DePaul iPrep
Your internship search planner
THE FIVE STEPS TO GETTING
AN INTERNSHIP
1 4
Learn About Internships at DePaul Page 2 Make Connections Page 13
Attend a UIP/Co-op Internship Orientation Contact an ASK mentor to practice
or the iPrep Workshop networking with career contacts
Explore internship programs in your major Attend networking events and
company presentations
How to Earn Academic Credit Join student and/or professional
with Your Internship Page 3 organizations
2 5
Go After an Internship Page 17
Decide What Internship Makes
Sense for You Page 4 Apply for internships utilizing DePaul
internship resources
Work with an advisor to identify your skills Attend a Job and Internship Fair
and experience level Consider DePaul’s On-Campus
Attend relevant workshops Interviewing (OCI) opportunities
Review the “What can I do with a
Major in...?” resources at
[Link]
Need Help? Contact Us Page 24
3
Get Ready for the Internship: Resume,
Cover Letter and Interview Resources Page 6
Get a critique on your resume and cover
letter from a Peer Career Advisor or
Career Center Advisor
Practice mock interviews through
a career advisor or an ASK mentor
Create a career portfolio of your work and
accomplishments and practice
presenting it
1 Learn About Academic Internship Options at DePaul
What is an Academic Internship?
An academic internship is a structured and supervised professional experience with an approved company, agency,
or organization. In this type of internship, students apply concepts learned in the classroom to the work they do at
their internship sites.
Students at DePaul pursue academic internships for many reasons: to earn academic credit through experiential
learning, to gain career experience, to begin building a professional network, to become highly marketable upon
graduation and often to earn money. Thousands of students complete internships for academic credit each year
through DePaul. An approved academic internship is one of the several ways students fulfill their Junior Year
Experiential Learning Requirement.
Short-Term Internships Long-Term Internships
A short-term internship can be an excellent way to A paid internship that allows you the opportunity to
help you gain work experience and valuable career work for the same employer from 6 months to 3 years
insight by interning for a period of 10 weeks or more. is an excellent way to gain challenging, industry-
Students can meet with an advisor to determine if a specific work experience. Students with a goal of
short-term internship paired with an academic course interning within a organization or industry that is in line
would fit within their academic plan. with your long-term career interests should speak with
their internship advisor about Co-op opportunities.
_____ The University Internship Program (UIP)
DePaul University's Internship Program links _____ The Cooperative Education Program (Co-op)
you, a UIP instructor, and an employer to give The Co-op Internship Program, which includes
you the knowledge and experience you need a 4-credit course that will fulfill your Junior
to succeed in a highly competitive market Year Experiential Learning Requirement,
place, all while gaining academic credit and gives DePaul undergraduates the opportunity
fulfilling your Junior Year Experiential Learning to integrate classroom study with paid “real
Requirement. UIP currently offers six courses world” experience within your major field of
tied to professional development, academic study and graduate with one to three years of
credit can be earned for paid and unpaid professional work experience.
internships. For information on course topics, For more information, visit:
visit: [Link] [Link]
student/job/uip job/depaul_coop.aspx
_____ Internship Programs in Your Major On-Campus Employment
Several programs within DePaul provide Internships and employment positions at DePaul may
internship courses paired with an internship provide significant opportunities to enhance your
experience. These courses may be taken for analytical, technical, and interpersonal skills.
course credit and may fulfill the Junior Year On-campus opportunities may include both short and
Experiential Learning requirement. Ask your long-term internships and a course that will fulfill your
Academic Advisor for more information on Junior Year Experiential Learning Requirement. If you
options within your major. have been awarded Federal Work Study, you can
apply it towards on-campus job opportunities.
For more information about on-campus employment and
to access the Campus Job Board, visit
[Link]
DePaul iPrep 2
™ How to Earn Academic Credit with Your Internship
Getting Started with UIP or Co-op
Short Term Internships: University Internship Program
Undergraduate students are required to fulfill the Liberal Studies Experiential Learning requirement. The University
Internship Program (UIP) is a workplace-focused way to fulfill that requirement, and this guide outlines the steps
you need to take to participate.
Want to receive internship opportunities via email?
Visit [Link] Complete the online profile to begin receiving email listings
of available paid and unpaid internships in your major.
