9 answers
Maddie
Student
Portland, Oregon
2
Questions
Asked
758 views
How should I go about finding internships in college ?
I want to major in environmental science and urban sustainability. My end goal is to work on helping create greener and more accessible public transportation, where should I look?
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9 answers
Megan McCoy
Career Coach
162
Answers
Lakeland, Florida
Updated
Megan’s Answer
Hi Maddie,
Be sure to go to career services at your college as they can help you with finding an internship.
For working in public transportation you will want to look at local government internships.
Here are also some good job boards you can find internships with:
https://www.conservationjobboard.com/
https://www.blm.gov/careers/careers-in-blm#social
https://thesca.org/
I hope this helps!
Be sure to go to career services at your college as they can help you with finding an internship.
For working in public transportation you will want to look at local government internships.
Here are also some good job boards you can find internships with:
https://www.conservationjobboard.com/
https://www.blm.gov/careers/careers-in-blm#social
https://thesca.org/
I hope this helps!
Aaron Lavin
Product Development & Product Management
5
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Aaron’s Answer
First, DON'T GET DISCOURAGED! Finding an internship is a process. It is very rare that you will just find an open opportunity, apply, interview and be selected and/or offered the role. It will likely take many attempts and exploring many different types of internship opportunities until you find the right one for you.
Given your focus on urban planning, urban sustainability and public transportation, you should be sure to explore your local, state and national government opportunities. Especially with the recent national government infrastructure investments and regulations, there should be many opportunities to support transportation improvements. One example is here: https://www.transportation.gov/careers/student-internship-and-recent-graduate-opportunities
Be sure to check with your alumni relations office. It may take a few attempts, but alumni from your school or from your program will want to help!
One trick is to get to know your professors in the relevant courses that align with your internship interests. These professors often have relationships outside the school and with public/private companies.
Given your focus on urban planning, urban sustainability and public transportation, you should be sure to explore your local, state and national government opportunities. Especially with the recent national government infrastructure investments and regulations, there should be many opportunities to support transportation improvements. One example is here: https://www.transportation.gov/careers/student-internship-and-recent-graduate-opportunities
Aaron recommends the following next steps:
Miriam Wolfe, Esq., CAMS
Compliance
12
Answers
Weehawken, New Jersey
Updated
Miriam’s Answer
Internships can significantly boost your career, and it's fantastic that you're thinking about this. Get in touch with your career services and professors to find out if they're aware of any opportunities or if they can link you with someone in their professional circle.
Jerome Dees Jr.
Sales Professional and Networking Expert
607
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Jerome’s Answer
Each school has an office you can visit. Get to know the staff and let them know what you are looking for. They likely have a good idea of what is available and can act as a resource and potential reference.
I would also reach out to the Alumni Association for your school/department. There is a chance they may have connections that could help get you placed somewhere. You may be surprised at the level of support you can get by sending a simple email.
I would also reach out to the Alumni Association for your school/department. There is a chance they may have connections that could help get you placed somewhere. You may be surprised at the level of support you can get by sending a simple email.
Kaitlyn Luong
Consulting
19
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Kaitlyn’s Answer
Check if your school has a career day or clubs that provide information sessions. From there, ask if they have any internship programs. Additionally, you can do your own research online through LinkedIn. Try connecting with alumni who are now working in the field you're excited about. Good luck!
Alexander Chang
Consultant
2
Answers
Bethesda, Maryland
Updated
Alexander’s Answer
I was in this exact same scenario with a Bachelors in Environmental Science. I was able to score a couple internships through cold calling, this works particularly well with federal/state positions as standard 9-5 hours are a bit more predictable. I ended up cold calling one of the former Region 9 EPA administrators and caught her as she was walking into the office. Honestly, it made her day and she was more than happy to help. Did the same with a UCLA professor.
You need to identify people and where they work. So for me I just googled "EPA + Environmental Health" and followed the rabbit hole. I wrote down a list of people and their phone numbers.
I then worked on a script, or elevator pitch. I wanted them to know my name, field of study, area of interest, and what I was calling them for (summer internship). I highly recommend just reading off of a script because cold feet is real and having something to just read robotically until you get the hang of it helped a lot with my anxiety.
Typically people will politely turn your down, if they do, ask if they know anyone you could talk to. I would say 90% of the people I ended up calling were very pleasant on the phone and are actively interested in making sure students get the support they need because they want more people to end up in the field of sustainability/environmental science.
After a couple weeks of calling about 3-5 people a day, I ended up on an email chain that landed me my first big internship at the california EPA, and one of my first mentors that convinced me that my personality type and interests would grow in a non-government role. He's been a huge part of where I landed today.
Good Luck.
You need to identify people and where they work. So for me I just googled "EPA + Environmental Health" and followed the rabbit hole. I wrote down a list of people and their phone numbers.
I then worked on a script, or elevator pitch. I wanted them to know my name, field of study, area of interest, and what I was calling them for (summer internship). I highly recommend just reading off of a script because cold feet is real and having something to just read robotically until you get the hang of it helped a lot with my anxiety.
