Step by Step Process

Step 1: Careful Planning

Internships are taken after you have achieved 75 credits, but you must start planning early to figure which semester would work best for you; this really begins the minute you arrive at Richmond. Whether you have entered Richmond as a freshman or you are a transfer student, you should ask yourself, “When would it be possible to do an internship?” Our Internship Planning Flowchart should give you an idea on how to fit in an internship without having to extend your graduation date. The most important thing to remember during this first step is to keep your grades up!

Step 2: Communication and Correspondence

If you are even thinking of an internship, you should come and speak to us. It doesn’t matter if you are just a freshman: we want to see you! You will probably not know what you want to do, but by communicating with us, your faculty advisor, and with Richmond Careers office, we can help define your goals.

Step 3: The Application Process

Now that you are getting closer to your 75+ credits and you have a GPA of 2.75 or above (you need to have at least a 3.0 for Finance, Psychology or the China Programme), it is time to formally apply.

You must apply by priority registration week the semester before you wish to do the internship; however you are welcome to apply earlier if you wish. Some placements, such as the US Embassy, would require you to apply with us at least 2 semesters early. If you apply late, you could have a charge on your account.

You can download an application from the "Useful Documents" section at the bottom of the Internships Overview page or by stopping by the internship office. When you apply, you will need to obtain your advisor’s approval and turn in 2 reference forms. Once we receive your application and you are accepted onto the programme, we will then schedule another appointment with you to discuss your internship options and which organisations interest you the most.

Only the internship office can register you for the internship! This cannot be done by your advisor.

Step 4: Your CV

Your CV should be a reflection of your accomplishments and who you are; it should not simply be a generic template that you have adjusted. Use the CV/Resume Guidelines document to help you get started. It is important that CVs are clean, free of misspellings and grammar mistakes, and easily understood. We review every CV before we send it out to organisations.

A helpful hit: start your CV draft early. You may realise that you have a few gaps that need to be filled. Are you participating in any extra curricular activities? Have you had a part-time job? Do you have appropriate computer skills? If you have answered no to any of these, what are you waiting for? Get going!

Step 5: Be Proactive

After you apply and are accepted, the internship office will go over your options and then eventually contact organisations on your behalf, but be proactive and do some research on your own time. It is your internship! We want to help you find the internship that will best suit you so come to the office with a list of your ideas. If you are so proactive and you have already found your own internship and you want credit for it, you must supply the details with your application before the internship begins. We will review your placement to ensure it meets our programme criteria.

Step 6: The Interview

Everyone gets nervous when interviewing, but we will give you hints and tips to help make the interview a little less scary. You may need some practice and if this is the case, we will arrange a mock interview for you. After your interview, you must communicate with the internship office immediately – we want to know how it went and if the internship is the right choice for you.

Step 7: Being an Intern

Congratulations – you have passed your interview so it is time to get started. Before your start date, we will assign your faculty supervisor who will go over your academic responsibilities. Your internship is a time to reflect and analyse your future career choice. You may find out what you do not want to do more than what you do want to do. In any case, your career goal will be more defined and you will have an excellent experience to add to your portfolio. Good luck!

Step 8: Keep in Touch

We want to know how the internship has affected your career choice so keep in touch. Whether it is graduate school or a full-time job, we are interested in knowing how you are doing. Drop us a line!

Link to this page: http://www.richmond.ac.uk/s/589.aspx