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Internship Guide for UW Geography Students:Part 1What are internships?Pros and cons of internships for youWhere to find internshipsMany job announcements ask for "BA plus one year's experience," but how does one get experience when experience is a requirement for employment? A growing number of colleges and universities, government agencies, public service organizations, and private firms offer a solution to the dilemma - internships. What are internships?Flexible is the operating word. The premise of an internship is that a student works outside the traditional academic environment to gain practical work experience and extend his/her learning to a new setting. Many juniors and seniors take internships, but students can start earlier and take more than one. Internships may include: co-ops, temporary projects, full-time and part-time work. Whether they last for one quarter or for the academic year; in all of these cases, students may receive academic credit for job-related learning and/or research. We encourage students to take internship credits and organizations to provide at least a nominal salary, but interns can skip both credit and payment if they wish. (See The Service Learning Program at the Carlson Center.) Timing of internships is flexible, too. Some students have taken "internships" between graduating and entering grad school, or as temporary positions during a summer before their "real" jobs have started. When geography students receive academic credit, the job must be related in some way to the field of geography, and any research project should focus on some geographical problem. It is up to the student and the organization which sponsors the internship to agree on actual duties, compensation, hours, etc. Pros and cons of internships for youInternships can provide a unique learning experience outside the traditional academic environment, one where you can test the theories, concepts and methods introduced in the classroom. In studying the functions and workings of a particular organization, you also gain experience working with others and seeing how decisions are made. Also, as an intern, you get the chance to explore potential careers and make key contacts in the field.
Perhaps most important
of all, internships can provide you with the opportunity to get to know
your likes and dislikes better (and thus, to explore the kinds of jobs and
work you want to pursue). For example:
Internships can be wonderful experiences - educational, exciting, challenging - but they are not for everyone.Working as an intern involves discipline, responsibility and a firm commitment to get the most from this experience. Before trying to find an internship, be sure that your goals are realistic and that this is really the opportunity for you. Do not expect to get rich -- although some organizations do offer minimal salaries, many do not. What you will receive in the way of experience, contacts and knowledge more than makes up for the donation of your time. Where to find internshipsIf you've decided that an internship is important to you, your next step is to make contact with possible sponsors. There are lots of places here at the University of Washington to conduct your search for these sponsors: 1) Geography Department - You've already started here, but check the Geography Internship Board outside Smith 415 for current lists of contacts and position announcements, as well as alumni employment lists. Take a look at other Geography bulletin boards up on the fourth floor of Smith Hall too. Don't forget to ask faculty members or your advisor for suggestions. Remember that it is not their job to find placements for you. Most will be happy to provide you with information or possibly even contacts, but it is up to you to make use of the information. Another resource here in the department are your fellow students - five to ten people per quarter usually participate in internships, so find out how they went about getting their positions. 2) Be sure you're signed up for the Geography Department's Advising Listserv. We send you all the information we get on internships, scholarships and other funding, as well as other important academic and departmental information. 3) Know what's here, on the Career Website, under the Internships Resources Online. 4) The College of Arts and Science's Edward E. Carlson Leadership and Public Service Office provides the Clearinghouse of Internships Opportunities, a database available online (including on two computers in 9 Communications Building.) The database has thousands of local, national and international opportunities for internships and can be searched by topic, as well as by location. The office also offers workshops on how to get started, and they have applications for Research Training Grants and Leadership Grants, which may help support you through a non-paid internship. (They can also tell you about Service Learning Programs.) 5) Center for Career Services Although many people think the Placement Center is oriented towards graduating seniors, it is also a great place to expand your list of possible contacts. Career counselors may have valuable suggestions and they keep listings of internship positions. Remember that some summer jobs or part-time jobs can qualify as internships if they are related to geography, so take a look at other job listings as well. The Career Center also has a small library which may be helpful in your search; don't forget to use the phone book and the Chamber of Commerce's index of local businesses. Above all, don't be discouraged if you don't find many internships listed for "geographers" -- there aren't many employers who think of geography as a job requirement, but you can explain how your skills can help them. Read the descriptions of the duties involved to find out whether you have the knowledge and skills required for the position, and, if you do, go for it! 6) Other places on campus - The library is a good place to look for information. Remember that Odegaard has a section of career materials on the first floor (ask at the front desk.) Also, other departments here on campus have their own internship listings: browsing through their materials may produce some leads. For example, look for international internsips at the Jackson School of International Studies, or for intenships in public policy and politics atthe Evans School of Public Affairs. Also, check with the Work Study and Student Employment Offices for job notices (which might not be listed under the category of geography). Work-Study, in particular, is an extremely desirable option from the employer's perspective, since he or she must contribute only a small percentage (20-35%) of the overall salary. However, in order to qualify for Work-Study funds, you must file an application in the Office of Student Financial Aid. The application deadline is late winter for the next academic year, and also for the upcoming summer quarter. For more information on internships, see: Internship Guide for UW Geography Students, Part 2 and
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