Internships

How do I get an internship?
Students usually complete an internship during their junior and/or senior year. First, visit the Office of Career Services to talk about internship opportunities, how to obtain an internship, how to write a résumé and cover letter, and how to prepare for the interviewing process.

The Office of Career Services is located on the first floor of St. Joe’s Hall. Call 893-6636 or 893-6637 to set up a time to come in, or you can also just drop in.

Do I earn credits for my internship?
Most students complete internships for credit and experience. Only a few internships are paid in addition to credits. As an intern, you will enroll in a 4-credit course called Business Internship Program (BU 404).

How long do internships last?
They are usually a semester long, although a few last a year:
• Fall Semester, September-December
• Spring Semester, January-May
• Summer Semester, May-August

Why participate in an internship?
Student benefits include:
• Gain professional experience while in school
• Sample specific jobs within career areas
• Make valuable contacts for future networking
• Sample different working environments (work
setting, type of employer, or industry,
geographic location)
• Gain insight into real world application of
concepts learned in school
• Develop self-confidence and independence
• Earn money
• Earn college credit

Where can I work as an intern?
Saint Joseph’s College has many connections in the Greater Portland area with businesses and organizations. Some typical intern placements include:

Can I do an internship on campus?
Yes, the following departments have sponsored interns, for example:
Athletic Department
Graduate & Professional Studies
Information Systems
Intramurals & Recreation
Marketing & Public Relations
Sports Information

Employer benefits include:
• Lowers recruiting costs
• Affords observation and evaluation of potential employees
• Provides reliable source for pre-professionals
• Requires no permanent commitment
(however, 60 percent of the time, interns are hired on full-time)
• Allows greater productivity during business cycles
• Lowers training costs
• Allows for input into educational process

What are employers required to provide?
• written job description or a simple list of duties/responsibilities
• appropriate learning environment where the intern may apply their college studies in an experiential learning setting
• specific point person that the intern can refer questions to
• schedule allowing students to work (at minimum) 150 hours over 15 weeks so they may receive academic credit
• internship evaluation form at the conclusion of the internship

What are the student’s responsibilities as an intern?
• Treat internship position as a professional job
• Satisfy academic requirements of internship course
• Must notify employer beforehand if they cannot report to work at scheduled times
• Must provide own transportation

What does Career Services Center provide?
• Promote internship opportunities to students
• Refer students to sponsoring employers
• Provide résumé and interviewing skills assistance
• Coordinate the academic component of the internship

Accounting

Meet Harrison Smith
Accounting & finance intern
IDEXX Laboratories

Journalism

Meet Matt Pascarella
Journalism intern
Portland Magazine

Advertising/Public Relations

Meet Jessica Cote
Public Relations/Advertising intern
St. Mary's Regional Medical Center

Communications

Meet Kaitlyn Cunningham
Communications/Political Science major
Institutional Advancement Office

Sports Management

Meet Chris Taylor
Sports Management intern
Memphis Redbirds

Marketing

Meet Sheena St. Hilaire
Marketing intern
IDEXX Laboratories

Criminal Justice

Steven Goldberg
Criminal Justice intern
Westbrook Police Dept.