Locating a Co-op or Internship

There are a number of strategies you can use to locate co-op and internship assignments, and you should use as many strategies as you can. Using a combination of approaches in your co-op/internship search will greatly improve your chances of finding the assignment ideally suited to you and your career interests. Your chances of success will be significantly increased, also, if you begin your search early in your college career, as a sophomore, and early in the semester prior to the semester you anticipate accepting an assignment. Some companies seek summer interns as early as December. Also consider working two terms to gain more depth in your assignment

Your first step in considering a co-op or internship assignment is to register with the Co-op/Internship Program and check the assignments posted. You will be able to apply for posted openings if your qualifications match those requested by the employer on the posting description.

You are also strongly encouraged to extend your search beyond the university’s internship and co-op office. You can locate your own internship and still experience the same benefits as if you’d located the co-op or internship through the university’s Co-op and Internship Program as long as you:

• Register with the Co-op and Internship Program, and
• Have the assignment approved by the Co-op/Internship Program (e.g., you must be able to demonstrate that the assignment is supervised, that the assignment is academically relevant, and that you will be working a specified number of hours.)

Identifying Companies & Positions

To identify companies you might consider for an assignment, first search for companies or organizations that may hire in your field of study and geographic preference.

Hint: Consider companies of varying size, particularly smaller companies.
Here’s why:

• 79% of job opportunities are created by businesses having 500 or fewer employees, and
• smaller companies generally offer you more variety in responsibilities and more control over what you do. Consequently, you are more likely to see your impact.

Another hint: Consider volunteer (non-paying) co-ops and internships, with both for-profit and not-for-profit businesses and organizations. Although the ideal situation would be that your job to make money for school and your co-op or internship would be the same, this cannot always be the case, especially for some majors and some areas of interest. Remember that the foremost reason for getting a co-op or internship is to gain experience. Volunteering for just 10 to 15 hours a week can get you the experience you need. There are a variety of volunteer positions that can offer you the experience you need; and often, volunteer experiences can be easier to find than paid internships.

Following are some of the strategies you can use to locate companies and openings (you may have additional ideas)

Find out about Companies and Openings from People You Know

This approach to finding jobs is commonly referred to as “networking” (a process of interacting with others to share information and get advice and referrals).

Hint: Networking is especially helpful when trying to find a co-op or internship near your hometown or other specific geographic region.
Networking can help you become much more aware of the opportunities available to you; for example, you can:

• get advice and ideas about specific jobs and openings
• get information about companies, your field, business trends and forecasts, and hiring practices
• make your specific interests and your search for an internship or co-op known to many people
• get suggestions to join organizations or attend events where you will come into contact with even more people
• get offers from your contacts to “keep their ears open” and “spread the word” for you
• get the name of and a referral to a person who has the authority to hire you

Networking contacts can include just about everyone you know. Your personal network can include:

• parents, friends and their parents, relatives, neighbors and their friends
• your college academic advisors and professors, coaches, staff, and former teachers
• Career Center staff and counselors
• social club and fraternity or sorority members, fellow students (especially those who have had co-ops or internships), and athletic teammates.
• anyone in your field of interest including alumni and members of professional associations and community groups.

  Hint: Be sure to join your academic major's student organization. Attend meetings, and particularly conferences, where you'll get to meet professionals in your field and can ask about co-op and internship opportunities and careers in the field.

• professional acquaintances and service providers (such as doctors, dentists, attorneys, accountants, bankers, insurance and real estate agents, financial advisors, religious leaders, and former employers).

Searching the Internet for Co-ops and Internships

Run search engines to locate internship websites and check out BGSU Library and Learning Resources’ “Guide to Internet Resources”. visit the Career Center's Online Job Resources page for a partial list of websites offering internship postings.
Hint: searching websites for co-ops and internships can be especially useful when geographic location is not an issue.

Hint: Also check the websites of individual companies of particular interest to you to find out whether the companies offer opportunities for students (often shown in “Careers” or “Internships” sections of company websites). Look for information detailing each company’s preferred method of accepting applications (e.g., apply electronically, apply by sending a resume and cover letter, apply by completing an application form).

Published Sources of Co-op and Internship Information

Internship Directories

The Career Center Library (322 Conklin North) shelves a number of directories that you can use to locate internships. Just go to the “Internship” shelf to find them. Here is a partial list of the directories you will find there:

Hint: these directories are particularly useful if you are not restricting your geographic location and prefer to work for a large or nation-wide organization.

• Peterson’s Internships (an annual edition)
• The Princeton Review Internship Bible
• The Princeton Review of America’s Top Internships
• Internships with America’s Top Companies
• Directory of International Internships
• The History Internship Book
• The Congressional Internship Book
• Washington Internships in Law and Policy
• Internships in International Affairs
• The Sports Intern Book
• The Resort Internship Book and Seasonal Employment Guide
• The complete Guide to Seasonal State Park Employment
• The Big Green Internship Book: Internships and Summer Jobs for the Environment
• The Human Rights Internship Book
• Women’s Rights Internship Book
• The Media Internship Book

Other Published Directories

A number of other published sources, although not specific internship directories, can help you locate companies that you can contact about potential co-ops and internships. Reference these to broaden your search further.

On campus, you have access to a variety of job search guides to help you identify companies and locations for locating assignments. For example, The Career Center Library (322 Conklin North) shelves publications relating to careers in business, education, health, technology, government, liberal arts, etc., such as those in the list below.

Hint: These directories are particularly useful in locating companies that hire in your major and specific geographic preference (including the State of Ohio). You can also use these directories to locate companies by industry type.

