Internship Search Guide

A practical experience related to a career area of interest allows you to apply classroom knowledge to the world of work. Practical experience can look different depending on your major or field of study. Sometimes this means being a Research Assistant, working a part-time job that directly relates to your field, or applying for an established internship program. An internship should lead to you expanding your knowledge and skills, exploring career possibilities, and connecting with professionals in your industry. Research from The National Association of Colleges and Employers found that students who did multiple internships had more success securing a job or placement in graduate school than their counterparts. What does this tell us? Getting experience is a pivotal part of your Biola experience!

• Apply classroom knowledge to the real world
• Explore different career paths with minimal commitment
• Potentially receive college credit
• Potentially get paid (although there are unpaid internships)
• Build your resume to be better qualified for employment post Biola

It is never too early to get an internship, engage in a research opportunity, or work a part-time job. It is important to have a strategy when searching for internships. This will help you to search in advance. Many employers expect students to have 2-3 internships upon graduation.

Second Year — This is a great time in college to begin trying out internships. This will help you become more qualified for competitive internships.

Third Year/Fourth Year — This is when you can begin focusing on competitive internships. Your prior part-time jobs, on-campus involvement, and projects should have prepared you to be a competitive candidate.

Search & Hiring Timelines

Large companies begin recruiting for their Summer internship programs early in the fall. For example, if you want to intern at adidas for Summer 2019 you would begin the application process in Fall 2018 (around August or September). Many companies will have several rounds of interviews (video, phone, in-person) before they make their final offers. Small companies offer less formal internship programs. They may be seeking summer interns in the beginning of Spring or later.

Be sure to check requirements in your academic department as you may need to do one or several internships for credit. If your academic department does not require an internship, it is still highly encouraged that you pursue practical experience for your own benefit.

F1 Visa students can participate in an internship if they qualify for Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Begin by meeting with the Office of the Registrar to discuss your eligibility and steps to get approved. Once you have approval from the Office of the Registrar you may begin internship searching. Be sure to download Biola’s Immigration Handbook.

1. Explore your Interests and Skills

• What skills have you learned through classroom assignments, projects, and readings?
• What do family, friends, coworkers, professors, and supervisors say you are good at?
• What skills do you enjoy using?
• What companies or influencers do you naturally follow on social media?

2. Clarify what is important to you

• Location
• Compensation
• Skills you want to build or strengthen
• Work culture

3. Research industries, companies, and job functions

• Note: Biola University retains the right to deny academic credit for internships with organizations it deems at odds with or hostile to the University's mission, values, and Theological Positions.
• Hone in on Industries/Jobs that sound interesting
  • Learn How To Become — This is a resource that gives concise overviews of different jobs and industries. A great place to begin exploring possibilities.
  • Onetonline.org —This is a resource to help you search by skill sets to find different job titles you may potentially be interested in.
  • Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) - Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • Professional Associations — Professional associations give great industry insight, connections, and internship resources. This is not an extensive list of associations. Use this as inspiration to google search what professional associations exist for the industries you are interested in.
    • American Association of Advertising Agencies
    • American Association of Nurse Practitioners
    • American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
    • American Occupational Therapy Association
    • Medical Sales Associates
    • Wall Street Oasis: Online financial community with access to industry and interview guides.
    • National Association for Catering and Events
    • American Psychological Association
    • National Association of Social Workers
    • CATESOL: A professional organization of English language teaching in California and Nevada
• Research Companies — Before you dive into your internship search, consider what type of company you want to gain experience at. Research companies or organizations that interest you. Once you have a list of companies begin networking with their employees.

4. Make authentic connections (conduct informational interviews)

• Networking — Networking is building and maintaining relationships. This is a critical aspect of doing business and of life in general. It can often seem strange to begin but you will find that professionals are open to helping students navigate the early stages of their careers. As you are talking to people you can ask for advice and if they know about any internship opportunities. What are the types of people you can begin building relationships with? Think about connecting with Biola alumni as well as people and companies you follow or are interested in. Check out this resource on conducting an informational interview.
• Alumni — Biola alumni have an affinity for others who have the shared experience of attending this university. They can be a great resource for networking, learning about new opportunities, and understanding what it looks like to work in a specific industry. Begin by connecting with Biola alumni via LinkedIn and asking them about the work they are doing.

5. Apply to postings & track where you contact

• Internship Search Sites — There are both general internship search sites as well as niche or industry specific websites. We recommend you begin with Handshake, Biola’s online job board. Employers specifically choose to allow Biola students to view their postings. Furthermore, you know they are looking for someone pursuing a higher education degree. This could give your application preferential treatment.
  • Handshake — Specific to Biola students
  • LinkedIn — Has a job/internship search platform component
  • Internships.com — general internship search
  • Work in Sports — sports
  • Idealist — Nonprofit
  • Built in LA — Tech industry
  • MediaBistro — Creative industries
• Stay Organized — Find a system that allows you to track who you speak with, when you apply for internships, and next steps to take (follow up emails, thank you notes, etc.)

• Work hard
• Build new relationships
  • Find mentors and stay in touch.
• Find creative ways to take initiative
• Develop new skills