Internships

What is an internship?

An internship is a temporary position for the student or recent graduate with an emphasis on providing intentional learning objectives tied to the student’s career goals or field of study. A majority of internships take place in the summer but many are available throughout the year. Internship programs can be found at private corporations, government offices, and nonprofit organizations. They can be paid or unpaid positions and sometimes include academic credit for the student.

Why do I need an internship?

An internship is the best way to gain real world experience in a career field of your interest.
With an internship, you can determine if a career field is a good fit for you. You’ll learn things about the industry and job functions that that cannot be taught.
Some internships lead to a full-time position within the same organization.
An internship looks amazing on a résume and will give you material to reference during an interview for a full-time position.

When should I get an internship?

It’s never too early to do an internship!
Internships aren’t just during the summer. Plenty of them are during the school year and you can check out all internship listings in Handshake.
For an undergraduate student, the summer after your junior year is a crucial time and you should have an internship lined up for this period.
Ideally, try to have two internships before you graduate.

How do I get started?

Before you start your search, create a list of your most important criteria for an internship. Talk with your career consultant who can help you determine a strategy for your internship search. Consider:

Pay, Location, and Work Culture

Pay: Do you need to be paid for your internship or can you take an unpaid position? If taking an unpaid internship is possible, you will find more potential opportunities.
Location: Where do you want to work? Should you go back to your hometown and live with your family? Can you live in a different city if you find affordable summer housing?
- TIP! Mercer students completing summer internships are invited to apply for a discounted and limited number of on-campus housing opportunities on the Mercer Atlanta and Macon campuses. Contact Julie Cannon, cannon_je@mercer.edu, for more details.
Organization: What kind of culture are you looking for? Will you receive much attention and guidance from your supervisor? Will there be an opportunity to develop a relationship with a mentor?

Timing/Deadlines

Research the timing of internships typical for your field of interest. Ex. many government internship deadlines are in the fall.
Highly competitive industries (investment banking/consulting) strongly encourage internships after sophomore/junior year for undergraduates – so plan ahead.

How do I find opportunities?

Handshake – this platform uses cutting edge technology to help you more easily connect with employers and source internships.
Networking – talking to people to gather information and advice – is the best way to find an opportunity. Most internships that students get are found through networking.
Informational interviewing –this step is critical and often overlooked. These are simply conversations with people –often people you already know or alumni – who work in your field of interest to gather information.
Using LinkedIn – a great way to find contacts that is easier than you think. Use our Networking and Social Media pages to help you make the right connections.

I’ve found an internship to apply for – now what?

Draft a resume and cover letter customized for the specific internship that interests you.
Have your resume and cover letter reviewed by the CCPD team.
Prepare for interviews by using Big Interview 24/7 and/or schedule an appointment with your CCPD Career Consultant.

How can I find temporary summer housing for interns?

Each summer, a limited number of on-campus housing opportunities are reserved on the Mercer Atlanta and Macon campuses especially for Mercer students who are completing internships. There is an application process each spring semester that interested Mercer students should complete. Housing options are limited and are reserved for verified and eligible internships. Contact Julie Cannon, cannon_je@mercer.edu, for more details.
Many employers who hire summer college interns offer complimentary or reduced temporary summer housing as part of their internship benefits package. Usually if an internship program offers housing they'll state it directly in the application. Read internship postings carefully to learn if housing is offered by the employer.
Check https://internhousing.com/
See additional tips and advice in this Handshake article.