Internship How-To

Register on CU Denver's internship and job database, Handshake, This is  where currently enrolled students can access hundreds of prescreened internship opportunities, upload a resume, and apply directly online.

National Resources:

• InternWeb
• InternJobs.com
• InternshipPrograms.com

International Resources:

• Transitions Abroad
• AIESEC
• Cross Cultural Solutions

In the fall and spring semesters, we bring hundreds of employers to you at the CU Denver Internship and Job Fair. Visit the Career Center website to get all the details.

Your professors are a great resource for new ideas on where to find an internship. Just ask! 

Tap into your contacts. Ask parents, relatives, friends, and others if they can get you connected to the right people at the places you’d like to intern, or if they know of organizations that might provide the type of internship you have in mind.

Develop a list of organizations that may be a fit for you. Research organizations by visiting their websites to learn about their mission, products/services offered, major divisions, and location.

• Check out their careers/jobs section or enter “internships” in the search field
• Identify specific departments/individuals to contact with your internship request
  

Find people working in the industry or field that you're interested in, then request a time to meet with them. Prepare your questions ahead of time and go into the conversation with an organized plan to be sure you learn as much as you can.

Be prepared before you contact an organization.

• Have a clear and concise description of what you're looking for and what you would bring to the organization
• Be specific about the project you want to work on or type of work you'd like to do
• Highlight your skills, accomplishments, and knowledge
• Include your dates of availability and the kind of position you're seeking— paid, non-paid, full-time or a part-time
  

Think about what you hope to achieve with an internship and ask yourself questions about the skills you want to develop and the training you want to receive.

• What kind of responsibilities would I like to have?
• What are my specific career interests?
• What do I hope to learn?
• How much time do I have to devote to an internship?
• Where do I want to do an internship— Denver area, out of state, international? Why?
• What do I have to offer an employer?
  
  • Skills
  • Knowledge related to the type of internship
  • Relevant work and volunteer experience
  • Extracurricular activities

As internships become increasingly competitive, it's important for you to have a strong set of job search skills. Most employers require a resume and cover letter to be considered for an interview.

Resumes

A resume is a summary of your skills, experience and education. it should convey competency and attract the interest of an employer. The goal is to open the door to an interview.

Internship resumes typically focus more on academic experiences rather than job experiences unless your jobs are relevant to the type of internship you are seeking.

Consider including some of the following headings when writing your resume:

• Education
• Relevant courses
• Academic projects
• Relevant skills
• Research experience
• Extra-curricular activities
• Leadership experience
• Work experience

For additional assistance, the Career Center offers resume examples, advice, and a critique of your resume and cover letter drafts.

Cover Letters

Most employers require a cover letter in addition to a resume. This letter not only indicates your level of interest in the position, it's also a way for hiring managers to gauge your writing skills. Pay attention to details and be sure to describe your passion, fit, and personality. If you're emailing, use the body of the email as your cover letter and attach your resume.

• Explain why you are sending a resume. Don't make the reader guess what you're asking for, be specific, Do you want a summer internship, part-time, paid, etc.?
• Tell specifically how you learned about the position or the organization. Handshake, a specific job website, a family friend who works at the organization. It's appropriate to mention the name of someone who suggested that you apply.
• Call attention to your strengths related to the position. Education, leadership, experience. Be specific. Use examples.
• Include information that's specifically requested in the job posting but may not be included on your resume. These items could include your availability date, or direct the recipient to an attached writing sample.
• Display your personality, motivation, enthusiasm, and communication skills in what you write.
  

Follow Up

The thank you letter or email is one of the most commonly overlooked aspects of the job search and can make a difference in the outcome. A post-interview thank you letter gives you the opportunity to reiterate your interest in the position, your enthusiasm for the company, and your relatable skills.

If you decide not to accept an offer, it's also courteous to notify an employer in writing of your decision

Sample Follow-Up Letters

Students are required to complete a Learning Agreement and register their internship placement with the Experiential Learning Center (ELC).

1. Make an Internship Solidification appointment with your internship advisor

2. Your internship advisor will help you report that you've been hired for an internship and create the internship experience in Handshake

3. Complete your online Learning Agreement and obtain all signatures

• Think about what you want to learn at your internship and list 3 - 5 learning objectives—refer to the Learning Agreement 
  
  
• Meet with your employer site supervisor
  1. Review duties and learning objectives
  2. Determine your work schedule and your start and end dates
  3. Add this information to your Learning Agreement
  4. Obtain your supervisor’s signature on page four
     
     
• Academic, for-credit interns—meet with your faculty sponsor
  1. Discuss learning objectives and academic assignments
  2. Have our professor fill out your academic assignments on page three
  3. Obtain faculty sponsor’s signature on page four
  4. Ask your faculty sponsor or internship advisor if you need additional signatures. Some departments will require signatures from department chairs or academic advisors.
     
