Market research over the past 20 years reveals the increasing importance of gaining work experience along with your post-secondary education. When it comes to landing your first “real” job after graduation, what will set you apart is the depth of your resume. You may have volunteered, or worked for next to nothing - but experience in the field will dramatically boost your chance of getting hired.
Many undergraduates use their summer vacations to pursue jobs that connect to their area of study (and future career field). But what if you could somehow combine hands-on experience with your academic studies, and even get credit for it? For-credit internships are one of the smartest ways you can enhance and apply your classroom learning, while adding value to your C.V.
Here are a few things to keep in mind for accessing internships at John Cabot University:
Winning for-credit internships requires commitment and careful planning. If you’re a degree-seeking or study abroad student who has already completed your sophomore year, and have maintained a GPA of 3.30 or above, you are eligible to apply directly to the Career Services Center.
Part of the application process is requesting a letter of recommendation from a John Cabot faculty member - which is then sent to the Executive Director of the Career Services Center.
Next, you will schedule an appointment with the Career Services Coordinator to review your application, and talk about which organizations would be a good fit for you. Together, you’ll look at the list of currently available internships at John Cabot. Since you’re studying at a university in Italy, you will need to organize several legal documents in order to pursue the internship - but don’t worry, the Coordinator will help you get all the necessary paperwork in order before taking the next step.
Now that the ball is rolling, and you’ve landed an internship, it’s time to sort out the academic details of your internship. Together with the For-Credit Coordinator, you will begin to build your internship syllabus, which focuses on the internship project you’ve designed with the help of your supervising faculty member. This is a special assignment that you will complete while on the job. Also, be prepared to take a good long look at your performance during your placement. A big part of the internship experience is engaging in self-reflection. This means a systemic evaluation of your strengths and weaknesses, while keeping on top of additional academic responsibilities.
There is nothing more rewarding than building professional experience to complement your classroom learning. On the job, you will have the invaluable opportunity to receive mentorship from experts, forge useful networks, and discover for yourself what it’s like to work in field of study. Having chosen to study abroad in Italy, you now have access to international organizations and networks - an amazing launching pad for your personal growth and professional aspirations!
What do you think is the most exciting part of interning in Italy?