Use Online Resources
- Search on Handshake - a free account is created for each student upon admission to the university.
- Use other online search engines: LinkedIn - Search for an Internship, Idealist, and more.
- Visit your Career Community page for field specific resources including search terms.
Get Inside Information
- Read internship reviews on Handshake.
- Do informational interviews with former interns. (You can find them on Handshake, by asking fellow students, or by reaching out to Peer Career Advisors).
- Consider fee-based programs where you are placed in an internship such as The Washington Center or Internships Abroad.
- Ask questions about internship opportunities of guest speakers or at events
Connections and Networking
Networking is one of the top ways to find an internship.
- Hone your professional introduction and consider how you can network your way into an internship.
- Participate in a Career Fair, Networking Event, Employer Info Sessions, or Career Trek.
- Connect with family, friends, and campus contacts --let others know the types of opportunities you are looking for and share your resume with them.
- Feel hesitant about reaching out? Check out these templates for online platforms and email.
- Use LinkedIn and social media to your advantage.
- Send emails of introduction when you do not see openings at a site you are interested in.
- Visit with your Academic Advisor or departmental internship coordinator to find out about academic internship courses or opportunities offered through your program of study.
Ask for Help
- Talk to former interns.
- Schedule an appointment with a Career Coach - for help in finding or developing an internship opportunity that is right for you.
- Visit Peer Career Advisor drop in hours or appointments for resume and cover letter reviews during the school year.
- Participate in a mock interview.
- Consider enrolling in CCP:2004 Internships: Search, Secure, Succeed for structured support and deadlines through a course.
Not ready for an internship? Learn about other ways to gain experience on this chart: Ways to Gain Experience, or look at campus opportunities on engage.uiowa.edu.
How To Land Internships as a Freshman and Sophomore in College
How to ACTUALLY get an internship, as told by award winning interns
Remember Safety!
Don’t forget to review Tips for Spotting a Fraudulent Employer and/or Posting.
Contact the Career Center if you cannot find company information online, if it has a residential address or requires fees for out-of-pocket expenses, or if you are unsure about an opportunity. Never provide your social security or bank account information unless you have been officially hired and the person asking for the information is an HR representative.
Creating Your Own Opportunity
Do not forget that you can create your own internship! Developing your own opportunity can be especially valuable if you are tied to a specific location and can’t apply for openings in distant cities.
Many organizations are too busy or lack budgets to plan an internship program and to invest in the advertising, interviewing and hiring steps, but are still open to proposals from a motivated applicant.
Find Organizations That Interest You
- Handshake includes an employer directory where you can search employers by industry and location, even if they do not have current postings. Simply click on "Employers" on the left navigation bar.
- Utilize AI or search engines to identify organizations of interest. Prompts could include:
- "What are the top 10 organizations for my field of interest in this city?"
- "What are 3 up and coming smaller organizations for this field in this city?"
- "What are 5 organizations in this city that hire for full time jobs with this skillset?"
- Search Chambers of Commerce or the United Way websites for the city where you’re looking, or consider searching economic alliances or regional development associations to find companies that are relocating to your target geographic area.
- Talk to relatives, your friends and their parents, former co-workers, faculty, and advisors to let them know you are looking for leads. Consider reviewing our networking templates or using AI to help you craft an email.
Research the Organizations
It is also important to research the organizations and the industry before you reach out. Once you have gathered that information, you can use it during a phone conversation or in your formal internship proposal.
- What are some of the current challenges organizations in your chosen industry have been facing?
- Identify gaps in methods, products, services, or client support and how you could help your target organization fill those gaps.
- Are similar organizations hosting interns? What do those interns do?
- What learning opportunities may the organization or supervisor provide?
- Consider using AI to support you in your understanding of organizations and industries. Prompts could include:
- "List 10 job duties interns in this field typically have."
- "What skills are most needed currently in this field?"
- “What are 5 cutting-edge projects for an entry-level position in this field?”
Identify Possible Contacts at Organizations
- LinkedIn allows you to connect with UI alums and other professionals.
