Why an Internship

Combining one or more internship learning experiences with your Augsburg education will serve you well. You will be able to apply your knowledge and skills, test out your course theories and discover what you want to do; or, equally as important, what you don’t want to do as a potential career path.

Many past interns have commented that you become more aware of what you know, don’t know and need to know when back in the classroom. In addition, most students realize that an:

AUGSBURG EDUCATION + WORK / INTERN EXPERIENCE = A COMPETITIVE EDGE

Most employers now say that related work experience is one of the key things they look for when hiring new graduates and graduate schools often look for internship and work experience as well.

Please review the process guide below for steps to take to complete an internship.  Please note there are additional requirements for students to take an internship for credit.

Interested in completing an internship?  Start here. 

1.  Meet with the Internship Specialist, Ana Eliason, to discuss you ideas, questions, and concerns about completing an internship.

2.  Determine if you would like to complete the internship for credit or not for credit.

• Certain majors and minors require that an internship be taken for credit.
• Off-campus upper division internships done for credit or not for credit will fulfill the Augsburg Experience graduation requirement.
• If you decide to complete an internship for credit, please review the additional guidelines here. 

3.  Begin your search for internship sites early.

• Check out our resources to help you find an internship site.
• Note:  Some employers (particularly large companies) start hiring interns 9 months in advance, most employers begin recruiting one season ahead (ex. employers will hire at the beginning of fall semester for a spring internship).

4.  Once you have secured an internship site, set up a meeting with your supervisor to review your learning goals for the internship and to understand the expectations the site has for you as an intern.

5.  While working at your internship keep a journal or portfolio of the work you have completed.

• Guidelines for keeping an Internship journal
• Guidelines for keeping an Internship Portfolio

6.  At the completion of your internship, set up a final meeting with your supervisor to review an evaluation of your work and provide feedback on what went well and areas for improvement.

• Sample evaluation forms are available for you to use if your internship site does not have their own exit process for interns.
  • Self Evaluation
  • Site Supervisor Evaluation

7.  As you wrap up your internship, review the guide: Reflecting on your internship

• Update your resume
• Write down examples of situations you dealt with on internship to use for future interviews
• Ask for letters of recommendation or references from your supervisor
• Connect with your supervisor and other professional contacts you met through LinkedIn