• Dunn & Bradstreet’s Employment Opportunities Guide (This guide has a section on companies offering internships)
• Peterson’s Job Opportunities for Business Majors
• Peterson’s Job Opportunities for Engineering and Computer Science Majors
• The Almanac of American Employers
• National Directory of Law Enforcement Administrators
• The Directory of National Environmental Organizations
• Standard Directory of Advertising Agencies
• The AHA Guide to the Health Care Field
• O'Dwyers Directory of Public Relations Firms
• Sports Marketplace Directory
• Government Job Finder
• Ohio Job Bank, and Chicago, Carolina, Florida, Boston, Washington D.C., and Atlanta Job Banks
• Ohio Business Directory
• International Directory of Corporate Affiliations
• Job Hunters Yellow Pages
• American Bank Directory
• and many more

Reference the BGSU Library and Learning Resources’ “Career and Internship Resources” for even more ideas, sources of company information, and potential internships.

Also reference the following to get ideas, locate companies, and learn about companies:

• Telephone book yellow pages and telephone directories
• Financial reports published by companies such as Standard and Poor, Forbes, Fortune, and others
• Industry, trade, and business journals and publications

Using Want Ads to Gain Information

Daily and Sunday newspaper want ads can give you ideas about which kinds of companies are hiring and may list contacts (managers who accept applications) to whom you can call or write to learn about potential opportunities in your field. College newspapers also advertise employment opportunities for students. Use the information to develop leads and to brainstorm about similar companies you might contact.

Make a List of Your Target Organizations!

Get organized by making a list of your target companies, along with names of contacts at the companies by using a log sheet. You may also want to have a few file folders on hand to group company information, your notes, and job correspondence that you will be sending or receiving.

How Do I Apply for Co-ops and Internships?

Armed with a list of companies you are interested in working for, you now need to get your credentials to hiring managers. If you are applying for positions posted by the Co-op and Internship Program you need to submit your credentials (resume, unofficial transcripts, and credential release form) to the Program office and enter your personal information into the Program’s database. If you are an international student you also need to submit an authorization to co-op or intern, which you can get from BGSU’s Center for International Programs. The Program’s staff will then forward your credentials to the employer, and will let you know if any additional action is needed on you part.

Before applying at companies you have located on your own, you will first want to determine the company’s preferred method of applying, whether it be applying on-line, sending a resume and cover letter, completing the company’s application form, applying in person, or a combination of these methods.

• On-Line If applying on-line, go to the company’s website and enter the requested information. Often times the company will also request that a copy of your resume be attached.
  
• In Writing If you are applying in writing, you will need to send a resume and cover letter. If you need help with a resume, you can reference resume writing guides and self-help books available through the Co-op/Internship Program, Career Center, or the Career Center Library (322 Conklin North) and the Jerome Library. You can also schedule appointments with Co-op/Internship and Career Services staff if you need one-on-one help or a critique of your resume or cover letter.
  
• By Telephone or in Person Before applying in person or over the telephone, practice introducing yourself. Your introduction should include not only who you are, but also why you are applying and a brief summary of what you have to offer the company. Then ask for an interview.
  If your contact is made by telephone, ask for the name of the hiring manager. If you are forwarded to the hiring manager’s voicemail, use the same brief introduction as if you were applying in person, and leave a telephone number at which you can be reached. Contact the hiring manager again if you do not hear back from him or her. If you have difficulty reaching the hiring manager in person, you could try to get the hiring manager’s email address from a secretary and email a brief cover letter with your resume attached.
  
• Employment Application Employers sometimes ask job applicants to complete employment applications, either instead of, or in addition to other methods of application. If you need to complete an employment application, follow these guidelines:
  • print your information (don't write)
  • use pen (not pencil)
  • be accurate, provide information in the space allotted for it, and keep it neat
  • complete the application fully
  • sign and date the application
  • keep a copy of your completed application and reference it the next time you need to find dates of employment for job correspondence

A sample application form is provided to show you the types if information often requested. Fill it in for practice.

How Do I Follow-up with the Companies?

Following up on your application lets hiring managers know that you are truly interested in working for their company. It also shows that you have initiative. Typically, you will follow-up by making a telephone call to the hiring manager.

Conduct your follow-up calls something like this (examples follow):

1. Call the hiring manager and introduce yourself.
   “Good morning, Mr. Brown. This is Mary Miller.”
2. Say something friendly.
   “How are you this morning?”
3. Get down to business.
   “Last week I sent you my resume in application for an accounting internship. I am following up to ask if you’ve had time to review my credentials and ask about available positions with your company.”
4. Prepare for the hiring manager’s answer.
   “Great; I am glad to hear that your have looked at my resume.”
   -or-
   “I’m sorry to hear that you didn't receive my resume. I can send or e-mail another copy.”
5. Ask for an interview.
   “Would it be possible to schedule an interview with you to explore opportunities?”
6. If the hiring manager agrees to meet with you, schedule an interview.
   “When would be a good time for me to meet with you?”
7. If you learn that there are no openings, thank the manager for his or her time.
   “I appreciate your time this morning and hope that you will keep me in mind if an opening develops at a later time. Is there anyone among your acquaintances to whom you could refer me?” (And thank them).

Keeping Records of Your Contacts

Keep a log sheet for each company you are applying with, listing your contacts and correspondence.

Additional Help Available

If you have questions or need help with any aspect of your co-op or internship assignment search, contact the Co-op and Internship Program to get the assistance you need. For example, the Program can help you with:

resume, cover letter, and other job correspondence development and critique; developing your interviewing skills; contacting employers; and arranging interviews.