- Your personal network can also generate ideas for possible contacts—do not hesitate to tell family and friends your goals. It is appropriate to ask people if they would be open to a proposal before investing time in developing it.
- Career Coaches may also help you identify potential organizations or contacts.
- Consider re-connecting with employers from prior experiences. You could reach out to hosts from Career Treks or HawkShadow to see if they are open to an internship proposal.
Develop a Proposal
Based on your research and learning goals, develop a formal 2–4 page proposal for your ideal internship within that organization. Proposal sections or topics should include the following, and the document is used as a starting point for discussions and negotiation if the site is interested in pursuing an internship:
- Introduction
- Purpose of the internship
- Learning objectives
- Proposed internship activities (Duties and professional development activities, this portion addresses how the intern will meet the learning objectives)
- Time commitment and schedule
- Your responsibilities
- Supervisor's responsibilities
- Expected outcomes and conclusion
Invest time to prepare these materials, carefully trying to meet an organization’s needs with your skills and aligning the proposal and your resume.
Negotiate an Offer
If the employer is interested after reading your proposal, discussion follows. If both parties determine they would like to move forward, then the employer would make a formal offer where your duties, time, and any compensation are put in writing in an official offer letter or other form that follows their typical hiring protocols. The proposal is not a contract or formal offer, but can be updated after discussion to be a guide for both intern and employer to help set expectations.
Since you are proposing an internship, the process may seem different but both you and the employer should still be professional. Meetings to discuss creating a potential opportunity should still take place in the work environment.
Evaluating Internship Offers
When should I accept an offer?
Do not accept an offer until you have it in writing, and it includes the job title, location, salary/benefits etc. (an email is acceptable). If an organization gives you a verbal offer, request it in writing. Only accept an offer if you plan to complete the internship.
How should I accept an offer?
Contact the organization’s human resources office or your supervisor directly to let them know your decision. Complete next steps required by the organization (signatures, contracts, etc.)
What if there is a contract?
Based upon the industry and/or the size of the organization, you may also be asked to sign a contract, which could include a non-disclosure agreement and/or a non-compete clause.
Student Legal Services is a great resource to help you understand the agreements. Make an appointment with them to understand the ramifications of these legal documents.
Is my offer binding once I have accepted it?
Yes. Once you have accepted the position, you should stay with your decision. See the ramifications for reneging below.
What should I do if I receive multiple offers?
Consider work/life balance, benefits, opportunity for growth, etc. and compare them to your goals. Be transparent with the employers and ask for more time to make your decision if needed. Learn more about effectively negotiating multiple offers.
How long do I have to make a decision on the offer?
The amount of time will vary with each employer. Sometimes you may find yourself in a situation where you will want to ask for an extension. Read advice on how to delay an internship offer deadline.
What should I do if I received an offer, but I'm still waiting to hear back from my dream organization?
Communicate and be transparent with both employers. Let the offering organization know that you are still finishing up the recruiting process and that you have more interviews. Give them a general time for when you would like to make your decision (2-3 weeks is appropriate).
Follow up with your dream organization to see when they might decide. Let them know that you have received another offer and that you are exploring your options.
How do I turn down an offer?
Once you have accepted an internship offer, politely decline all remaining offers and internship interviews. You can do this by calling the human resources contact and/or supervisor to let them know your decision. You can also follow this up with an email.
Why shouldn't you renege on an offer?
You won’t be breaking any laws, but you could put yourself at risk. You run the risk of upsetting the current employer as well as any new ones you apply to in the future. Some industries are small, the recruiters are well-connected, and you could potentially harm your reputation with other employers. In addition, read any contracts you signed carefully and discuss them with Student Legal Services. The organization might have specific penalties for students who renege on an offer.
You also run the risk of negatively impacting the University of Iowa, the Career Center, and your reputation. When you renege on an offer, it reflects poorly on you, and negatively affects opportunities for other students. The Pomerantz Career Center encourages all students to be transparent and ethical in their actions with employers.
Have Questions?
Sherry Rhinehart
