that highlight what you can offer to a company. Your statement will help you compose cover letters, highlight your resume and assist you in the interview process. Ask yourself the following questions to help you get started:

• Why should I hire you?
• Tell me about yourself?
• What can you offer the company?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Your personal statement will help you to write a clear and concise cover letter and it will help you answer questions with confidence and ease during an interview. Remember that employers want you to provide examples to support your answers in order to assess your personal attributes and / or experience.