All About Internships

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. At Mercer, this is known as one type of a Career Field Experience. 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 should Mercerians do 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 resume and will give you material to reference during an interview for a full-time position.

80%

$15,000

Increasing bar chart icon

81.3%

* Data from https://www.naceweb.org/talent-acquisition/trends-and-predictions/impacts-of-experiential-learning-on-the-gen-z-early-career-experience

Getting Started

There are several important criteria to consider before you begin your internship search. We urge all Mercerians to think about the following four items before they launch their internship search.

  • 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: What do the recruitment timelines look like for your potential career field or industry. You should research the timing of internships typical for your field of interest so that you are prepared ahead of time. (Example, many government internships deadlines are in the fall. Additionally, competitive industries strongly encourage internships starting after the sophomore year.)

Talk with your career consultant who can help you determine a strategy for your internship search.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • 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.

Absolutely! As a matter of fact, we recommend that students seek out paid internships, and we encourage employers to offer a fair wage to all student interns. However, some internships are unpaid, but are very valuable because of the organization you are working for or the level of responsibility you have. Additionally, certain career fields and industries have various standards concerning intern wages. It is important to know your potential career fields and to investigate the opportunities before you begin your search. Our career consultants are here to help you understand the world of work.

Yes! Most academic departments have a course designated for internships that provide academic credit. You can also register for CED 190, 290, 390, or 490. During this one credit CED course, which must be taken simultaneously with your internship, you will have opportunities for mentorship, feedback, and peer counseling. Throughout the internship, you are expected to grow, learn, and change. Standards of communication and professionalism must be maintained! Check with your academic advisor to see which course is best for you.

  • 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 page and Social Media platforms to help you make the right connections.

The Center for Career and Professional Development has many resources available to assist Mercerians in their job and internship searches. Candidates who are ready to begin their search should:

  • 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
  • Schedule an appointment with your CCPD Career Consultant to discuss your search streatgy, review your documents, and practice your interview skills.

  • 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

The primary focus of the internship should be about your growth and development. Job descriptions should include information about job tasks, requirements, and benefits. The intern’s work should connect to their curriculum and enhance classroom learning.

Tasks not related to the career field: While filing, data entry, answering the phone, and fixing coffee are sometimes duties an intern performs – they should not be the primary focus of the internship. Know what you’re getting into when you’re talking to someone about an internship.

Unreasonable pay for the work tasks: Be cautious of high-paying roles that seem too good to be true, especially roles that promise high wages for minimal hours a week for workers with no prerequisite skills.

Upfront costs: Be wary of internship programs or postings that require an upfront cost for the individual to participate or require the individual to pay for training.