By Ally Hanse, Staff Writer
It is not too late to find a summer internship. While it is best to start looking for internships as soon as possible, there are still opportunities for summer 2013.
Career Services has the resources to help students find and apply for internships locally, nationally and internationally.
Joshua Waddell, director of Career Services, said internships help students become more marketable in their field.
Many companies use internships as a way to introduce potential employees to the work environment.
“In a competitive job market, employers are using internships almost like an extended job interview,” Waddell said.
Internships can be found online, but Waddell said the best way to find an internship is through networking.
“Networking is not schmoozing… it is making meaningful connections with people that can help you,” he said.
Another great way to find internships is through Career Services. Their website, OCUworks, helps students find and apply for internships.
After creating an OCUworks account, students can sign on and browse through available jobs and internships.
Students can also upload their resume to send to companies.
Career Services has a good relationship with the alumni office, which creates a large supply of internship possibilities–many of the OCUworks listings are created by alumni.
Students can also make appointments with Career Services to get individual assistance.
A representative can help students develop a personalized action plan to help them find the best internship possible. Students can email Joshua Waddell at jwaddell@okcu.edu to make an appointment.
Internships can happen during the summer, school year, or during breaks.
Depending on the program, a student could receive academic credit for an internship.
Cameron Calloway, biology sophomore, accepted a summer internship at Brandeis University in Massachusetts. Calloway found the internship online through the National Science Foundation.
“I’ve always wanted to go to Boston…Now I will see if it’s somewhere I would want to apply to graduate school,” Calloway said. “I think I’ll get a lot of hands-on experience and a lot of networking opportunities.”
The Study Abroad office can also help locate internships. OCU is affiliated with several organizations that sponsor internships abroad.
These internships can range from four weeks to an entire semester. Programs exist in multiple countries including France, Australia, New Zealand, and Spain.
To contact the study abroad office, email Mary Benner at studyabroad@okcu.edu.
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