1. Attend the UIP Orientation
The UIP Orientation will help you prepare for your internship and give you a comprehensive overview of the
program and class requirements of the internship courses. You must attend the UIP Orientation before
enrolling in an ISP class. The Orientation is not required for ISP 350 students.
To register for the Orientation:
• Login to DePaul Experience at [Link]
• Click on “Calendar” and select the “Calendar Search” option. Select “UIP Orientation” as the Event Type
in the drop-down menu.
• Click “Search.” View time and location details by date, and pre-register using the “Sign-up” button.
2. Complete the UIP Internship Online Proposal Form
Once you have secured an internship, you must complete the UIP Online Proposal Form, found at
[Link]. To find the form, select the “Student” section, then “Find a Job/Internship/ Co-op,”
then “University Internship Program.”
Long Term Internships: Cooperative Education Program (Co-op)
The Co-op Internship Program gives DePaul students the opportunity to graduate with six months to three years of
paid work experience, receive on-going feedback from the Co-op Advisor and your work supervisor, and to fulfill the
Experiential Learning Requirement. Upon successful completion of your Co-op experience you will receive a
Certificate of Achievement and a notation on your transcript indicating you’ve held a long-term internship during
your academic career. More than 50% of graduating Co-op students receive an offer for full time employment at the
end of their internship.
1. Attend a Co-op Program Orientation
The Co-op Info Sessions will give you a comprehensive overview of the program and eligibility
requirements. Register for a Co-op Info Session through [Link]
[Link] current job may qualify for the Co-op Program
For more information, contact the Assistant Director of Co-op at 312.362.5220 or CoOp@[Link]
to discuss your participation in the program.
DePaul iPrep 3
2 Decide What Internship Makes Sense for You
How your interests, skills and major will
help you decide
Identify your skills
• What have I done in previous positions
or course projects?
• What are my strengths?
• What have I had responsibility for in
past employment or involvement?
Identify your interests Below are a few resources to help you identify
your interests. They’re to be completed, as
• What do I wish I could do all day? needed, with a career advisor, in a workshop, or
• What do I want to get more involved in? through a course.
• What do I enjoy talking about?
• What do I enjoy learning about? Coursework
• Review the What Can I Do With
a Major In…?” Guides Enroll in ISP 240:” The Liberal Arts and
[Link] Career Pathways,” a 2 credit course
explore/selecting_major.aspx designed to help you explore possible
career options
Identify your values _______________ Completion Date
• What do I want most in a work setting? Career Assessments
• What do I need to keep me in a job?
• What motivates me? The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
• What type of people, location, _______________ Completion Date
interaction, authority and involvement
are important to me? Strong Interest Inventory
_______________ Completion Date
Card Sort Activities
Skills & Accomplishments
- Understanding skill strengths and
identifying what you would like to
improve
_______________ Completion Date
Values Cards
- Learning to prioritize your work values
and using them as a career resource
guide
_______________ Completion Date
DePaul iPrep 4
™ Brainstorming Notes
What are some skills you feel you already have that could help you land an internship opportunity (technical,
organizational, interpersonal, etc)?
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
What are some skills/experiences that you would like to develop in an internship role (event planning, marketing,
project management, etc)?
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
What are some departments (on-campus) or companies (off-campus) that would provide you with internship
opportunities within your field of interest?
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
DePaul iPrep 5
3 Get Ready for the Internship: Resume, Cover Letter
and Interview Resources
The most popular tool to use in securing an interview is the resume. Resumes are often a work in progress.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach in resume writing; writing an effective resume requires practice and feedback.
If you are looking to create your first or revise an existing resume, visit a DePaul Career Center Peer Career
Advisor or attend a workshop.
You can also consider creating a career portfolio of your achievements, which can be showcased in a variety of
ways. Consider attending the How to Build a Portfolio Workshop and searching web portfolios of other professionals
in your internship industry.
Workshops:
To view dates, times, locations, and workshops, visit [Link]
Introduction to Resumes and Cover Letters
Advanced Resume and Cover Letters
How to Build a Career Portfolio
Attendance at Resume/Cover Letter writing workshop DATE
______________
Resume Samples
Download resume and cover letter samples from the Career Center’s web site at
[Link]
Meet with a Peer Career Advisor – walk-ins welcome!
Peer Career Advisors provide resume and cover letter support and critiques. Reach the Peers by phone at
(312) 362-5415, via email at peercareeradvisor@[Link] or walk into the Loop or Lincoln Park Career Center
and Office of Academic Advising Support. Walk-in hours vary each week.
