Finding an Internship

How do I find and internship?

Internship should be the culmination of your education experience as you prepare for your career. Rather than looking at “will this count?” it is better to consider if a proposed internship experience can provide you with the skills and competencies that will help you launch your career. Similarly, internship is about exploring new experiences to test out whether this is the career path for you.

What resources are available for help?

What is your dream job? Is it in arenas? Community recreation? Event planning? Then, if there are other “criteria” that narrow your selection, you should identify those. For example, students will say things like “I have to live at home because of my budget” which then points them to a geographical region or “I want to work with kids” which helps to direct them as well.

After you have identified 2-3 criteria, set aside some time to begin reviewing your options.

Sources that offer advertise possible internship sites:

The RPTM department "Internship Agency Master List" of past internship sites
RPTM weekly digest which lists new opportunities and postings
The internet…Google and other search engines can be a great place to start
Career specific websites
Professional organization sites (example: National Recreation and Park Association; Resort and Commercial Recreation Association)
Career Jobs and career fairs
Facebook – RPTM Alumni and Student Network
LinkedIn
Faculty in RPTM or faculty in other departments
Visitor and Convention Bureaus
Chambers of Commerce
Other University internship sites
Friends, relatives or other professional contacts. Use your connections!
THE RPTM STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER team is your best resource for starting your search!

Remember that just because an agency is not advertising an internship doesn’t mean they won’t be open to having one on site. It never hurts to ask!

What is next?

After you have identified some potential sites, start the process of contacting the agency. You should use their application process or reach out to them with your professional cover letter and resume, sent through the mail. Email should not be your first contact with an agency unless they specifically identify it as their preferred method of contact. After you have sent your resume and cover letter, a follow up email can be appropriate. From there, you work with the agency to set up interviews and negotiate with the position (hours, salary, start date, etc.) until you ready to make a decision! Refer to your notes from RPTM 394 about contacting agencies, interview skills and thank you notes and what to do when you are ready to accept an offer!