"An internship is a short-term, pre-professional, practical work experience that relates to your chosen profession or major."
Why do an internship?
Internships are a key way of building relevant work experience. They can build your resume, add needed skills, expose you to the professional workplace, help build your network, help you find positive references, and lead to a full-time job. They also can help you choose your major or career.
77% of the 211 employers surveyed by the National Association of Colleges & Employers hire interns, and many firms hire up to 40% of their full-time hires from their former interns.
When should I start looking?
It´s harder (but not impossible) to find internships as a freshman; so if you have trouble finding one, consider volunteering or doing a part-time job that helps build your skills and resume. By sophomore year, it´s good to start looking. Keep in mind that some companies require students to get college credit for internships and a prerequisite for business students to get credit is to be admitted to Zicklin.
Please click the following link for a complete Internship for Credit Guide
The largest companies in the finance & accounting industries recruit as follows:
- Freshman and sophomore year they offer leadership experiences (typically 3-day programs).
- The summer before the student´s graduation, the companies offer a paid internship (summer analyst) program. Recruitment for the summer program takes place the previous January.
- At the end of the summer, students MAY receive full time job offers (students start working full-time after graduation)
- Firms also recruit candidates for full-time jobs in October and November of the student´s senior year.
Other industries don´t always have such formal timelines, so it´s best to seek an internship 2-3 months before you want to start working.
Preparation for an Internship
In order to find the right fit for your career interests and goals, you should determine your internship target and know where to search for internship opportunities. Prior to beginning the search, you should also have prepared a resume and have practiced your interviewing skills. During the interview process, it will be crucial to understand correspondence etiquette and how to handle internship offers. Once you are working at the internship, you should be aware of how to succeed at your internship, troubleshoot and end the internship.
Please click the following link for a Internship Success Guide
International Students and Internships
F-1 international students are permitted to apply for a paid internship through a program called Curricular Practical Training (CPT).
- For CPT, you MUST register for an internship course at Baruch (contact the academic department chairperson to inquire about eligibility and registration for internship courses)
- You will receive college credit(s) for the internship course and can be paid by the company. Please note that you must be in F-1 status for specified minimum length of time to be eligible for CPT
- Be sure to visit the International Student Service Center IN ADVANCE to find out the steps you MUST follow to qualify for CPT! Be aware that there are deadline dates for each semester to apply for CPT
For more information, visit the International Student Service Center
