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Internships:
Studying Abroad?

The Feld Career Center (FCC) fields questions from study-abroad students regarding securing internships upon their return to the United Sates. Here the FCC addresses the typical questions and provides a few helpful tips so that you "land an internship before you take off" for your study-abroad experience.

Will I still be able to apply for internships through MiTRAC when I'm abroad?

You will still have access to MiTRAC — from applying to positions to connecting to links for research. Although you will be able to apply for internships, please note that some companies will not conduct phone interviews.

Which companies conduct phone interviews and when do they occur?

This is a case-by-case basis. Some companies will not conduct phone interviews at all. These companies come on campus so that they can meet with you in person to assess your fit within the organization, a role much easier to determine face to face than over the phone.

Other companies will consider conducting phone interviews after their recruiting cycle is completed; this means after they have visited all of the colleges on their list (not just SMG). Usually, these companies will offer phone interviews if there are spaces that still need to be filled in their programs. This is a rare, although not unheard of, occurrence.

Understand that recruiters are visiting multiple colleges during the recruiting season. Although your interest in their firm is important to them, it may not be their number one priority. It may take weeks before a recruiter will be able to respond to your request for a phone interview and, as indicated above, the program may already be filled.

What can I do to have an internship in place when I return to the U.S.?

Planning ahead is critical in your efforts to secure an internship before departing the U.S. If you know the industry and functional areas that interest you, then you can put a plan in place early!

Consider the following suggestions:

Attend career fairs (SMG and others) to establish a relationship with companies of interest:

• Explain your interest in studying abroad and ask company representatives about the firm's policy on conducting phone interviews;
• If the company doesn't conduct phone interviews, inquire about the possibility of interviewing prior to leaving for your study-abroad program. (Keep in mind that if you need to travel to the company, you may have to pay for the expenses yourself.);
• If the response is negative, indicate that you would like to remain in contact with the representative so that you might be considered for a future internship or full-time opportunity.

Maintain a relationship from abroad:
If you secured the contact information from a recruiter (attending career fairs, your own networking) and know that phone interviews are not the company's policy or that your study abroad program concludes after the company begins its internship training, develop a communication plan while you are abroad:

• Send a postcard to the recruiter when you arrive;
• Develop a timeline to stay in touch with the recruiter. If your study abroad program is connected with an internship, keep the recruiter informed on how your internship is going and how that may relate to opportunities at the recruiter's firm.

Leverage your study-abroad internship

• If your program includes an internship component and you secure an internship with an international firm that has offices in the U.S., you may be able to "transfer" your internship from abroad back home. The onus is on you coordinate this effort: be a strong contributor at your internship, research the type of opportunity you are seeking back in the States, do the legwork to make the transition easy for both offices (have contact information for each office).

The opportunity to study abroad is often described as the opportunity of a lifetime. Make sure that you gain the most of your experience by planning ahead for your internship upon your return to the U.S. Bon Voyage!

Note: While the above information is relevant for all students who plan to study abroad, it is particularly important for students studying abroad in the spring semester.

Developed by the Feld Career Center (March 2007)

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