Internship FAQ

Q: What is an internship?

A: An internship is an on site pre-professional experience providing exposure to actual career fields. Internships provide students an opportunity to gain practical work experience for an edge on the job market after graduation. Internships are not free labor for “go-for” positions.

Internships provide students with the opportunity to:

  • Gain exposure to a wide variety of occupations and environments.
  • Test out career areas of interest and obtain career related experience.
  • Apply acquired knowledge to bridge that gap between the classroom and the world of work
  • Develop and enhance marketable skills.
  • Meet and learn from professionals in the field and develop a network of valuable contacts.

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Q: When is a good time to start looking for an internship?

A: The second semester of your freshman year is considered an early start! Allow yourself at least one semester of academic study to adjust to the rigors of life at USC. Then, depending on your major, GPA, and course load requirements, you may be ready to find and accept an internship. Remember that your academic work is always your first priority.

During any academic year, it is a good idea to begin looking for an internship the semester prior to your desired placement. That way, you’ll have time to respond to listed positions and initiate contacts on your own as well. Lead-time can give you a competitive edge when it comes to composing a professional resume and cover letter. The Career Planning & Placement Center receives internship listings continually.

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Q: How and where do I find an internship?

A: Follow these steps to make sure you are taking advantage of all your opportunities:

  • Register online or in-person at the Career Planning & Placement Center.
  • Visit the Internship Programs Office in the Interview Center in the Student Union, STU B1.
  • Be sure to attend Internship Week events in Fall and Spring to get a head start on targeting and finding a great internship.
  • Inquire at your academic department for internship opportunities. (Link to ‘other units’ page).
  • Check the connectSC web site for internships. You can search the system by keyword(s) such as non-profit, media, banking, intern or internship etc.
  • Use the CPPC library and other locations to search books, newspapers, and magazines. The Experiential Learning Office houses additional internship newsletters for student use.
  • Check out USC Career Fair, and other job fairs, professional associations, student organizations, community service/volunteer groups, etc.
  • Explore Internet job search sites.
  • Use of all your networking opportunities! You can generate contacts through friends, family, current/former employers, classmates, faculty members, and many other networking avenues.
  • Other ways to find out about internship opportunities are through trade newsletters. magazines, job fairs, hometown contacts, professional associations, student organizations, community service/volunteer groups, and many more.
  • Searching the Trojan Network is an excellent source of advice for networking in your field. The Trojan Network is a resource of USC alumni who have volunteered to provide career-related advice and industry specific information to USC students (for advice only).
  • After your search, make a priority list of approximately 7-10 internships at targeted organizations. Thoroughly research each opportunity, then contact your top 5 or 6 organizations.
  • Have a plan that includes a professional resume and cover letter, appropriate follow-up, and good record keeping.
  • Drop by the Career Planning and Placement Center in Student Union, STU 110 any time from 12 to 3 PM to have your materials reviewed during walk-in advisement.

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Q: What does the Internship Programs Office require?

A: The Internship Programs Office requires only a few simple steps:

  1. Register with the Career Planning & Placement Center by signing up with connectSC.
  2. When your internship is complete, let us know about it so we can gather information for other USC students.

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Q: What resources are available for finding internships across the country and abroad?

  • If you are looking for an internship in the United States, you may go online to view the USC internship listings. USC is a member of an Internship Consortium with Harvard, Yale, Stanford and Northwestern Universities. Our online listings contain internship opportunities that are shared by these universities. Therefore, opportunities exist for areas near these universities.
  • Search the Trojan Network, an excellent source of advice for networking in your field. The Trojan Network is a resource of USC alumni who have volunteered to provide career-related advice and industry specific information to USC students, they are not internship providers.
  • Visit your academic unit and talk to advisors and professors about finding internships.
  • View online resource links to web sites dealing with internships.

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Q: Are internships paid?

A: An internship can be paid or non-paid (volunteer), involve academic credit or not, or be structured as a full or part-time arrangement. It is possible to get paid as well as receive academic credit.

  • Stipend – An amount of money paid to the student in a variety of ways, (i.e., one lump sum of money paid at the end of the internship or money to cover transportation or meal costs).
  • The typical wage for paid internships is approximately $8 to $25 per hour.

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Q: How do I get academic credit or sponsorship for my internship?

A: To obtain academic credit for an internship, you need to contact the appropriate academic department to make the necessary arrangements and enroll in a course. You may contact a faculty advisor, department office, or visit the Career Planning & Placement Center’s Internship Programs Office. We also have a list of courses offered at USC.

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Q: How do I develop my own internship?

A: A self-developed internship is a position specifically tailored to your own academic and/or career interests and one that is researched and obtained by you.

We suggest four steps for developing your own internship

  1. Determine your individual goals
  2. Research the field
  3. Network
  4. Contact targeted internship providers

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Q: What is Internship Week?

A: Internship Week is a free information panel and networking sessions for employers come to campus to introduce their organization and student opportunities. Throughout the week, 8-12 industries are showcased. Between 30-90+ students attend each panel. We hope you’ll want to come and see what all the fuss is about!