The brainstorming sheet on the next page can help you get started on your resume.
Track your resume development and revision progress:
COMPLETION DATE REVIEWED BY
First draft of resume/cover letter ___________ ___________________
First resume/cover letter review ___________ ___________________
Final draft of resume/cover letter (as needed) ____________ ___________________
Final resume/cover letter review (as needed) ____________ ___________________
DePaul iPrep 6
™ Brainstorming Your Skills and Accomplishments
for your Resume or Portfolio
Defining your accomplishments:
Check the following boxes which apply to your
internship, work, volunteer or academic experiences.
Utilized time management skills to balance a job Wrote or edited communications materials
with school work Filmed, edited or directed a movie or video blog
Communicated with multiple groups of people Accomplished a large task or project by yourself
Coordinated or participated in a volunteer activity Sold or marketed a product to others
Lead or participated in on-campus or off-campus Listened to, counseled or mediated others
organizations Represented, greeted or acted as a source of
Trained, managed, or delegated tasks/schedules information to others for an organization or job
to others Helped mentor, coach, or educate others
Analyzed, calculated, or computed data and Calmed someone who was upset or angry in
statistics a work/volunteer setting
Possess enthusiasm and knowledge about a Completed additional training or sought out
subject additional opportunities to learn about a subject
Designed or created artwork, publications or Do you write and/or speak different languages?
marketing materials Are you an idea person? Have you contributed
Provided good customer service or shared these ideas?
Utilized computer software. Do you have examples Do you consider yourself creative and innovative?
of your projects you can share? Are you someone who can “make things happen”
Are you current on industry news and events? and help implement ideas?
Do you have social media, HTML or web 2.0 skills? Do you consider yourself a quick learner or
Promoted a campus event or activity someone adaptable to new situations?
Raised money or organized a fundraiser for an
organization or event
Use the lines below to elaborate on a few of your checked boxes. Which of these experiences can be showcased in
a resume or portfolio?
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
DePaul iPrep 7
™ Practice and Prepare for an Interview
Practice Interviews
Practice interviews will enable you to receive useful feedback on your interviewing style and will help strengthen
your interviewing technique. There are several ways to brush up on your interviewing skills:
1. Practice online with InterviewStream
InterviewStream is a free online interview preparation tool that allows you to:
• Simulate a live interview using your computer and a webcam
• Pick questions for a video interviewer to ask you
• Replay your responses to evaluate your performance
• Email your responses to others for review
Try it for free at [Link]
2. Attend an interviewing workshop such as Interviewing Skills or Advanced Interviewing Skills. Register for
these workshops and others at [Link]
3. Schedule a Practice Interview with Alumni Sharing Knowledge (ASK) to receive tips on proper interview
etiquette and immediate feedback about your resume and interview skills. Schedule a practice interview by logging
into [Link] and clicking on the “Practice Interviews with ASK Alumni” link.
4. Need additional help? Meet with an advisor in the Career Center. Schedule an appointment by calling
(312) 362-8437 Loop or (773) 325-7431 Lincoln Park.
DePaul iPrep 8
™ Practice Interview Notes
As needed, please use the boxes below to take notes on any feedback you receive from one or more practice interviews.
_______________________________ _________________________________________________
(Interviewer #1 Name) (Interviewer Title/Organization)
Strengths:
Areas for Improvement:
Additional Suggestions:
_______________________________ _________________________________________________
(Interviewer #2 Name) (Interviewer Title/Organization)
Strengths:
Areas for Improvement:
Additional Suggestions:
DePaul iPrep 9
™ Practice Interview Notes
As needed, please use the boxes below to take notes on any feedback you receive from one or more practice interviews.
_______________________________ _________________________________________________
(Interviewer #1 Name) (Interviewer Title/Organization)
Strengths:
Areas for Improvement:
Additional Suggestions:
_______________________________ _________________________________________________
(Interviewer #2 Name) (Interviewer Title/Organization)
Strengths:
Areas for Improvement:
Additional Suggestions:
DePaul iPrep 10
™ Practice Interview Notes
As needed, please use the boxes below to take notes on any feedback you receive from one or more practice interviews.
