Things to Consider

Internships are a great way to get exposure to careers and develop important skills. Employers continue to value the experience that internships provide as they look at entry-level hiring, and more companies are investing in and offering internship programs each year.

Some other facts to keep in mind:

• For the Duke Class of 2009 (50% of the class responded), approximately 26 percent of the seniors who had full-time job offers received those offers as a result of an internship.
• In the Class of 2009, 92 percent of the students had at least one internship during their time at Duke.

Questions to consider when starting your internship search:

• What types of internships interest me? Don’t be too narrow in what sectors or companies that you will consider. Good experience and professional development is available for you in a variety of settings.
• Where do I want to go to intern? Internships can provide you an opportunity to live in a city (or country) that you have never experienced before. There are also internships available in your hometown, and there are a great many in Raleigh-Durham.
• Do I need to be paid? Several internships are paid, but there are also a great many that are not. The Career Center does have stipends available for those taking unpaid internships, or internships that pay less than $1,000 through our Internship Funding Program. If you are interested in an unpaid internship, make sure that you find out if the organization requires you to receive credit for the experience. If so, you will need to be aware of Duke’s Policy on Credit for Internships.

It is never too early to start looking for an internship. Some summer internships have deadlines starting in the fall, so begin searching early in the academic year to ensure that you won’t miss any opportunities.

Consideration for Blogs and Social Networks like Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter

           Whenever you are conducting a search for an internship or job, it is important to be aware of the impact that information you have put in the public domain via blogs or social network sites can have.  Please be sure to consult our page on these sites through this link.  [more information]

More things to consider:

• On-Campus Recruiting. On-campus recruiting is one resource available to help you connect with internship opportunities. Be sure not to miss these options.

• Web Resources. The Career Center staff has compiled a list of useful career websites, including Vault, Internship Exchange and E-Leads.

• Resource Room. Don’t miss our print resources, which can be found in 106 Page Building. In addition to internship directories, you’ll find books that will expose you to a variety of career possibilities.