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Internships

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It's never too early to start thinking about internships! Internships can help you explore your personal and professional interests, try out a career option and network with professionals.

What is an internship?

Internships are professional development experiences related to your career goal or your area of study. The internship generally involves working in a professional setting under the supervision and mentorship of professionals. As an intern, you will be able to integrate knowledge derived from your academic studies with the experiences gained from real-world work settings. The internship presents an opportunity for academic and professional growth. Internships can be paid or unpaid, and you may or may not receive academic credit for performing the internship.

Learn more about typical internship activities and take a peek into internship programs by reading our Internship Site Reviews.

Read internship success stories to learn how other students have made the most of internships, and how you can do the same.

Why should I do an internship?

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, internship programs are listed as the number one place employers look when recruiting new hires. In a nutshell, internships provide you with the opportunity to test-drive a career option and to gain valuable experience and skills in the process that will make you more competitive and marketable in today's job search.

In additional to learning hard skills used to complete tasks, internships also help build soft skills needed to interact in a professional setting. You will hone your communication and interpersonal skills and experience and understand organization/company culture.

Are internships for business-interested students only?

Not at all. Internships can be valuable for any student, whether you’re interested in business, nonprofit administration, education, public service, graduate school or law school. Internships are available in all sectors and students can intern in a great variety of roles, from marketing to teaching and counseling/therapy to museum research.

How do I search for an internship?

The following steps will help you identify your interest, prepare for internship applications and connect with internship opportunities.

  • Register with LACS: Register with us by creating a BTT Gateway account which will give you access to our internship databases as well as internship advising and on-campus recruiting.
  • Explore Yourself: Identify your interests, skills, values, and intriguing ideas. Consider your career goals. What type of internship do you want?
  • Get Organized: Set a timeline and create a plan to clarify internship options for this semester and following semesters. How do you want to grow your professional skills while you're at UT?
  • Research: Research companies and organizations which offer internships: utilize our career resource library in FAC 18 or the online Vault library. Meet with employers at career fairs, info sessions and other events; check out our calendar for upcoming events.
  • Connect with Opportunities: Explore the internship resources in the LACS Resource Library (FAC 18). Search for internship postings in the online databases, including BTT Gateway and accessUT.
  • Internship Programs: Check out special internship programs in LA, London and Argentina.
  • Earn Credit: Enroll in an internship course to make the most of your internship.
  • Prepare: Craft targeted resumes and cover letters.
  • Prepare for Interviews and Interview Effectively: Research the employer thoroughly so that you know what they do and why you will be a great addition to their team. Practice your interviewing skills, including answers to common interview questions and preparing questions to ask. Practice with mock interviews available at LACS.
  • Follow-Up: Send thank-you letters. Stay in contact with employers to determine the status of your application.

Pre-Law & Students Interested in Graduate School

Internships are a great way to learn about law careers and to help develop your research skills for an eventual advanced degree program. Use the steps above to make the most of your internship search, and take advantage of the following special options as well.