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Internship Information
An internship is an out-of-classroom work experience that is related to your career field of interest. Internships provide an opportunity for you to apply your knowledge and skills in a professional setting, gain in-depth exposure in a particular field, and increase your marketability for full-time employment upon graduation.
- Graduate Internship Courses: BUS 9801, 9802, 9803
Q1. Do I really need to do an internship?
YES! Today's MBA job market is extremely competitive. In order to effectively compete, you must have relevant work experience, as well as the corporate sophistication that comes with such experience. With an internship, you will develop the skills that will put you ahead of the competition!
Q2. What are the benefits of doing an internship?
Focus your career objective. An internship allows you to "test the water" by sampling your interests in a real work setting without committing to it full time.
Strengthen your resume. Relevant work experience is the number one qualification employers look for on a resume. Without internship experience you may get screened out and never get a chance to interview for the position you seek.
Attain direct employment. Since many employers use internships as pre-recruitment devices for potential future employees, it is possible that the company with which you intern will offer you a permanent position!
Improve your interviewing skills. In an interview, employers look for candidates with relevant experience who know what they want to do. Doing an internship allows you to give potential employers specific examples to demonstrate your qualifications and knowledge of the field. It will also give you the confidence to tell the employer that you know what you want to do because you have already done it!
Build your academic transcript. Not only can you receive invaluable work experience from an internship, but also acquire credits that will count towards graduation. For more information on getting credit for your internship, please read the Registration Procedures document.
Q3. What do I need to do to get an internship?
The key to success in finding a good internship is being prepared! The Career Management Curriculum workshops can help you to get ready. In short, your search for an internship should be conducted in the following manner:
- Determine your priorities and know your options. Identify the career field and industry you hope to enter, companies that offer what you're looking for, the skills and qualifications these employers seek, and the kind of experience you need to build your marketability for the future.
- Research. It is imperative that you become thoroughly familiar with your field of choice. Once you get to the interview stage, employers will expect you to be knowledgeable in the field and able to converse intelligently about the industry. Not understanding the needs of the employer and your relevant skills makes it very difficult to position yourself and demonstrate how you can add value.
- Develop your resume. Building a resume that emphasizes your skills is essential. Attempting to develop your resume without research will make the task incredibly difficult and most likely fruitless. A potential employer will look at your resume and try to quickly determine what you can do for them, how you can fit the job and the organization effectively, and the reason for speaking with you personally.
- Take advantage of the Graduate Career Management Center's resources (resume workshop, individual consultation) to help you develop a marketable resume. For workshop schedule information, please call (646) 312-1330.
- Be prepared for interviews.The Graduate Career Management Center offers interview workshops and mock interviews to help you polish your skills. Attend these very valuable workshops!
- Follow-up on all interviews. Always send a thank-you letter to the interviewer(s) expressing your appreciation. If you were not granted an interview, follow-up your application with a phone call or a letter. Your interest and enthusiasm will distinguish you from other job seekers.
Networking. Like full-time jobs, many internships are never advertised. Consequently, many students find their internships through contacts they have made, i.e., their networks. Your network should include friends and family (and their friends and family), faculty, informational interview contacts, alumni and fellow classmates. For more information, attend the Center's networking workshop.
Q4. Where Can I Look For Internship Opportunities?
The Graduate Career Management Center regularly posts internship positions in our web-based career management system called eRecruiting. To obtain access to the system, please click here. Positions are also and listed in our weekly email announcements.
The Newman Library has several internship directories, including:
The Internship Bible
Format: Serial
Baruch Reference 2nd Floor (Non-Circulating)
Call number: LC 1072 .I58 P76
NYC Summer Internship Guide
Format: Serial
Baruch Stacks
Call number: LC 1072 .I58 N9
Directory of International Internships
Format: Serial
Baruch Reference 2nd Floor (Non-Circulating)
Call number: LC 1072 .I58 R63
Peterson's Internships
Format: Serial
Baruch Reference 2nd Floor (Non-Circulating)
Call number: L 901 .I66
Other books available in Bookstores:
- Brian N. Baird, The Kaplan / The Yale Daily News Internships 2000
- Christopher Faiver, The Counselor Intern's Handbook
- Brian N. Baird, The Internship, Practicum, and Field Placement Handbook: A Guide for the Helping Professions
Q5. How to Make the Most of Your Internship
- Remember, networking during the internship starts at day one. In order for people to assist you with your career, they need to know who you are, what your career interest(s) is/are and what you are capable of doing
- Demonstrate initiative – if there is a project you would like to work on, ask your supervisor if you could take on the additional responsibility
- Build rapport and develop relationships with others within the organization
- Attend company meetings
- Prove yourself through the quality of work you deliver, your attitude, integrity and willingness to help
- Treat supervisor as a client. Get a read on his/her style and act accordingly
- Support staff, security, mailroom staff – treat all levels of personnel with the same respect and professionalism
- Build relationships with peers – these are future contacts, colleagues, professional networks
- Be a team player. Your interaction with others is a key part of your success in the work environment
- Find a mentor
- Choose carefully
- From whom can you learn the most?