_______________________________ _________________________________________________
(Interviewer #1 Name) (Interviewer Title/Organization)
Strengths:
Areas for Improvement:
Additional Suggestions:
_______________________________ _________________________________________________
(Interviewer #2 Name) (Interviewer Title/Organization)
Strengths:
Areas for Improvement:
Additional Suggestions:
DePaul iPrep 11
™ Practice Interview Notes
As needed, please use the boxes below to take notes on any feedback you receive from one or more practice interviews.
_______________________________ _________________________________________________
(Interviewer #1 Name) (Interviewer Title/Organization)
Strengths:
Areas for Improvement:
Additional Suggestions:
_______________________________ _________________________________________________
(Interviewer #2 Name) (Interviewer Title/Organization)
Strengths:
Areas for Improvement:
Additional Suggestions:
DePaul iPrep 12
4 Making Connections by Networking
What is networking? Networking is the act of building professional relationships that may become mutually
beneficial to both parties, and an important part of participating in the professional world. Networking is more than
just talking to other industry professionals; it is creating a social network of anyone who can increase your chances
of discovering good job prospects. These personal contacts include friends, relatives, current and former
employers, coworkers, instructors, classmates, neighbors, or anyone you have met within your social interactions.
This list will help you focus on what personal contacts you can go to for advice or career mentoring. Fill out the list
below to brainstorm the social contacts with which you already share a networking relationship.
Academic Contacts: Teachers, Faculty and Classmates:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
DePaul Alumni or Alumni Sharing Knowledge (ASK) Contacts:
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Social Contacts: Friends, Family, Neighbors:
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Contacts Met Through Extracurricular Activities:
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Contacts Met Through Industry Professionals or Trade Associations:
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
DePaul iPrep 13
™ Brainstorming Internship Networking Conversation
Topics
Research is a very important component to networking within your industry. You should know what is new in your
chosen internship, industry or major, and how those trends will affect future employers and clients. Fill in the
questions below about the latest news within your industry.
1. Research three news websites and list three article headlines/topics related to the internship you are interested in:
a. __________________________________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________________________________
2. Name three local companies or organizations within your potential internship’s industry or your major:
a. __________________________________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________________________________
3. List DePaul student clubs related to your potential internship’s industry or your major:
a. __________________________________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________________________________
Possible networking questions to ask other professionals:
1. How did you get started in your industry?
2. What are some of your typical duties from day to day?
3. What aspect of your job do you enjoy the most?
4. What aspect of your job do you find the most challenging?
5. What types of skills do I need to have in order to be successful in your industry?
Reaching out:
Networking can start out with an introduction, a conversation, a phone call, or even an email. DePaul offers a
variety of outlets for networking, including targeted networking events, student/professional organizations, and
career mentoring. In many cases, your opportunity to meet someone else depends on your willingness to reach out.
We rely on email because we find it safe and easy, but communicating through email can be tricky. Remember that
email is a one-sided conversation and that your first email to someone is also your first impression on that person.
For tips on reaching out and sample introduction emails, visit [Link] and click on
Conversation Starters.
DePaul iPrep 14
™ Keep Track of Your Networking Targets:
Use the following networking log entries to help organize your interactions with contacts.
NETWORKING LOG Date: __________________________________
Name:
Title: Phone:
Organization Name : Email:
Networking questions I will ask:
What did I learn from this contact? Referrals made by this contact:
Date of follow-up correspondence: Have you thanked this contact with a letter or email?
NETWORKING LOG Date: __________________________________
Name:
Title: Phone:
Organization Name : Email:
Networking questions I will ask:
What did I learn from this contact? Referrals made by this contact:
Date of follow-up correspondence: Have you thanked this contact with a letter or email?
DePaul iPrep 15
™ Keep Track of Your Networking Targets:
Use the following networking log entries to help organize your interactions with contacts.
NETWORKING LOG Date: __________________________________
Name:
Title: Phone:
Organization Name : Email:
Networking questions I will ask:
What did I learn from this contact? Referrals made by this contact:
Date of follow-up correspondence: Have you thanked this contact with a letter or email?
NETWORKING LOG Date: __________________________________
Name:
Title: Phone:
Organization Name : Email:
Networking questions I will ask:
What did I learn from this contact? Referrals made by this contact:
Date of follow-up correspondence: Have you thanked this contact with a letter or email?
