While many of you are decorating your new dorm rooms and reacquainting yourselves with the bustling metropolis of Lewisburg, we know that some of you are packing up and heading off for some amazing places. Studying Abroad is an awesome experience , one not to be missed, but just because you are not in Lewisburg doesn’t mean you have to miss out on finding a great internship.
We thought we’d share our tips on finding an internship while you are studying abroad.
For Students Studying Abroad in the Fall
Most internship searches are conducted successfully in the Spring, so going abroad in the Fall should not create problems for most students. However, you may want to get a head start, especially on the BRIDGE, as there may be some unique opportunities available in the Fall when employers visit campus for on-campus recruiting. If you are interested in journalism and/or government, it would be helpful to do some research before leaving the United States to learn of deadlines. Some of the internships in those fields have deadlines in November. You can often use the internet and the mail to apply from overseas – be sure to allow plenty of lead time.
For Students Studying Abroad in the Spring, before you go:
1) Become familiar with the CDC Resources.
- Learn how to use the BRIDGE
- Attend workshops or pick up handouts on Resume Writing, Cover Letters, Interviewing, and Networking
- Participate in a mock interview, and perhaps, a mock phone interview with a CDC staff member
- Create your resume and get it critiqued by a CDC staff member
- Stay connected with us on Twitter and Facebook and this BLOG (I get funnier as the semester goes on!)
2) Choose and research an industry or industries that you want to pursue.
- If you don’t know what you want to pursue as an internship and/or career, meet with a CDC counselor
- Research industries
3) Start Networking!
- Get access to B-Link and create a list of alumni contacts
- Select companies and/or professionals which reflect your career goals to add to your list.
- Set up Informational Interviews
- Join the Bucknell Alumni LinkedIn group
4) Become familiar with internship opportunities and deadlines.
- Look at opportunities on the BRIDGE
- Search for opportunities on other web resources
- Contact the employers by email or phone to request an early interview – SKYPE is your friend!
5) Create a list of potential company contacts.
- Research the companies and be sure to find email addresses or phone numbers.
- Use CareerSearch – This software can help you easily search for organizations by industry and location.
- Use the Employer Directories in the CDC Resource Room Library or check out the other resources we subscribe to for job searches.
Visit us here for more tips to follow while you are abroad and for when you return.
Bon Voyage and Bonne Chance! –can you tell I only took French?