- Who is well respected in the company?
- Seek direction when in doubt. Clarify any ambiguity you may be facing in your work
- Keep organized records of your work, track achievements and skills you are acquiring
- Learn what other professionals do within the company/learn all sides of the business
- Attend professional association meetings. Many employers belong to such organizations. Ask your supervisor if you could attend some association-sponsored functions as they are an excellent resource for networking
- Expand on your network list with names, titles, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses
- Schedule an appointment to meet with a Career Advisor during the summer to talk about your internship, discuss any questions/issues you might be facing
- Towards the end of the internship:
- Secure references
- Inquire about full-time opportunities and/or networking contacts
- Maintain your connections and continue to develop relationships
- Send a thank you letter to your supervisor upon completion of your internship (see sample thank you letter on other side of sheet)
Q6. Online Resources
A variety of internship and career resources are available online. Please check out the following links:
http://www.InternshipPrograms.com/home.asp
http://www.rsinternships.com/
http://www.internweb.com/search.asp
Weissman Center for International Business
Zicklin School of Business Statistics and Employment Information
Q7. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: If I receive an NC grade in my internship course, can I still register for another internship?
A: No! BUS 9801 is a prerequisite for BUS 9802 and BUS 9802 is a prerequisite for BUS 9803.
Q: If I recieve an NC grade in my internship course,can I re-register for that internship course.
A: No! If you recieve an NC grade for your internship course, you may not re-register for the course and you may not register for the next internship course.If you recieve an NC grade, you will not be allowed to continue to do another internship.
Q: Can I receive an incomplete (INC) in an internship course?
A: No! For an internship in the fall or spring, you must complete the required internship course workshop and your internship student evaluation to receive a ‘P’ grade. In the summer you must complete the required internship assignment and your internship student evaluation to receive a ‘P’ grade. If you do not, you will receive an NC. The schedule and description of the internship course workshops and assignments are posted here: http://zicklin.baruch.cuny.edu/services/students/internships/bus9800.html,
and they can also be found on the blackboard websites for each course. This page will be updated with new dates and times as more workshop sessions become available.
Q: How do I sign up for an internship workshop session in the fall and spring semesters?
A: When you have registered for BUS 9801, 9802 or 9803 log on to eRecruiting to reserve a space in the workshop session you would like to attend. Dates and times for the workshop session(s) will be posted on Blackboard and on the GCMC website: http://zicklin.baruch.cuny.edu/services/students/internships/bus9800.html
Q: What happens when my work schedule conflicts with the workshop schedule?
A: During the fall and spring semesters, your employer understands that you are students first and will accommodate your need to attend the workshop.
Q: Can I take more than 3 credits of internship?
A: No. The maximum number of internship credits is 3 credits (3 courses - BUS 9801, 9802 & 9803).
Q: Can I register for more than one internship course per semester?
A: No. You may only do one internship course per semester, and hence register for only one internship credit per semester.
Q: Can I register for an internship in January?
A: Yes. If you are doing an internship just for the month of January that meets the minimum 135 hour requirement, you may register for this internship. However, you will be registering for the spring section of the appropriate BUS 980- section and you must complete the required workshop in spring.
Q. What if my internship begins in January and continues into the spring semester?
A: If your internship begins in January and continues into the spring semester, you still register for only 1 credit of internship in the spring semester. You will take the required internship workshop during the spring semester and your grade will be posted at the end of the spring semester.
Q: If I complete an internship during the month of January, can I register for another one for the spring semester?
A: No. You may only register for one internship course during each semester. Your January internship course will not be complete until you have taken the required internship workshop which is not offered in January.
Q: What happens in the summer?
A: During the summer each internship course (BUS 9801, BUS 9802, & BUS 9803) will be offered as a 12 week course for the summer. There will also be 6 week sessions offered in Summer Session 1 and Summer Session 2.
Q: Can I register for an internship for each summer session?
A: Yes, provided the internship’s 135 hours minimum is met and you receive a ‘P’ grade in the first internship course.
Q: If I am a student on an F-1 visa and I have the 12 credit and grade point average requirements for the internship course, can I register for the internship course?
A: Yes, provided you also have completed one academic year in lawful status. This is a requirement set by the United States Citizen & Immigration Services (USCIS).