Where Should You Do Your Internship?
Doing an internship may be one of the best choices you can make as an undergraduate to get a better sense of what comes after graduation. Where should you do one Let's take a closer look, based on your field.
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- Student Tips
An internship may be one of the most useful things you can do to have an opportunity to develop your career skills, learn and watch, and decide whether you want to pursue a certain path in life.
They allow you to amplify your networks, build your confidence, and get a sense of different industries and organizations.
Let’s take a closer look at where you can (and should) do an internship, based on your field of study.
History
If you’re a history major or considering it, check out museums and non-profits for internship experiences.
The National Museum of American History is a good place to start. With its innovative strategy that allows a diverse group of students to pursue inter-disciplinary interests, learning from the ground level is the way to go.
If traveling to Washington D.C. is out of the question, consider looking at options at local museums. If you have a project in mind, construct a thoughtful pitch. You might be surprised.
Non-profit organizations are also good places to seek internships—especially those with a historical focus. In addition to checking out local options, you should contact large, national historical non-profits. More often than not, they have local and regional chapters looking for interns.
Don’t forget: living history museums, educational organizations, state humanities councils, and professional organizations often combine the best of both the museum and non-profit worlds.
Looking for a place to start? Check out this list.
Arts
Here again, museums are great places to complete internships. Check out opportunities at The Met. Much like that National Museum of American History, the Met is a pillar of art in the country—and in the world.
If internship programs there are untenable, check out local art museums and organizations—remember those state arts councils, too.
Another really great place to do an arts internship? With a working artist. Not sure how to find an opportunity like that? Talk to your advisor and the art department.
Computer Science
Choose between interning for a large company or a start-up. Interning at a large company gives you the benefit of seeing what your role would look like as a new graduate at a big company. Interning at a start-up gives you a sense of the whole picture of computer science. Want to hit the ground running and take on a lot of different tasks? Go start-up. Want to wade in slowly? Try a bigger company.
There are also smaller software and hardware firms looking for interns—use the resources in your career services office to find an opportunity that works for you.
Linguistics
Linguistics internships are fairly limited to academic positions and professional organizations, like the Linguistic Society of America.
You’ll get a unique perspective of the daily work of a linguistics expert—and get a sense of career trajectories in the field. Your program advisor will serve as a great resource.
Economics
Economists are needed across all fields and disciplines.
As an economics student, you can find an internship almost anywhere. While the World Bank is probably the most desirable place to intern for a lot of economics students, a financial or media organization may be your best bet.
Focus your experience as an economics intern on the industry you prefer and take it from there.
Academic internships might work for you, too. Talk to your department and advisor to see if there are any options that could work for you.
Political Science
The best place to intern in the field of political science? Network your way to Conress or Parliament by learning about opportunities available.
Figure out your politics and your issues and apply to internships that match your interests. You probably won’t write policy during your internship, but you’ll have a front row seat to the ins and outs of the political machine.
Need a place to start? Go to your career services offices and tell them what you want to do.
Biology
Academic research institutions and pharmaceutical labs offer you an up-close-an-personal look at what it means to be a biologist. You can also go the non-profit route and work for an organization that does biology—for good.
Again, your career services office, academic department, and advisor are where to start your search.
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