DePaul iPrep 16
5 Go After an Internship: Finding and Applying to Internships
Below are some resources that can guide you through the process of finding meaningful short and/or long-term
internship opportunities. In conjunction with your internship advisor, you may want to consider one or more of the
following strategies for finding an internship:
DePaul Experience On-Campus Interviewing
[Link] [Link]
DePaul Experience is an online database that gives you The On-Campus Interviewing (OCI) Program brings
the opportunity to seek out short and long-term hiring employers to DePaul's Loop and Lincoln Park
internship opportunities. View hundreds of job openings campuses to host interviews and hold company
which are available only to registered students and presentations that highlight their available job
alumni of DePaul. opportunities. Employers hire primarily for entry-level
professional positions and full and part-time internships.
Campus Job Board OCI is an extremely competitive program, with hundreds
[Link] of Chicago and the nation's most prominent
Several on-campus jobs that are coded as Ladder Level organizations interviewing and meeting with hundreds of
C (1-2 years of experience required) or Ladder Level D DePaul students and alumni each year.
(2 or more years of experience required) provide
significant opportunities to enhance your analytical, Create Your Own Internship
technical, and interpersonal skills. [Link]
If an organization you want to work for does not have a
Going Global formal internship program, there is the possibility that
[Link] you can create your own position. Use your research
Search for jobs and internships around the world. Going and networking skills to find a contact within the
Global is an international career database with country organization, and be sure you can tell the employer
career guides, job postings, internship listings, news on what you plan to offer as an intern or ideas for internship
H-1B Visa employers and more. Campus Connect log-in projects. If your potential employer is interested, the
required. Career Center is also available to answer any questions
regarding how to get started offering internships for
students at DePaul.
The Career Center’s Job & Internship Fairs
[Link]
Job & Internship Fairs are a great way to connect with a
variety of top employers in one place at one time.
DePaul's largest fairs, the Fall and Winter Job &
Internship Fairs, are open to all majors. Other fairs, such
as the Not-For-Profit Fair and Education Fair, are
geared toward specific career interest areas.
DePaul iPrep 17
™ Application Tracking
It is recommended that you visit each organization’s website to learn more about their mission, goals, departments, and
product(s) before you apply to the internship and certainly before you interview. Take notes on the internship program or
position of interest; use this log to keep track of your research and applications below:
_________________________, ________________________________, ___________________________
(Organization) (Internship Position) (Application Deadline)
Research Notes:
Position Requirements:
Contact Person:
Date Applied:
Interview date:
Follow-up:
_________________________, ________________________________, ___________________________
(Organization) (Internship Position) (Application Deadline)
Research Notes:
Position Requirements:
Contact Person:
Date Applied:
Interview date:
Follow-up:
DePaul iPrep 18
™ Application Tracking
It is recommended that you visit each organization’s website to learn more about their mission, goals, departments, and
product(s) before you apply to the internship and certainly before you interview. Take notes on the internship program or
position of interest; use this log to keep track of your research and applications below:
_________________________, ________________________________, ___________________________
(Organization) (Internship Position) (Application Deadline)
Research Notes:
Position Requirements:
Contact Person:
Date Applied:
Interview date:
Follow-up:
_________________________, ________________________________, ___________________________
(Organization) (Internship Position) (Application Deadline)
Research Notes:
Position Requirements:
Contact Person:
Date Applied:
Interview date:
Follow-up:
DePaul iPrep 19
™ Application Tracking
It is recommended that you visit each organization’s website to learn more about their mission, goals, departments, and
product(s) before you apply to the internship and certainly before you interview. Take notes on the internship program or
position of interest; use this log to keep track of your research and applications below:
_________________________, ________________________________, ___________________________
(Organization) (Internship Position) (Application Deadline)
Research Notes:
Position Requirements:
Contact Person:
Date Applied:
Interview date:
Follow-up:
_________________________, ________________________________, ___________________________
(Organization) (Internship Position) (Application Deadline)
Research Notes:
Position Requirements:
Contact Person:
Date Applied:
Interview date:
Follow-up:
DePaul iPrep 20
Contact Us
Need Help? Meet with a Career or Academic Advisor.
Your advisor can walk you through the internship search process and help you
identify search strategies to find the opportunities you want.
Loop Office
DePaul Center
1 East Jackson Blvd
Suite 9500
Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: (312) 362-8437
Fax: (312) 362-8565
Lincoln Park Office
Schmitt Academic Center
Room 192
2320 N. Kenmore Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
Phone: (773) 325-7431
Fax: (773) 325-7432
[Link]