Typically people will politely turn your down, if they do, ask if they know anyone you could talk to. I would say 90% of the people I ended up calling were very pleasant on the phone and are actively interested in making sure students get the support they need because they want more people to end up in the field of sustainability/environmental science.
After a couple weeks of calling about 3-5 people a day, I ended up on an email chain that landed me my first big internship at the california EPA, and one of my first mentors that convinced me that my personality type and interests would grow in a non-government role. He's been a huge part of where I landed today.
Good Luck.
Violaine Gonzalez
Senior Associate
176
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Violaine’s Answer
Hello Maddie, here are some friendly tips for you:
1. Broaden Your Search: Don't limit yourself. Look for internships online, at career fairs, and through networking. There are opportunities everywhere!
2. Leverage College Resources: Your college's career office is a great resource for resume writing and interview preparation. They're there to help you succeed!
3. Smart Networking: Connect with professionals and alumni. They can provide valuable leads and advice. Remember, it's not just what you know, but who you know.
4. Personalize Your Applications: Make sure you customize your resume and cover letter for each application. Show them you've done your homework and you're genuinely interested.
5. Apply Early and Broadly: Don't wait for deadlines. Submit your applications as soon as possible and to as many opportunities as you can. The early bird catches the worm!
6. Follow Up: After applying, don't hesitate to politely check in on your application status. It shows you're keen and proactive.
7. Interview Preparation: Practice makes perfect. Practice common interview questions and research the company. Knowledge is power!
8. Consider Other Options: If internships are scarce, explore other avenues like research, volunteering, or part-time work. Every experience is valuable.
9. Persistence is Key: Don't get discouraged. Keep applying and stay open to different opportunities. Your perseverance will pay off!
10. Reflect and Improve: After your internships, take some time to reflect on your experiences and update your resume accordingly. Every experience is a stepping stone to your next big opportunity.
Keep these tips in mind, and you'll be on your way to landing that dream internship! Good luck!
1. Broaden Your Search: Don't limit yourself. Look for internships online, at career fairs, and through networking. There are opportunities everywhere!
2. Leverage College Resources: Your college's career office is a great resource for resume writing and interview preparation. They're there to help you succeed!
3. Smart Networking: Connect with professionals and alumni. They can provide valuable leads and advice. Remember, it's not just what you know, but who you know.
4. Personalize Your Applications: Make sure you customize your resume and cover letter for each application. Show them you've done your homework and you're genuinely interested.
5. Apply Early and Broadly: Don't wait for deadlines. Submit your applications as soon as possible and to as many opportunities as you can. The early bird catches the worm!
6. Follow Up: After applying, don't hesitate to politely check in on your application status. It shows you're keen and proactive.
7. Interview Preparation: Practice makes perfect. Practice common interview questions and research the company. Knowledge is power!
8. Consider Other Options: If internships are scarce, explore other avenues like research, volunteering, or part-time work. Every experience is valuable.
9. Persistence is Key: Don't get discouraged. Keep applying and stay open to different opportunities. Your perseverance will pay off!
10. Reflect and Improve: After your internships, take some time to reflect on your experiences and update your resume accordingly. Every experience is a stepping stone to your next big opportunity.
Keep these tips in mind, and you'll be on your way to landing that dream internship! Good luck!
TRAVIS UPCHURCH
Federal Contract Admin
128
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
TRAVIS’s Answer
Go the head of your department, talk to the career services department and look at the individual agencies and companies to see if they offer internship opportunities. Try all three and keep an eye out for postings about your campus. You can even set up alerts on some career, agency websites to indicate to you when those types of opportunities are available. You can even set up those alerts on linkedin and indeed.com
Joanna Rose Mañaol, CPA, CISA
IT Auditor
200
Answers
San Jose, California
Updated
Joanna Rose’s Answer
Hello Maddie,
To find internships in college, start by utilizing your school's career services office, which can provide access to exclusive internship listings and valuable networking opportunities. Attend career fairs and networking events where you can meet potential employers and learn about available positions. Utilize online job platforms like LinkedIn, indeed, and specialized internship websites such as Internships.com, to search and apply for positions that align with your career interests. Don’t hesitate to reach out directly to companies you're interested in, even if they don’t have postings, by sending a speculative application with your resume and a tailored cover letter. Finally, leverage your personal network, including professors, family, and friends, who might provide leads or referrals to internships.
To find internships in college, start by utilizing your school's career services office, which can provide access to exclusive internship listings and valuable networking opportunities. Attend career fairs and networking events where you can meet potential employers and learn about available positions. Utilize online job platforms like LinkedIn, indeed, and specialized internship websites such as Internships.com, to search and apply for positions that align with your career interests. Don’t hesitate to reach out directly to companies you're interested in, even if they don’t have postings, by sending a speculative application with your resume and a tailored cover letter. Finally, leverage your personal network, including professors, family, and friends, who might provide leads or referrals to internships.