     
• Complete and sign the online Learning Agreement via Handshake

4. Register your internship

• Make a 15-minute appointment with your internship advisor to review your Learning Agreement and register your internship with the ELC. If you're doing an academic for-credit internship, your internship advisor will give you an add slip to register your internship class for credit.

5. Review our tips for success to get the most out of your internship

6. Review the Safety Guidelines

• Off-campus learning activities expose students to additional risks—be aware of potential hazards

Connect with other CU Denver interns and learn from each others' experiences. Discuss your workplace, the training and supervision you're receiving, professional interaction, questions, and issues.

• Remember that first impressions are the ones that last, and supervisors and coworkers will establish their opinions of you and your work very quickly
• Maintain confidentiality regarding work-related personnel and projects at your site
• Understand what constitutes a permissible work absence and who to notify if absent
• It is important to remember that the company does not function on an academic calendar, so keep your supervisor informed of your schedule. Let your supervisor know if you will be absent from work during any CU Denver holidays and/or academic vacations
• Be prompt and on time to work
• Carry out assignments and give it your best effort
• Keep an open mind and avoid jumping to conclusions. Become fully informed before you make judgments
• Do not conduct personal business during work hours such as using work computers for personal reasons, texting, or personal phone calls
• Remain drug and alcohol free at your internship
• Dress appropriately

The way you approach your internship will affect the quality of your experience. Following simple guidelines about workplace etiquette will help ensure you're a success.

• Remember that first impressions are the ones that last—supervisors and coworkers will establish their opinions of you and your work very quickly
• Maintain confidentiality regarding work-related personnel and projects at your site
• Understand what constitutes a permissible work absence and who to notify if absent
• Remember that the company doesn't function on an academic calendar, so keep your supervisor informed of your schedule—let them know if you'll be requesting time off during any CU Denver holidays and/or academic vacations
• Be prompt and on time
  
• Carry out assignments and give it your best effort
• Keep an open mind and avoid jumping to conclusions—become fully informed before you make judgments
• Don't conduct personal business during work hours such as using work computers for personal reasons, texting, social media, or personal phone calls
• Remain drug and alcohol free at your internship
• Dress appropriately

CU Denver and the Experiential Learning Center (ELC) ensures that students who participate in internships and have a variety of support and resources.

Site Supervisor

• Oversees work tasks and performance and serves as a resource
• Provides training, guidance, and mentoring. They will also
• Helps you achieve the learning objectives listed on your Learning Agreement
  

Internship Advisor

• Supports you throughout your internship
• They will email you mid-semester to check in about your
• This is who you contact about any issues or challenges you face, including workplace conflicts, problems with supervisors or co-workers, not getting the experience you expected or the agreed onsite hours, and not getting the opportunity to complete the objectives outlined on your learning agreement, etc
• Works on your behalf to resolve any conflicts 

Academic, For-Credit, Faculty Sponsor 

• Supports and addresses academic issues
• Provides list of assignments
  
• Stays connected with you during the internship to address concerns, questions, or review assignments
• Responsible for assigning your final grade
• Receives copies of your site supervisor’s evaluation and uses it to help determine your internship course final grade

Intern Role and Responsibilities

• Register internship with the ELC by submitting a Learning Agreement prior to the internship start date
• Serve as a positive representative of the university, with the ability to influence the employer’s decision to host additional CU Denver students
• Approach internships in a professional manner, guided by courtesy, a desire to learn, and a willingness to receive feedback for improvement
• Act in a responsible and appropriate manner in accordance with the rules and regulations of the organization

Site Supervisor Role and Responsibilities

• Complete and sign the employer portion of the online Learning Agreement prior to the intern’s start date via Handshake​
• Provide an orientation
• Introduce student to organization and employees
  
• Provide training, mentoring and supervision
• Encourage professionalism, help develop communication, interpersonal, and decision-making skills 
• Provide opportunities for increasing responsibility
• Keep student on the right track to accomplish their learning objectives
• Meet with student regularly—maintain an open channel of communication
• Complete a final evaluation which the internship advisor will email at the end of the internship
  

Academic, For-Credit, Faculty Sponsor

• Address all academic issues related to the internship
• Assist students in creating appropriate learning objectives that must be met during the internship
• Provide students with appropriate academic assignments related to the internship placement
• Keep in contact with interns throughout the internship in order to track progress and address concerns and questions
• When requested, meet with site supervisors to discuss intern progress
  
• Review the site supervisor’s evaluation and use as part of student’s final grade
• Award credit and a final grade based on interns’ completion of assignments

Internship Advisor Role and Responsibilities

• Primary liaison between the internship host organization and CU Denver
• Contact for any issues that arise during an internship, including workplace conflicts or problems with supervisors or co-workers, injuries, unexpected changes to onsite hours, and ensuring the opportunity to fulfill the learning goals and other requirements of the internship
• Conduct site visits with intern student and site supervisor
• Collect employer’s final evaluation and forward to the faculty sponsor