International Internships

To be successful in finding an international internship, you should formulate an action plan including the following elements:

Self-Assessment:  If you have not done so already, engaging in some self-assessment is a wise start to your internship search.  Self-assessment tools, such as survey instruments (many can be taken online), card sorts and written exercises, will help you determine your interests, skills and values so that you increase the odds of finding an internship that is a good “fit” for you.

Some self-assessment tools that you can easily access include:

• Kuder Interest, Skills and Values inventory at www.Kuder.com ($19.95)

• Strong Interest Inventory (SII), a formal assessment administered by the UWM Career Development Center ($10.00); this includes mandatory introductory and follow-up appointments with a CDC counselor while the SII itself is taken online.

• The UWM CDC also has a page of links to online self-assessments at: http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/CDC/online_tools.html.

Ideally, you should meet with a career counselor or advisor to discuss your results.  You can also talk them over with a friend who knows you well.

Research: There are many different avenues that you can, and should, take to research internship possibilities.  Start by making a list of the top three types of organizations in which you would like to work.  Are there one or more locations in which you would like to work?

Thorough research will include activities such as:

• Searching online using keywords on engines such as Google.  Keep in mind that while you can include “internship” as one of your keywords, you may be limiting yourself by doing so.  You may pull up internship programs requiring you to pay a fee, which can be quite pricey and unnecessary when an unpaid (or paid) internship may be available for those, like you, who are putting effort into this search.  Also, many organizations do have internship opportunities that are not posted - all it takes to find out is a phone call or email to inquire.  Avoid emailing to addresses such as “info@organization.com” and comb through organization websites (or call the organization’s switchboard or receptionist) to find the names and addresses of real people to initiate your contact.
• Searching specialized sites for those seeking international work, such as GoingGlobal: https://www4.uwm.edu/cdc/going_global/login/. There are also useful links to organizations and job boards listed at:http://www4.uwm.edu/cie/futurestudents/8/
• Networking can also help you find an internship, since most internship positions are not advertised.  Talk to your professors, family, friends and current or former employers to ask if they have any leads for you.  Your networking strategy can include informational interviewing - having a conversation with someone working in a field that interests you (not asking about specific openings at this point) and asking questions that you have prepared ahead of time (suggested questions are available on the CDC website at: http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/CDC/research_talk.html).  Don’t forget to send thank you notes (emailed is fine) to those who have assisted you in your search.

Resume and Cover Letters: If you don’t have your resume prepared at the start of your internship search, get it together soon into the process. Keep in mind that the emails you send to inquire about opportunities should be as professional and formal in style and grammar as would be a written, mailed cover letter. Finally, recognize that many busy professionals are not always able to respond promptly to email, and your inquiry may require one or more follow-up telephone calls.  If you’re not comfortable making these calls, write yourself a brief script beforehand.

Confirmation: When you’ve received your internship offer, make certain to get it in writing.  It doesn’t have to be a formal, written contract - an email will do.  At the minimum, the confirmation should include the dates of the internship, supervisor name and any compensation that will be given (e.g., housing could be included for some unpaid internships).

Set Goals with Deadlines: Be certain to set some goals for yourself in your search; for example, “I will contact five potential internship employers by [date].”  Some formal programs, such as internships for the US State Department, have application deadlines in fall for internships the following summer.

Special note for internships to be completed outside of the U.S.: If you are arranging your internship independently and seeking academic credit from UWM, you must work through the Overseas Programs and Partnerships (study abroad) application process to go through their pre-departure orientation sessions, obtain insurance, etc.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Tracy Buss, Academic Programs Coordinator, Center for International Education, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, (414) 229-5381 or tbuss@uwm.edu.