27 June 2009

Letter of recommendation from the internship

Hopefully, you have a rewarding internship this summer and will use the skills and experiences in your next endeavor. Hopefully, your supervisor appreciates your contributions and recognizes your hard work!

Before you leave to go back to college classes, ask your supervisor if he or she can serve as a reference for you.

When you are ready to ask for the reference, send a letter to your supervisor with this information:
* dates of your internship
* title at internship
* your education information (child dev major at XYZ University, graduating 2010)
* key accomplishments while at internship (maintained volunteer database)
* info about the job you are applying for, such as name and location of the company as well as what they want out of a candidate (e.g., someone with experience managing a volunteer database)

All these details help your supervisor remember the great work you did and write a more complete letter.

If you are asking for a letter of reference, provide an addressed and stamped envelope so that your supervisor can send the letter directly. And good luck!


The content on this blog is not offered as legal advice or guidance. Consult your college, advisor, or internship supervisor for help with issues surrounding internships. © 2009 Mary Bold, PhD, CFLE. Dr. Bold is a co-author of the book Reflections: Preparing for your Practicum or Internship, geared to college interns in the child, education, and family fields. More about Dr. Bold can be learned at www.marybold.com

20 June 2009

3 things you need to apply for an internship

To apply for an internship, you need three things:

* a resume

* a cover letter

* references


The office of Career Services on your campus can help with each of these. Your academic Department may also offer support services for making your application. Older students can also offer tips because they may have already gone through the process of applying for an internship.


Your resume is the place to list all of your accomplishments and skills. As long as everything you write is true, do not hold back or be shy about your accomplishments!

http://internships.about.com/od/resumetipssamples/a/ResumeTemplate.htm

http://www.princeton.edu/career/undergrads/resumes/resumes/


A cover letter is how you introduce yourself to your potential boss. Include the reasons why you want the position and why you are qualified.

http://www.career.vt.edu/JOBSEARC/coversamples.htm


References provide another perspective on you and your work. Pick references who know your academic or professional work and can say that you did a good job.


The content on this blog is not offered as legal advice or guidance. Consult your college, advisor, or internship supervisor for help with issues surrounding internships. © 2009 Mary Bold, PhD, CFLE. Dr. Bold is a co-author of the book Reflections: Preparing for your Practicum or Internship, geared to college interns in the child, education, and family fields. More about Dr. Bold can be learned at www.marybold.com

13 June 2009

Selecting AmeriCorps

When selecting a site for an internship, there are several places to look: local organizations (possibly affiliated with your college or university), state-wide organizations that may have opportunities near your home town, or national organizations that may have opportunities on the other side of the country.

AmeriCorps is a national organization that offers 75,000 positions at nonprofit groups around the country. Full time, part time, and summer positions are available.

Full-time AmeriCorp members receive a modest stipend and a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $4,725 to pay for college, graduate school, or to pay back student loans. Part-time participants receive a partial stipend.


The content on this blog is not offered as legal advice or guidance. Consult your college, advisor, or internship supervisor for help with issues surrounding internships. © 2008 Mary Bold, PhD, CFLE. Dr. Bold is a co-author of the book Reflections: Preparing for your Practicum or Internship, geared to college interns in the child, education, and family fields. More about Dr. Bold can be learned at www.marybold.com

06 June 2009

College Intern: Ethics and the Internsihp

Reporting ethical dilemmas:
  • First choice - your academic mentor/professor
  • Second choice - your mentor at the internship
  • Third choice - the HR Department at the internship
College interns rarely find a need to report an ethical dilemma. But if the need arises, the first contact should be with the academic mentor or professor, assuming your internship is part of your college career. In addition to helping you on a personal basis, your campus contact will be able to manage the internship from the institutional point of view.

If you do not have an academic mentor (because you are not in a credit course for the internship), take your concern to the internship coordinator or mentor at the site. If that person is not available, consult with the Human Resources (HR) Department at the internship. The HR Department is part of the organization or business and represents the organization's interests. But HR professionals are also versed in legal and ethical practices that protect employees (and interns).

The content on this blog is not offered as legal advice or guidance. Consult your college, advisor, or internship supervisor for help with issues surrounding internships. © 2009 Mary Bold, PhD, CFLE. Dr. Bold is a co-author of the book Reflections: Preparing for your Practicum or Internship, geared to college interns in the child, education, and family fields. More about Dr. Bold can be learned at www.marybold.com