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Creating your own Internship
The handout
Choosing an Internship Which Meets Your Needs has
good information on requesting an internship with a
company that does not have a position posted.
Before approaching a company about
creating an internship, you must first identify your
skills
and what you want from that internship.
Communicate that basic information with your
potential internship site.
What do you bring to an internship?
You already have many skills you can
offer to an organization: writing, researching,
analyzing, leadership, working in teams,
presentation, and more. Remember to highlight how
your campus activities, group work, class projects,
and previous work experience have contributed to
your skills and knowledge.
What skills would you further like to
develop?
State why you would like to work for them. “Your
organization would be a good place to learn more
about…… because ……”
Who to Contact?
In small businesses or small non-profit
organizations, contact the executive director,
manager or coordinator of programs. In larger
organizations, contact the Human Resources
Department or head of the department/unit where you
wish to work. For example, if you wish to work in
the marketing department, call the general number
and ask for the director of marketing.
How to Contact – Use phone or email?
There are pros and cons for each
approach. Calling can get you directly to the source
at times, and then you know that you have been able
to actually communicate with the right person.
However, calling can sometimes lead you down the
path of phone tag. Some people don’t respond to
phone calls and are more apt to respond to email.
Emails are fast and extremely easy.
You don’t have to worry about getting nervous, like
you might on the phone. However, with email you are
unsure whether your message has actually been
received and read. Your email should be short and to
the point. Below is a sample email message:
Dear Ms. Smith,
I am a junior at Lock Haven
University majoring in Communication Media. I am
very interested in learning about the marketing of
programs at a non-profit organization such as
American Red Cross. Although, I realize you have no
official internship program in place, I would be
very interested in working with your organization as
an unpaid intern this summer.
The next paragraph should include
information about your background and experience.
You should also emphasize your interest in the
particular career field and in particular, the
organization. Let your reader know your skills
specific to the job. Attach your resume.
Your final paragraph is the closing
and contact information. Here’s another example from
the same email.
I hope you consider my proposal and
look forward to hearing from you. You may contact me
at 570-XXX-XXXX or (email). Thank you.
If you don’t hear back, follow up
with a phone call or a second email.
If the company or organization is
interested, but they would like more information on
how to set up an internship, they will find useful
resources on the
Employer section of the internship website. |
